Unusual Distinction For Waimana St. John Cadet Nursing Division

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 12, Issue 3, 2 December 1947, Page 5

Unusual Distinction For Waimana St. John Cadet Nursing Division

At Waimana, Grand Prior Badges—the highest distinction a cadet can win, involving 12 proficiency certificates were presented to the entire Cadet Nursing Division. The assistant Commissioner said it was probably the first time in the history of cadet-work in New Zealand that such a result had been achieved. Mr A. J. Canning, chairman of the Whakatane Association, introduced the visitors, who were welcomed by Mrs C. Wylde, superintendent in charge of the Waimana nursing cadets, and, at a later stage of the evening, by the County Council chairman, Mr J. L. Burnett, and the Mayor of Whakatane, Mr B. S. Barry. Mr Canning said Whakatane took considerable pride in the Waimana branch, and he thanked Mrs Wylde in particular for her work -and interest. “Something Outstanding”

Addressing the parade, which included representatives of both the Ambulance Brigade and the Nursing Division from Whakatane, Assistant Commissioner Cobb said that throughout the Empire the same spirit of. service animated the Order of St. John, but he felt that the Waimana nursing cadets had done something outstanding. Not only had the whole team gained the 12 proficiency certificates necessary to qualify for their Grand Prior Badges, but he believed quite a number had won more than 12 certificates and were within reach of the maximum of 20. He traced briefly the short history of St. John work in Waimana, saying that credit for the initial work was largely due to Mr A. Carling, of Whakatane, and later, when the nursing division there was formed, to the District Nurse, Miss McKay in conjunction with Mrs Wylde, who had formed and trained the nursing cadets. He also gave credit to Mr B. Heather, until recently schoolmaster at Waimana, who had served as examiner.

Awards Presented Certificates were then presented to Nursing Cadets K. MacDonald and. D. Hughes, and Grand Prior Badges to Cadet Nurses Nola Rust, Jocelyn Wylde, Dora Wardlaw, Joy Boynton, Sophie Brown, Beverly Henderson, Doreen Hughes, Delmai Martin, C. Boynton, Kay MacDonald and Catherine Wardlaw.

Having welcomed the visitors on behalf of Waimana residents, Mr Burnett said he was very pleased indeed to hear the complimentary references to Mrs Wylde and Mr 'Carling. He offered his hearty congratulations to the nursing cadets. Mr Barry said he had always had the greatest admiration for the St. John organisations, but felt that the public did not always appreciate their wonderful work to the full. -He Congratulated the Waimana cadets on their remarkable proficiency, keenness and ability. Public Interest Mr Parker expressed his pleasure at the attendance of the public. For the size of the place, he considered the gathering indicated greater general interest than in any other place he knew. This was also the first lime he had ever seen 11 Grand Prior badges presented at * one parade; Those badges were not easily won, but the honour was worth working for. He reminded the cadets that they belonged to one of the oldest •orders of chivalry, dating back to the Crusades, and one which was about the only organisation in the world today doing a job for the love • of humanity without thought of gain. Bouquets were presented to Mes- • dames Cobb, Yarrall and Barry before supper, and the social part of the evening included- dancing to music provided by Mr and Mrs King, with an extra by Mr M. Burke, • choruses by the nursing cadets, and two items by Waimana school children featuring the following performers: Song, “To a Miniature I ’, Eleanor Crowther, with Hine Brown; play ■“The Hat Shop”, Dora Wardlaw, Rebecca Boynton, Kohine Brown, Pat Webb and Gordon Wardlaw.

! Back To Crusades Dating back to the Crusades, the Order of St John, one of the oldest orders of chivalry, flourished throughout Europe in the tenth century. For something like 350 years headquarters of the Order, were at Malta, until Napoleon suppressed its internationalism. Since then the •'Order has carried on as something 'Essentially British.