AMBULANCE ASSN.

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 11, Issue 62, 4 August 1947, Page 5

AMBULANCE ASSN.

CHAIRMAN’S REPORT RECORD YEAR Following is the report presented by the chairman, Mr A. J. Canning, at the annual meeting of the Association held last week:In presenting my annual report covering the year ending 30th June, 1947, it is with much pleasure and satisfaction that I am able to report a record year of service and progress. Reports from Superintendents of the various Divisions from Whakatane and district will demonstrate the immense amount of time arid effort that has been, put into training and in attending sports gatherings in order to render First Aid when required. The Ambulance duties during the year have been very heavy entailing many long trips to such places ate Hamilton and Auckland and the St. John Ambulance Division coupled with the St. John Ambulance Nursing Division have rendered yeoman service which I am sure has earned the appreciation of all those who have been unfortunate enough to require such services.

A feature of the year has been the many classes in First Aid which have been successfully conducted in Whakatane and throughout the district. During the year a Division was formed at the Whakatane Paper Mills and I am pleased to report that members of this Division are very keen and are under the capable guidance of Superintendent H. Moen. I'welcome this Division into our organisation and express my appreciation of the encouragement given by the management of the Mill. It is a source of pleasure to my Association to know that in the event of accident at the Mill capable First Aid is now immediately available. Strong First Aid classes are now being conducted at Taneatua and I am looking forward to the formatiori of a Division at Taneatua also, after the conclusion of these classes. A Division at Taneatua will further strengthen our organisation and will offer some worth while relief to the present overworked Whakatane Division.

I am pleased to report that the year just closed has seen the conveniences at our hall almost complete. It was at first anticipated that these conveniences would cost approximately £350 but owing to the large amount of labour which has been given entirely voluntary the final cost is likely to be in the neighbourhood of £250. I would like to express my admiration and appreciation to all those who came forward on their own free will and worked without reward and thus made us a valuable contribution. I would also like to record that this voluntary work has been of a very high standard. It has been the ambition of my association to have this hali completed free of debt but . I am afraid that this has not quite been managed and it would look as if a sum of a little more than £IOO will still be owing when the hall is finished. Arrangements have been made with our bankers to take care of this for us in the meantime. When I tell you that this hall will have cost close to £ISOO in actual cash expenditure it will convey to you some idea of the -magnitude of the effort that has been put forward. This hall means that my Association has now taken root and With the facilities for training now provided I am confident that a public service second to none can now be looked for.

The official opening and dedication of this hall took place on November „16 last. I am pleased to report that a very representative gathering attended and the dedication ceremony Was ably conducted by our then Brigade member Rev. A. F. Attwood. After the ceremony afternoon tea was provided and a very impressive and successful opening was brought to a pleasant conclusion.

Last March a Paddy’s Market was conducted at our hall and the support we received was quite beyond our expectations. Produce poured in from Whakatane ajnd from all over the district and those in charge of the stalls were kept busy all day. A good clearance was made by evening and the profit for the day was about £l2O. I, would like to add that approximately £3O of this £l2O represented cash donations and I must thank the public very sincerely for this spontaneous gesture of goodwill - This effort was followed the. following month by a “Gala” Day in which all the sports bodies combined. So enthusiastically was this taken up that a profit of approximately £l5O resulted. Again I wish to tender the public my best thanks for its solid support and to all those members of the various

bodies who gave so much of their time so willingly resulting in an excellent day’s sport and a very satisfactory profit. I also wish to thank those who donated prize money, water melons, produce and other goods etc. My thanks are also due to the Maori people who put on a “Hangi” on this day and which accounted for close on £2O of the profit of the day. I am very happy to report that we are receiving an increasing meas ure of support from the general public which is quite spontaneous and this is a source of great encouragement to my Association. In conclusion, I would like, to place on record the hard work that has been carried out by all the Brigades in Whakatane, Edgecumbe and Waimana during the year and the spirit of harmony, co-operation and goodwill in which , these services have been performed. I knc(w I can count on the same faithful services in the future in the cause and interests of suffering humanity. Regarding First Aid in general our Medical Superintendent (Dr. Appleby.) has congratulated the lecturers on the high standard of First Aid Examinations that are being held and the very high standard of First Aid being administered through the district. Last but not least my Association, the Ambulance Brigade and the Nursing Division pour out their thanks to our wonderful secretary whose untiring efforts and brotherly feeling have kept us all together wording as a happy family.