AMBULANCE WORK

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 7, Issue 21, 5 November 1943, Page 2

AMBULANCE WORK

ASSISTANT COMMISSIONER'S VISIT LOCAL INSPECTIONS MADE On the l?)th and 20th •of last month a visit was paid to this district by the Assistant Commissioner of the Auckland district, Mr H. A. Cobb, for the purpose of inspecting the. Ambulance DiA'isions and the Nursing Divisions. The inspection took place at the District High School, where the Commissioner Avas welcomed by the Deputy-Mayor,, Mr S. S. Shap'.ey, who paid great tribute to the work carried out by the members of this district, and of the vstlliable service they were to the district. Mr A. J. Canning, chairman of the St. John's Association, give an outline of the aetvities of the Association, the Brigade and Nursing Division during the past year and said how proud he AA r as of the Avork they had done, and assured the Brigade that as long as lie was chairman of the Association they would always have his support, and promised that when,, the time was opportune he AA r ould like to see. them all in the uniform, the cadets included. The Commissioner then made the inspection of the three units and Avas introduced to its members by S. G. Bishop, Miss Tait and H. L. Drube of. their respective sections and presented Warrants of Appointment to Dr. F. J. Appleby, Division Surgeon Nursing Division; Miss Tait, Division Superintendent Nursing Division; Mrs Miller, Ambulance Officcr Nursing Division; Mir H. L. Drube, Superintendent of the Cadet Division. Mr Cobb then addressed the gathering,, lie spoke of the A'alue of the St. John's Association in supporting and helping the Brigade astivties and paid a special tribute, to Mr A. J. Canning, chairman of the Association. for the valuable work he . Avas doing. He gave a detailed description, of the activities of the Brigades in the South Auckland district all of which he had visited during the last six weeks and he AA r as pleased to say that the Avork done in this district compared favourably Avith any other district and as the official mouth-, piece he thanked all members for their service during the past year. He also spoke, of his A'isit to Dunedin to attend the Jubilee Celebrations there in February of this year, the first Division having been formed in New Zealand 50 years ago,, and this AA'as the first Brigade to be formed overseas, the oldest Nursing DiA r ision Avas also in Dune-din. In a special little talk to the cadets he said hoAV pleased he Avas at the number present,, the A r alue of their work and training because they Avould be the future Brigade members, Avhen quoting records he said that they Avere the 149 th Cadet Division. When speaking of the Avork of the Joint Council lie said lioav necessary it Avas for co-operation betAveen the Red Cross Society and the St. John's Ambulance. Association in all districts. He held a technical inspection of books returns and records of the three 1 DiA'isions, after which he expressed his satisfaction and stated that they reflected great credit on the officers concerned. Accompanied by the vi-ce-cliairman Mr A. Carling, Mr Cobb inspected the Waimana Nursing Division. This Division in full strength and all in uniform looked very smart and from their records which Avere inspected proved that they are a Avell trained and a very efficient Division. Mr Cobb in his address complimented them on their efficiency Avhich reflected great credit on their officers, Miss G. Mackay„ Division Superintendent; Mrs M. Wyldcy Ambulance Officer; Mrs E. Leather, Division Secretary. Election of Officers Mr Cobb presided at the Brigade meeting to elect. neAV officers in place of S. G. Bishop and A. Carling who tendered their resignations'. The following officers were: elected; E. J. Ramson, Acting Superintendent; D. Scragg, Divisional Secretary; D. H. Paterson, Divisional Sergeant; J. E. BigeloAV, Divisional Corporal. Both Mr Cobb and Mr Canning spoke in glowing terms of the great work Avhich had been carried out by the tAvo retiring officers during their term of' office of three trying years, besides carrying out their duties as Brigade officers they had also acted as lay lecturers for the St. John's Association,, the latter duties they will still continue.