Report Presented On Nurses' Council

Press, Volume C, Issue 29504, 4 May 1961, Page 2

Report Presented On Nurses' Council

Impressions of the twelfth quadrennial conference of the International Council of Nurses, held recently in Melbourne, were given by two observers from New Zealand, Miss S. Rolls and Mrs M. Chambers, at a recent meeting of the Canterbury branch of the New Zealand Registered Nurses’ Association. The opening of Congress was preceeded by religious services at St. Patrick's Roman Catholic Cathedral and St Paul’s Anglican Cathedral. There were approximately 2300 nurses representing 46 countries of the world present. The theme of the Congress was “wisdom and guidance through professional organisation.” Prime Minister’s Message Miss Agnes Ohlsen, retiring president of the council, presided and Miss Gladys Schott, president of Royal Australia Nursing Federation welcomed visitors to the congress and conveyed a message from the Prime Minister of Australia (Mr Menzies). The text of the message read: "In your profession of altruism you have long since learnt that the art of healing the sick recognises no barriers and that co-operation gets things done. Therefore, keeping before you the principles that guide you in your daily tasks, you are assured of fruitful meetings. Similarly we, who are beneficiaries of your skill and compassion, can count on hearing of new ways in which you will bring yourselves to the service of mankind.” The opening ceremony was performed by the Administrator of the Commonwealth of Australia (Sir Dallas Brooks). Guests of honour included representatives of the League of Red Cross Societies, International Commissioner of Red Cross, World Health Organisation, World Federation for Mental Health. Rockefeller Foundation. International Confederation of Midwives, International Committee of Catholic Nurses. World Medical Association and International Labour Organisation. Miss Daisy Bridges retiring secretary, presented a report on the work carried out, including the numerous visits made to many overseas member countries by members of the executive of I.C.N. for the purpose of helping the small associations. Congress oartieipants divided into sections to dfseuss nursing education. nursing service, economic welfare, and public relations. Sneakers on various aspects of these topics were chosen from a wide cross section of the countries represented ineluding Miss W Train and Miss A Orbell, of New Zealand. International Night One of the most colourful sessions of the Congress was that of International Night

and the admission of 13 new member countries. In this ceremony a student nurse in the national costume of each of the new countries admitted, Guiana, Burma, China, Ghana, Kenya, Nigeria. Singapore, Thailand. Venezuela. Egypt, Jordan. Mexico and Spain .carried a flag of her country and was accompained to the dais by the president of the sponsoring country. Dr. Marie Jahoda, a world figure, lecturer in psychology and the author of ‘‘Current Concepts of Mental Health” and ‘‘Race Relations and Mental Health” in an evaluation of the Congress said that one of the important and pleasing aspects of the Congress was that there was no suggestion of the larger countries patronising the small countries. Dr Jahoda warned against any country whether large or small, resting on its laurels, no matter how efficient or how well organised it might consider its own particular nursing services to be. “The aim of all member countries must be to continue in research of ways and means of not only improving their own individual organisations but to assist the newer member countries.” she said. Miss Clamageran (France) was elected council president. The retiring president, Miss Agnes Ohlsen (United States) was elected first vicepresident, Miss T. K. Adranvala (India), second vicepresident and Miss Gladys Schott (Australia), third vice-president. Miss Helen Nussbaum (formerly secretary of the Swiss Nursing Association and now of council headquarters staff) was elected council secretary. The theme for the next four years given by Miss Clamageran is “inquiry,” a word which in view of the searching nature of many of the discussions and talks throughout Congress would appear to be a very appropriate one. In addition to the delegates from each member country there were many observers present, including approximately 200 from the United States and 200 from New Zealand. The New Zealand delegation consisted of Miss W Train, president of the New Zealand Registered Nurses' Association). Miss A. Orbell, Miss E. Puttock, Miss S. Lowe and Miss E. McNaughton.