“Elim Clinic – Fifty years of grace 2008”

The roots of Elim Clinic can be traced back to long before 1958, in fact to 1927 when a group of Christians working for the SA Railways of that time noticed that many of their colleagues used alcohol irresponsibly.  They addressed the problem by establishing the SA Railways Temperance Union on 17 October 1927.  The Temperance Union started coffee shops at stations, providing a healthy environment to socialise before and after shifts, opposed to the bars at stations as the only alternative.  Branches of the Temperance Union were established in various centers, and large numbers of SA Railways staff were involved with the activities of the Union.  In May 1957 it was reported that 4 800 members have registered. They soon realised that their activities are sufficient as preventative measures, but that people with a problem need professional assistance.

Elim Clinic was born from this need.  Funds were raised and the piece of land where Elim Clinic is today was bought in 1958.

"One of the most attractive buildings in the Kempton park area – an old Dutch style house with white gables – will be used in future as a rest home and rehabilitation centre for railway employees in need of a place to relax and where medical attention is readily available.

The building was bought by the Temperance Union from the Governor-General’s National War Fund for a total of £10,000.  The Union paid a further £500 to acquire the furniture in the building and a delivery van.  Formerly used as an orphanage for the children of soldiers who died in the war, the home was made available for sale when only a small number of children remained.

Situated in nine acres of ground a short distance from the Kempton Park-Modderfontein road the lovely old house will accommodate between 20 – 25 patients in addition to staff members.

The home has been bought and will be maintained through the monthly subscriptions of the 7 000 railway men (1958!) who belong to the Union.  The Union receives no financial assistance from the Railways Administration or the Government.  The home was officially opened by the chairman of the Board, Mr. C W E Ohlhoff.”