NURSING DIVISION

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 6, Issue 11, 2 October 1942, Page 5

NURSING DIVISION

ST. JOHN ORGANISATION DOMINION COMMANDANT'S VISIT There was a good attendance of members at St. John Nursing Division meeting held in the Methodist Hall on Monday, September 21. Also present Avere visitors from Edgeeum.be and Taneatua. Miss R. A. MeIvenzie, Dominion Commandant of St. John V.A's, addressed the meeting. Miss McKenzie first spoke about Voluntary Aids, the number now trained in New Zealand being 5,639, of these 382 are on permanent duty at hospitals for the duration, a few arc at Air Force Hospitals. The public hospitals are wanting more for permanent duty. At present, there is a shortage of nurses, owing tio girls going into various other occupations and so many doing a Avar job. It is hoped that a special Hospital Seiwice uniform Avill be arranged. Two hundred V.A's are overseas, 100 being Red Cross and the other- 100 St. John, these girls Avere giA r en only 21 daj T s' notice when called up but they all managed £0 be ready in time. Miss McKenzie then read extracts from letters from lavo V.A's now stationed in Egypt.

When the Hospital ship comes to Wellington the Aotca Clearing Hospital is s'laffed entirely by retired nurses and V.A. and they also prepare the hospital for the patients from the ship. The kitchen is run by Red Cross folk and, these ladies have taken a course in Hospital Kitchen management. Four to six Vol-# untary Aids also usually do train duty with the 'train Avhich takes the patients north from the clearing hospital, these V.A's prepare the train before and after the trip. V.A.'s not on hospital lists are posted 'Ito First Aid and Dressing Stations and. attend their posts when trial alerts are held. Voluntary Aids or members of Division render First Aid or nursing. Miss McKenzie stressed the need for practice and being perfect, also to be perfect in Stretcher Drill so that patients can be made comfortable in the Ambulance. The Venerable Order of St. John goes back as far as the 3rd Century when the Knights of St. John went out to the Crusades in the interests of Chivalry. Chivalry is still with us, it is briefly lending assistance when it isn't asked for. The division is taking its part at home, out here we are still getting knowledge which will be of value for the rest of our lives. Pass that knowledge on, it is not. just for yourselves Other organisations may retire but St. John goes on, she said. Various questions were asked at the conclusion of the address, and a dainty supper was served hy members of the Division. A vote of thanks to Miss McKenzie was moved by Mrs E. T. Dawson and carried by acclamation,