THE RED CROSS SOCIETY

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 11, Issue 47, 30 June 1947, Page 5

THE RED CROSS SOCIETY

SUCCESSFUL YEAR ' MANY GIFTS FOR OVERSEAS Another year of great activity in which several cases of clothing for relief overs'eas had been packed and sent away was reviewed at the recent annual meeting in Whakatane of the Eastern Bay of Plenty centre of the New Zealand Red Cross Society. The Whakatane Red Cross rooms presented a cheerful appearance for the meeting. A large open fire and lovely bowls of autumn flowers and foliage made the rooms attractive, and the meeting was well attended by members of sub-centres. Following the confirmation of minutes of the last annual meeting the annual report and balance sheet were read and adopted. Officers for the Year The election of officers resulted as follows: President: Mrs W. Sullivan. Vice-presidents: Mrs L. B. Smith (Te Teko), Mrs A. Robb (Thornton). Secretary-Treasurer: Mrs J. W. Winstone. V.A.D. representatives on the Centre Committee: Mrs E. Armstrong Commandant), Mrs F. Pri•deaux (Lady Superintendent). Junior Red Cross Representative: Miss Lawes who was appointed Junior Red Cross organiser. The meeting agreed on nominations for the Dominion Executive to be appointed at the annual meeting in July. Three remits were passed for presentation at the annual meeting. “Save-the-Children” Appeal Discussion took place re the “Save-the-Children”. Appeal. It was decided that each sub-centre should arrange its own clothing drive—sort and repair and clean garments and send them in to the Red Cross rooms i;o be packed and despatched.

It was requested that subcentres label their parcels with the name of their sub-centre, and keep a record of the number of garments sent in.

Delegates were glad to learn that the drive was having a great success throughout the_ Dominion and many cases were already at the .store in Wellington, which the Government had made available to the JEted Cross Society. Conference Next Saturday It was decided that the suggested •conference of District Centres be held on July 5 at the Whakatane Red Cross Rooms. Acceptances had ■come from Tauranga, Te Puke, Mt. Maunganui, Opotiki and Rotorua. Supper was served by Mrs R. Morpeth and her band of helpers. Friendly and informal discussions .concluded the gathering. CENTRE’S ANNUAL REPORT The year, which has been a diffi•cult one for all Centres, finds us with our full quota of sub-centres. Two of them, Matata and Taneatua, we regret have ceased activities, but against that two new sub-centres Otakiri and Thornton have kept us up to. our original number, and are to be congratulated on the work achieved and a sound financial position after a full year as sub-centres.

In 1946 our Centre Headquarters were officially opened, and the building has been in continual *use ever since. In fact there is- ho doubt that we should not have achieved so much sewing in particular without the use of the rooms for sewing storing and packing. Major Gibbons, from Hamilton, representing the Dominion Chairman attended, and congratulated us on our enterprise, other local organisations were well represented, and the dedication service was conducted by the Rev. H. Bell. Clothing For Overseas All sub-centres have worked very well during the year, and all Centre and Headquarter levies have been paid, and in addition the sum of £IOO donated to assist Headquarters finances. Although the raising of funds is not as easy as during the war years, all sub-centres are in a sound financial position. Clothing for relief overseas has been the main activity and six cases of clothing containing 1200 garments have been packed and sent overseas. These include 180 garments, 1 quilt, 3 cot quilts from Te Teko, 86 new and 105 second-hand garments from Thornton, 147 from Otakiri.

Edgecumbe despatched separately 202 garments and 81 tins of food, also 441bs. of soap. From Junior Red Cross Circles a case containing home-made toys and a collection of (Children’s footwear was sent to H.Q.

The Centre combined with the Corso clothes drive,- and lent the Red Cross rooms for the sorting and packing of clothing. Ten cases as well as 23 from the school were sent from Whakatane of which the Centre supplied four cases of clothing mostly new. We are indebted to Major Abel for the gift of a case of factory pieces, which has produced many warm garments. We are very grateful too to the Women’s Institute for the help to the Red Cross and garments donated by them. “Food For Britain”

During the year the Centre sent £llO to the Waikato Centre Food for Britain Fund, and there is more in hand. £5 was sent to the Dominion Red Cross after the disastrous earthquake while Edgecumbe sent £35 away for various charitable efforts in New Zealand. All subcentres contributed to the Disaster Relief Fund.

Miss Hadfield, Director Junior Red Cross, visited the district in July, and visited schools in nearly all subcentres and met the sub-centre executives. As a result we have three new Circles in the area making a total of ten in all. Juniors are keen and interested. Many Circles are busy on portfolios and have made toys and collected children’s shoes. The Whakatane School was the first school in New Zealand to adopt a school in England, and they have already sent cases of most beautifully made clothing, as well as food. In December Captain Galloway, Dominion Secretary, visited the Centre, and addressed a well attended meeting in the rooms. He complimented the Centre on its rooms, which he said would be a valuable focal point for Red Cross work.

Our last visitor from Wellington was Miss Crooke Director-General V.A.D. who came in March. ' Miss Crooke brought with her films of relief overseas which were of great interest. These were shown in our rooms and we are grateful to the A.T.C. for the loan of their sound projector and to Sergeant Mead who operated it. Certificates Presented Miss Crooke visited the school to present certificates to Junior Red Cross members who had passed home nursing and later presented bars to medallions won by four V.A.D.’s.

During the year we despatched a merit medallion to a former member of the V.A. Detachment, Mrs Miller, who had three certificates — in home nursing, first aid and hygiene and sanitation.

We thank all those willing workers who have helped the society during the year, and we look forward with confidence to the future of the Red Cross in our district.