OFFICIALLY OPENED

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 10, Issue 51, 18 November 1946, Page 5

OFFICIALLY OPENED

ST. JOHN AMBULANCE HALL

WIDESPREAD PUBLIC INTEREST

IMPRESSIVE DEDICATION CEREMONY

Two hundred and fifty people attended the official opening and dedication ceremony of the recently completed St. John Ambulance Brigade Hall and Administrative Headquarters in King Street, last Saturday afternoon. Though the weather was it wSs kind enough to allow a fine interlude to grace the outside ceremony with the result that the proceedings were marked by that attitude of direct sincerity which is the hallmark of the activity of the Association the world over.

In imposing attendance were Brigade units drawn from Whakatane, Tauranga (Superintendent Lawson; Brigade, and Superintendent Faulkner Nursing Division); Waimana (Superintendent Mrs Wylde and Superintendent C. McKay); Edgecumbe (Superintendent Cowie and Superintendent Massey). With the Brigade, Nursing Division and Cadets parading in front of the hall many persons present were able to mark with some surprise the growing strength of the Association in this district. The Citizens Band which was also in attendance provided bright musical selections both before and after the various speakers had addressed the assembly. The official group included His Worship the Mayor (Mr B. S. Barry) who as president of the local committee, performed the actual opening ceremony, Mr and Mrs W. Sul'livan, Mr T. Parker, Chairman of the South Auckland St. John Association, Superintendent and Mrs Cobbe of Hamilton, Messrs. R. Boon, Chairman of the Harbour Board, J. L. Burnett, Chairman of the County Council, J. Mullins, Chairman of the Hospital Board, A. J. Canning and Rev. A. F. Attwood.

Apologies for absence were received from Sir James Elliott (Deputy Knight Commander), Mr D. F. McKay (Auckland District Committee), Mr D. Coleman (Rotorua Association), Mr E. T. Baker (Tauranga), Messrs. J. Bigelow (Palmerston North), S. Bishop (Dunedin), S. Miller (Mount Maunganui), Mr and Mrs L. Buddie and Dr. F. J. Appleby. Mrs T. James, Rev. Nummy (Taneatua) and Mr A. Patterson (Edgecumbe). “This hall represents the culmination of years of effort by members of the local Brigade,” said Mr Barry after extending a warm welcome to •those present, particularly those irom a distance. “From the time when Mr Harry Carr first agitated for an ambulance for the town the Brigade has gone from strength to •strength and the result today of Mr Carr’s enthusiasm may be seen in not only an ambulance but also this very fine building.” He went on to say that the building was almost entirely a voluntary effort—from funds raised locally and erected by voluntary labour.-As Mayor of the town he took the opportunity of thanking the Brigade members for the splendid job which they had •done and were continuing to do for the community. Mr W. Sullivan M.P., added his congratulations, declaring that the building and the manner of. its construction was an exemplification .of the spirit of true citizenship.

Mr T. Parker declared that he could safely say that the building was the finest of its kind in New Ze'a land. He had definitely never seen anything to equal it and he extended his warmest congratulations to the Whakatane Association. He was proud to reflect that such an energetic and progressive unit belonged to the South Auckland Association. When he had first seen the hall, it had he said, taken the wind clean ■out of his sails. He congratulated also the local branches on the splendid muster of St. John units on parade.

Mr J. Mullins paid a warm tribute to the work of the local Brigade and conveyed the thanks of his - Board and Hospital staff for the assistance rendered them from time to time. The new headquarters with its congenial conditions would make for a new incentive and an additional spur to even greater work. Such wonderful service was worthy of our generous ‘and financial support.

Mr W. R. Boon mentioned the remarkable work done by the Brigade on the sporting field. Before commencing the prayer of dedication Rev. Attwood said that :such a ceremony could easily be ■merely regarded as a little formality to be necessarily performed and’ then forgotten. As such it was valueTess. If on the other hand it was

taken up in the spirit of the assembly as not merely the dedication of the building to the service of St. John, but also the dedication of all present to the service of God, then this act could be of intense and lasting value. They could with the fullest confidence then seek God’s blessing on the building and dedicate it to the task of alleviating human suffering. Following the prayer of dedication the hall was formally pledged to the glory of God and the furtherance of the work of the St. John Ambulance Association.

The Mayor then officially opened the hall and invited all present to make an inspection. Afternoon tea provided and served by the lady members of the Brigade was attended by fully two hundred persons who spent a social hour discussing the building, the work of the Brigade and the long struggle required to raise funds and finally bring the hall to completion.