St George’s Hospital Proudly Wins McFedries Trophy
June 13, 2025
We’re proud to share that St George’s Hospital has been awarded the McFedries Trophy at the 2025 Christchurch Beautifying Association Awards, recognising the entire hospital site for its outstanding gardens and beautifully maintained green spaces.
Presented annually as part of the Christchurch Streets and Garden Awards, the McFedries Trophy celebrates the best hospital or healthcare centre gardens across the city. This recognition is a testament to the care, creativity, and consistent effort shown by our gardening team, who work across the full St George’s campus to create a calming, welcoming environment for all.
David Lowe, Head Gardener at St George’s, proudly accepted the award on 10 April 2025.
Run by the Christchurch Beautifying Association in partnership with the city’s Community Boards, the Streets and Garden Awards have been celebrating civic pride since 1950. The McFedries Trophy, named after Association President Janette McFedries - is one of the event’s highest honours for non-residential properties making a long-term contribution to Christchurch’s “Garden City” identity.
Congratulations to David and the entire gardening team on this well-deserved recognition! Test update
Latest news
St George’s Hospital has entered an exciting new chapter in surgical innovation with the arrival of the Da Vinci Xi General Surgical Robot, the only one of its kind in the South Island. This advanced technology supports robotic-assisted surgery across gynaecology, colorectal, general, thoracic and urology specialties, expanding access to minimally invasive procedures for patients in Canterbury and beyond.
Christchurch, Friday 3 October 2025: More than 120 guests gathered to mark a significant milestone as St George’s Eye Care celebrated its 10-year anniversary. The specialist private ophthalmic practice, based within St George’s Hospital, has become a cornerstone of expert cataract and ophthalmic treatment in Christchurch and across the South Island.
Born and raised in Canterbury, Victoria Leov began her career here as a nurse after completing her studies at Ara. Starting her clinical career in General Practice and Oncology gave her a strong foundation in patient care and a deep appreciation for the difference that skilled, compassionate teams make every day.
Every day, patients walk through St George’s doors seeking care, comfort and reassurance and the feedback they share continues to reflect the warmth and professionalism they experience from our teams.
St George’s Eye Care is now offering a cutting-edge genetic test to assess glaucoma risk, thanks to Clinical Director and Consultant Ophthalmologist Dr Paul Baddeley, one of the first South Island providers to support this advancement.
Erin Bensley (Ngāti Kahungunu ki Te Wairoa) has always been drawn to roles that combine clinical care with systems thinking. She began her nursing career in the neurosurgery and neurology ward at Christchurch Public Hospital while completing postgraduate studies in neurosciences. Her growing interest in data and information management led her to study Nursing and Health Leadership and Management, eventually stepping into her current role as Clinical Informatics Manager at St George’s Hospital.