Growth Of Movement In Whakatane And District Noted

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

Growth Of Movement In Whakatane And District Noted

There was a parade of close on a hundred ambulance men, ambulance cadets and nursing and cadet nursing divisions in the St. John hall at Whakatane on Saturday night. Groups from Whakatane, the Paper Mills and ' Edgecumbe divisions paraded for inspection. To meet the South Auckland officials and seek their advice as well as to see the parade, a group of enthusiasts representing the new-ly-formed Opotiki St. John As- . sociation, headed by the Mayor of Opotiki, Mr T. G. Johnson, made a special trip. Taking over the parade, Assistant Commissioner Cobb said he was pleased to notice the increase in strength, and was particularly glad to welcome the Paper Mills division, new since his last visit. He thanked all connected with the work for their services during the year just passed, and said he was pleased to hear that the movement was spreading to Opotiki and probably Taneatua. Mr Barry, Mayor of Whakatane, welcomed the visitors and took the opportunity to convey to the Whakatane branches of the Association and Brigade the public’s thanks for their unselfish and efficient service. Officers Complimented

Mr A. J. Canning, the Whakatane association’s chairman, said he was very proud of the work the Brigade and its associates were doing. Night and day the ambulance service was at call. He complimented the Superintendent, E. Ramson,' of the Whakatane Brigade, Mrs Cowie, Edgecumbe, Superintendent H. B. Moen of the Paper Mills division, Mrs Wylde of Waimana, Mr Massey, late Superintendent at Edgecumbe, Mrs Hannah and Miss Fife of the Nursing division and Cadet Superintendent W. Abbott on the fine work that was being done under their leadership. He also made special reference to Mr A. Carling’s excellent work as a lecturer, and Mr E. R. Dillicar’s as secretary. He mentioned the annual appeal which takes place on Friday, and concluded with an assurance of support and assistance from Whakatane for the new Opotiki organisation.' Praise From Opotiki

Mr Johnson thanked Mr Canning and the people of Whakatane for their interest in the start that had been made in Opotiki. He said Whakatane’s Brigade - and Association were a credit to the district and the town. Many did not realise and appreciate the self-sacrifice that went into the building of an efficient Brigade, but in his opinion the Order of St. John was one of the finest organisations in the world at the present time. Dr E.’ T. Dawson, medical superintendent of the Whakatane hospital, told the audience that the St. John Association and Brigade were tremendous assets to any district, and in this district a means by which the hospital was considerably assisted. The public at large did not realise what it meant to have patients brought into the hospital by skilled peo.ple. Moreover, so far as the ambulance was concerned, this district was more faithfully and better served than almost any part of New Zealand. He was very pleased to see so many young people in the St. John cadets. He concluded with a word of thanks to the St. John organisations in Whakatane for' all the good they were doing in the community and the help they were giving the hospital.

Doctors Thanked Mr Parker, chairman of the South Auckland Association, in reply to Dr Dawson, said the medical profession gave a tremendous amount of time to St. John instruction, and very great credit was due to its members. Having expressed his appreciation of Mr Canning’s work for the Association and the Brigade, Mr Parker said there, was no place in the South Auckland area to compare with Whakatane for the energy that went into the work. He was pleased to note that the Paper Mills had formed a Brigade and were providing an ambulance at the mill. He was also glad to be able to say that the general public was now beginning to recognise the value of the work of the Order, which gave, a fine example of the teamwork for the good of humanity as a whole which was one of the world’s first needs today. Following the presentation of certificates to 15 nursing cadets, Mrs

Yarrall, addressing herself particularly to the children, told of an early search for something really useful to do apart from work, with the ultimate discovery of the complete satisfaction of serving others with, no reward but the knowledge of having been able to help bring comfort to those who needed it. Service, he said, made life happier and fuller, and with the donning of the St. John uniform, one took one’s share in the ancient traditions of selfless service that had animated the Order since Crusading days. She appealed to parents to give children who wanted to take St. John training their whole hearted support.

The Social Side After the inspection, presentation of badges and certificates and the formalities, a squad of Whakatane ambulance cadets gave a stretcher demonstration, supper was handed around the hall and the social side of the evening was carried on with music and dancing.

Medallions were presented to J. L. Vitali and R. M. Cattanach, of the Nursing Division; first year badges to Ambulance Cadets Eric Dockray, Allan, Bruce and Norman Taylor; home nursing certificates to Nursing Cadets Yvonne Zinsli, Margaret Smith, * Rosetta Dockray, Ruth Wheeler, Nancy Kilgour, Ora Ranby, Fiona Wilson, Dulcie Dalton, Elaine Johnston, Diana Wilson, Vivienne and Patricia Murphy, Anita Pritchard and Valerie Kenworthy (2 each) and Marie Gup til (1).