ST. JOHN AMBULANCE

Opotiki News, Volume X, Issue 1052, 5 December 1947, Page 3

ST. JOHN AMBULANCE

COMMITTEE MEETS A meeting of the committee of Bt. John Ambulance was held in the Borough Council Chambers on Wednesday night, Mr. C. G. Calvert (chairman), presiding. Also , present were Mr. T. G. Johnson Dr. C. S. James, Mr. A. Partridge, Mr. G. Bruton, J Mrs. A. B. Stott, Mrs. -Morel!, Major L. Jones and Mr. W. R. Payne (secretary). Mr. Calvert reported on the visit to Whakatane for the inspection and thanked those who had made their car 3 available. A vote of thanks was passed to Mr. Stott and Mr. Johnson for the use of their cars. While it was realised that.Mou- - day night did not suit sonic who wished to take part in the classes, that was the only night on which the hall was available and on which the doctors could attend. The chairman reported that three dozen bandages had been obtained and had been hemmed by Miss N. Hawkins. It was decided to thank Miss Hawkins for her work. It was decided to order another three dozen bandages. The chairman reported that 25 men and IS women were undergoing the course of instruction while another four were joining. Arrangements for splints were in hand.

It was decided to procure four blankets from- tire War Assets Realisation Board. Owing to the larger number than was aticipated joining the Brigade it was found necessary to order another supply of instruction books. Some discussion took place concerning the meeting of the cost of the uniforms and on the motion of Dr. James, seconded by Mr. Johnson, it was decided that the association should meet the cost. Information having been received concerning the building of an amulance it was decided to hand the information on to the Opotiki Hospital Board for their consideration •together with a covering letter.

ANNUAL INSPECTION On Friday night at Waimana and on Saturday night at Whakatane, members of the St- John Ambulance Brigade, Nursing Division and the Ambulance Cadets and Cadet Nursing Division, paraded for the annual inspection and presentation of certificate:: and badges. Visitingofficials from Hamilton were present for the occasion. They were Assistant Commissioner H. D. Cobb, officer in charge of the South Auckland Brigade district, Mrs. Cobb, Lady District Officer (Nursing Division),. Mrs. D. P. Yarrall, Lady District Officer in charge of Nursing Cadets and Mr. T. Parker, of Hamilton, chairman of the South Auckland St. John Ambulance Association.

At Waimana, Grand Prior Badges—the highest distinction a cadet can win—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.

Addressing the parade, assistant Commissioner Cobb traced briefly the short history of St. John work in Waimana, saying that credit for the initial work was largely due to Mr. 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 ga\c credit to Mr. B. Heather, until recently schoolmaster at Waimana, who had served as examiner. Certificates were then presented to Nursing Cadets K. MacDonald and D. Hughes, and Grand Prior Badges to Cadet Nurses Nola Itust, Jocelyn Wylde, Dora Wardlaw, Joy Boynton, Sophie Brown, Beverly Hcnderson, Doreen Hughes, Delmai Martin,' C. Boynton, Kay MacDonald and Catherine Wardlaw.