AMBULANCE AFFAIRS

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 11, Issue 61, 1 August 1947, Page 5

AMBULANCE AFFAIRS

ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING SUCCESSFUL YEAR REPORTED A highly successful year was reported by the chairman at the annual general meeting of the Whakatane St. John Ambulance Association which was held in the St. John Hall on Wednesday. Mr A. J. Canning presided over a good attendance. Apologies were received from Waimana, Mr and Mrs W. Hurst, Mr H. B. Moen and Dr. F. J. Appleby.

Financial Position The secretary reported that the Association owed £IOO. This was brought about by expenditure on the hall. Mr Canning thought the funds were in a healthy position. With the appeal day coming on in the near future he thought the £IOO would soon be wiped out. Both the chairman’s report and the balance sheet were adopted. Credit to District Mr A. Carling in moving the adoption of the above said that all members were doing good work. The asociation had done a good job raising funds and the public were to be congratulated on their support accorded these efforts. In particular he mentioned the good work done by the secretary, Mr E. R. Dillicar. Reports Mrs F. Fife (Cadet Nursing Division), Mrs Hannah (Senior Nursing Division), Mrs Cowie (Edgecumbe Nursing Division), Mr A. S. Massey (Edgecumbe Ambulance Division), Mr W. Abbott (Cadet Division) and Mr J. Love (Paper Mills Brigade) presented reports of the year’s activities. Excellent progress was reported in all cases and figures for the number of cases treated were presented. Superintendent’s Report Mr E. Ramson, superintendent of the Whakatane Brigade, gave his annual report. He stated that a very successful year’s training had been experienced and all members had pulled their weight to the full. The local doctors had given valuable assistance with their lectures. In praising the excellent work done by the cadets Mr Ramson said that the membership had been greatly reduced lately and he appealed to all parents who had boys or girls between the ages of 10 and 16 to endeavour to interest them in the cadet divisions. They would be under good supervision, would learn something useful and would be of good use to the community as a whole.

Casualty and Transport

Figures given were as follows: Private cases treated, 52; cases on public duty, 72; ambulance cases (transport), 150; mileage of ambulance, 8764.

Mr Ramson mentioned the formation of first aid classes at Taneatua. A total of 34 were receiving instruction and it was hoped to form a brigade there later. Total casualties treated by the movement, covering the whole district exceeded 1800. Medallions Medallions were presented to the following: Mesdames R. Dockray, S. Martin, V. Candy, A. M. Hurst and Messrs. J. Love and W. Hurst. Appeal Day It was left to the chairman and secretary to fix the date for the annual appeal day in November after consulting the Borough Council. Vote of Thanks A hearty vote of thanks to Mr Tuoro Pango, M.B.E. of Ohinemutu, for a donation of £5 at the Maori concert held to raise funds was carried. It was decided to write Mr Pango thanking him for his generous gesture. Taneatua Representatives A motion that Taneatua should have representatives on the Association was carried. Mr A. F. McGougan of Taneatua spoke on the work being done in Taneatua and said he hoped that Taneatua would get going and form a brigade. He could see the need for St. John Ambulance organisations in the district and he quoted a case of a collision between two motor cycles in his district and stressed the amount of suffering which could have been saved those involved had competent first aid treatment been available. At the conclusion of the meeting all present were served with supper.