RED CROSS ACTIVITIES

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 6, Issue 45, 5 February 1943, Page 5

RED CROSS ACTIVITIES

WHAKATANE BRANCH

FIRST MEETING OF YEAR

The first meeting of the Whakatane branch of. the Red Cross for 1943 took place in the Borough Council' Chambers on Monday, February 1 at 2.30 p.m. Mrs Sullivan was in the chair.

Among correspondence read was a letter from Red Cross Headquarters asking for a supply of old linen for hospitals overseas. Twenty-two cases were required, and members are requested to hand in as! much as possible. Mrs Norman will take charge of the collection and send it away. Mrs Norman also- mentioned that she had recently had a visit from Sister Lucas, from. overseas, who had expressed gratitude for linen already sent, saying how very useful it had been.

Mrs Prideaux, Lady Superintendent of. the; Voluntary Aids, said there were no Home Nursing classes aiti present, some members were attending the St. John First Aid classes. The Detachment was to have - regular fortnightly meetings, one of which- would be of a social character, the other a working one, when Voluntary Aids would con,-

tinue with their practical w r ork, and probably start, a sewing circle when they would make dressings etc. for their and. other Red Cross needs. Mrs Sullivan read out the sdhedule of work Avhich Miss Runciman, Matron of the Whakatane Hospital, had prepared for Domestic Voluntary Aids.

Discussion took place re the appointment of a Junior Red Cross Organiser but no one volunteered for the position, and no decision Avas reached.

Sewing and Knitting

For the SeAving Circle Mrs Ramson reported that a few completed pyjamas and bed jackets Avere ready to send away, and she had received 42 pairs of cut-out pyjamas.

Mrs Timbs said the Knitting Circlc had completed and. dispatched 84 garments as. follows: For Patriotic 4 skull caps, 1 pullover, 3 pairs socks, 17 balaclavas, 10 scarves and 8 pairs mittens; for the Joint Council, 9 pairs bedsocks, 9 pairs socks, 1 balaclava, 5 long-sleeved pullovers, 7 short-sleeved pullovers, 6 waistcoats and 3 scarves. Mrs Shapley, Convenor of the Comforts Committee, said many letters of thanks for parcels had been received, one from J. M. O'Connell was read out also one. from H. W. Pederson. Forthcoming Gymkhana Mrs Sullivan stated that the A. and P. Association Avere to have a Gymkhana and Horse Show in the Domain on February 20 and; had asked the ladies of the Red Cross and Patriotic Committees to- undertake the catering. It was agreed to do so, and a discussion took place ,as to wnys and means. A further meeting will be held on Monday, February 8, when it is hoped that all members will attend. It was decided that in future meetings will commence at 2 o'clock sharp., instead of 2.30 p.m., as in the j One man, J. Buddie, was farewelled from the Borough during the month. A letter of thanks from him was. read. Red Cross Patriotic Shop : All those associated with, the shop have every reason to be proud of the results achieved, in approximately nine months over £1100 has been raised. The. committee has always felt, however thait the stalling and stocking of the shop has 1 been far too heavy on some members; of the community and unduly light on others. Many women, besides taking their individual share are also members of various organisations; which also take over the shop on different days, thus these persons may be asked to help contribute several times in one mon/tli. Attendance at Shop Mrs. James has put a scheme forward which has been adopted Joy the committee; that the various streets in the; Borough take over the staffing and stocking of the shop for one day each. A resident, will undertake to canvass some particular street, and only persons living in that street will be asked to contribute for that one day. The larger and more thickly populated roads will be divided into two or more sections. In this way the smaller areas need not. feel they are up against too heavy competition. I\t is felt that there are no doubt inany women who coulf thus be reached; women with young children, with sickness in the family, elderly peo-

pie eitc. .cannot be expected to put in time in the shop itself, but if . > approached would probably be l all too Avilling to give, something for sale, cakes and other cookery,, vegetables and fruit, needlework, books: and magazines, good used toys etc. all arc very welcome. Mrs James is organising tlie scheme and 4ha shop will be open veryr shortly. This new plan should not. make it necessary to ask people for- -. contributions more than one© in. about four months, so it is hoped that the dwellers in different parts of the town will make every effort' to put their own street at the of iti|e list, and to see that the re-f suits achieved do not fall below the excellent standard set iu previous years. . I JAUwißi