Year Of Service By Junior Red Cross In N.Z.

Press, Volume C, Issue 29502, 2 May 1961, Page 2

Year Of Service By Junior Red Cross In N.Z.

”Hie New Zealand Junior Red Cross has never before given service in so many fields.” says the director of the New Zealand Junior Red Cross (Miss Janet Studholme) in her annual report “It was a year of challenges, and our young people gave of their best to help the millions affected by the great disasters of 1960.’’ There was a steady increase in membership during the year, and this stands at approximately 22,000 in 978 circles—an increase from 703 the previous year.

Health certificates numbering 4441 were issued—an increase of 535 on the previous year. Of these 1100 were issued to post-primary school members, and 1010 of the total number to boys. Several first aid boxes were presented by juniors during the year, and gifts were also made to medical rooms in some schools. Demonstrations and instruction in resuscitation methods, first aid, home nursing and life saving were given. Anti-Utter

An anti-litter campaign i was launched at the begin- . rung of the second term. In i several places campaigns were undertaken to clean up both within and around local halls, and unsightly : refuse was collected and disposed of. Picnic places f

were tidied, and rubbish bins set up in necessary positions in a country town. Service to others in New Zealand included making gifts for hospital patients. Personal shopping was undertaken, and flowers given and arranged by members. Visits were paid to wards, and help given at hospital garden parties and at a hospital creche. Members paid visits to the handicapped in institutions, and a variety of entertainments were arranged. Special equipment was provided for handicapped children.

Regular visits were paid to the aged and the shut-iri in their own homes or in old people’s homes. Many entertainments were arranged. Practical assistance was given to individuals in their own homes by shopping, changing library books, running messages. helping with housework and gardening, gathering and distributing firewood and eonee, carrying in coal. Vegetables, fruit, eggs and preserves were provided. Rugs were made for several homes, and pieces of equipment for new homes about to open. Assistance with meals on wheels services was again expanded, and in several places members went out with the meals to distribute

gifts. Members helped regularly in the kitchen in one centre, both on the preparation of meals and in clearing up after distribution. In one centre 40 girls volunteered for an hour’s duty after school to help at a day nursery several times each term, and many other helpful services were offered to the community in every centre.

Many thousands of garments. ditty bags, quilts, toys, reading matter, toilet and other articles wert sent to the national headquarters and distributed where needed.

Help was given to victims of all major overseas disasters. refugees, the underprivileged and to lepers. A total of 61 cases, four bales and two cartons of clothing was sent to Lebanon, Korea. Chile. Hong Kong. Indonesia. Cook Islands, New Hebrides, and Niue Island. New Zealand Juniors provided about 10.200 cans of milk for Algerian refugee children. Drafts of money were sent to a Swiss preventorium: for the care of lepers in India: for vitamin tablets for refugee babies in Hong Kong: and for equipment for the children’s ward in a new Red Cross hospital in Agadir. A new project last year was individual adoptions through the Swiss Red Cross children’s aid department. Eleven were arranged. Total donations for overseas relief amounted to £4193 4s 4d.