AMBULANCE WORK

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 8, Issue 3, 29 August 1944, Page 6

AMBULANCE WORK

ST. JOHN ASSOCIATION

ANNUAL REPORTS

The annual meeting of the St. John Ambulance Association was held l in the Borough Council Chambers on August 17, there being a very good atendance. A very pleasing feature of the meeting was the number of new faces present indicating an increasing public interest in the work of the Association. The superintendent of the St. John Ambulance. Brigade. Mr E. J. Ramson, in presenting -his report stated that the total membership of the men's brigade, was five ol whom were in the armed forces. "During the year/' lie. "we had the misfortune to have to farewell live of our members. Mr Stan Miller, after returning from overseas and again taking an active part in the Association has now gone into business at Mt. Mounganui. Mr Steve Bishop has gone to the Otago University, Mr L. Edwards has been transferred to Paeroa, and Messrs. R. Ferry and H. Litchwark have gone overseas with the forces." Dealing with the. question of parades Mr Ramson stated that when there were no iirst aid classes being held, the Brigade met every two weeks. All members were very keen and therefore a great help in the practical work done at any classes held.

On the subject of cadets, Mr Ramson said that the cadet division under the Cadet Superintendent Mi

Drubc assisted by Mr Scragg were a great credit to the two members just mentioned. The cadets met

weekly and had a membership of twenty-one. They had attended forty-one public duties, with the members of the Senior Brigade two boys taking duty each wo«k.

"Ever}- Saturday," he, said "a team of boys go to the Hospital and clean out the ambulance polishing it inside as Avell as out. The cadet division is a very important part of our organisation as it is from these boy-s that our future Men's Brigade will be maintained."

Dealing with the Boy Mr Ramson said that the. cadet division under Messrs Drubc and Petty had been giving both the Caledonian and

Citizens' Scouts, tuition in first aid and periodically these boys had been examined for their various badges and so far, had been a credit to their instructors. He also mention-' ed the four Lone Scouts at Galatea who were under the guidance of Mr Carling and had just recently srvi for and passed their St. John Ovlihcatc, In conclusion Mr Ramson. stated that he, wished to ex'press the Brigade's greatest appreciation of the. wholehearted support given to their

suggestion to obtain a section and build a station and training hall which would belong to the Association itself.

In the report of the activities for 19-14. of the Nursing Division, Mrs K. Hannah stated that at present members' were attending a further first aid class and fortnightly drills were in force in order to keep up practices in first aid as well as iri roller-bandaging. "Members, have continued to assist the Men's Brigade in manning the ambulance" she said "but owing to, the lack of a first aid kit it has been impossible to carry out public duties. As a kit has now been provide ed it is hoped to carry out these regularly in the future,." Concerning the V.A.s, Mrs Hannali .stated that these had been on call at the hospital, one member being relieving nurse at the local 'institution and another on the, :;tai) at the Tokanui Hospital. in conclusion she stated lha' since last year two- members, had been lost but. si nee then four more had been gained, bringing the vegister up' to twenty-six. Reporting on the Edgecumbf branch of the Nursing and Ambulance Divisions Mrs Cowic stated that both divisions had had a good attendance throughout the yea> % there 1 having been twenty nursing and eighteen ambulance parades held. Public duties performed were six for the nursing division and fourteen for the ambulance division. Cases including those dealing with fractures, scalds and wounds had

been treated the hursing division having eighteen to their credit and the ambulance division seven. The nursing division she said ; had also done twenty-three hospital duties.. Speaking on the schedule ol' work for the, year, Mrs Cowie also staled that besides first aid and heme nursing classes special lectures in diagnois errors in first aid and competition work had also been held.

Special thanks were also due to Mrs Sumner" for tuition in home nursing Mrs Haultain for maternity lectures, and Dr. for examining first aid classes. The Building Committee report presented by Mr H. L. Drubc read as follows: — Plans, and specifications have been drawn up for a St. John building 90ft x 30ft, consisting of a main hall a nursing division training ward a lecture, room, a kitchen and a store room, the whole to be erected at an estimated eost of between £(w0 and £700. The plans have beenapproved by the Association Committee and permits have been granted by the Building Controller and the Borough Council. As the hall will be built by voluntary labour, thanks are due to those ~ who have promised to help and also all those who care to come ulong and assist. Firms have been contacted for prices of the various kinds of material and replies have been received from John Burns.— roofing material and hardware etc., and joinery etc. Both prices are within those "allowed for in the estimate. Several donations of materials und services have been received and will be acknowledged in the, usual manner. During the meeting, reference was made by the members to the long and valuable services rendered to the, Association by Mrs T. W. James, of Stewart Street, and in recognition of such services, Mrs James was unanimously elected rt

iif'e member. The following officers were elected :--- President: His Worship the Mayor Mr B. S. Barry. Chairman: Mr A. J. Canning. Vice-chairman: Mr A. Carting. Secretary: Mr E. R. Uillicar. Committee: Messrs E. J. Ramson, Ji. Drube, Rowntree, J. Bigelow, M. I). Patterson, D. Scragg, V. Allen 11. (J.' Warren and MesdamerCowie Wykle and James.