Railways start for local Zam Buk

Ruapehu Bulletin, Volume 6, Issue 294, 11 July 1989, Page 12

Railways start for local Zam Buk

"* Did you know that fifty two years ago the local St John Ambulance was started by a few NZ Railway.guards, shunters and firemen?

The first meeting was convened by Mr Wattie Kerr, with 14 people

attending. Mr Ernie Clark was instructor and Doctor

Jordan gave lectures to the classes, which he did for the next ten years. The first exam was held at Doctor Felthams Raetihi on 17th November 1937 and 16 members passed. In those days you had to know all the bones of the body plus all the organs and their functions. Each person at the classes was charged a shilling (10c) to build up funds. There was no expense fee for Railway personnel but outside members paid 7/6 (75c)

This edition of Our History is one with a difference - it looks back on the past of an important Waimarino service club, the Order of St John who offer first aid training and first aid help at many of our sporting events.

which was refunded after 1 2 months ambulance duty. First aid duties started on January 12 1938 at the Calidonian sports. Other events covered were picnics, Rangataua Sports, Raetihi shows, football at Karioi, Rangataua, Ohakune,

Ohakune Junction, Pakaki (Ike Plunket's team), plus Hukaroa Marae team, Joe Ruski's cycle club, and ladies and mens hockey. The Zam Buk had plenty to do and most of it was done on the good old push bike.

Funds raised To help with funds, a ladies committee was formed with Mrs Kerr in the chair. Dances were held once a fortnight, railway pay week, on the Saturday night in railway hall. Tickets Men 1/6 (15c), ladies 1/(10c). After supper it was cheaper - men 1 /- (10c) ladies 6d (5c). After a few weeks it was found that quite a few people were getting in without paying so Tiny Medhurst (6ft, 6in tall and 18 stone in weight) was put in charge of the door. 131/3 yards of unbleached calico was bought for triangular bandages at the price of nine pence (about 8c) a bandage. The price of bandages these days is $5. Each ambulance man

donated money towards the purchase of uniforms which were made to measure in January 1939. In 1938 it was discussed how to raise funds to buy a motor ambulance to be stationed in a shed behind Youngman's shop. This proposal was delayed for 12 months and the Ohakune Junction Cash Stores grocery van was used for the next few years. The said van was a Dodge van built like the U.S.A. ambulances, so was just ideal for stretcher cases. On November 9, 1941 a letter was sent to the Minister of Health, asking that a motor ambulance be supplied to the Raetihi Hospital, stating that the nearest ambulance at that time was at Turnpage 14

St John's early days recalled

trompagelZ Wanganui. If needed it took two hours to get to Ohakune. Accidents Many times the Brigade was called to meet a train with someone injured in an accident, who had to be placed in the guard's van. The patient would be transported to Hospital by van if a stretcher case, or by one of the brigade member's cars. The worst accident was a spinal injury, at Christmas 1937. The patient was placed on a piece of timber 12" wide by 2" thick under the supervision of Doctor Jordan and then placed on the back of a small truck with a cover on and a mattress on the deck and travelled at the fast speed of 10 miles an hour to Raetihi Hospital. This was before the use of the Junction Cash Store van. The patient lived and could walk with the aid of sticks. First Aid lectures were given to the Home Guard and the Raetihi ;ire Brigade in 1939 by Ernie Clarke and Wattie Kerr. A ladies section of the ambulance was formed in 1940 and carried on until 1946 when they became members of the local Brigade. Accidcnfc, in the bush were most difficult to handle as usually the casualty would have to be carried out on a stretcher made on the spot by cutting two sapplings and using either two coats or sacks with the poles through the sleeves of the coat. About six or eight men helped carry the patient out or sometimes he was on the bush train and met at the mill or nearest place accessible by a van. No helicopters then! Other cases included sickness, poisoning, gunshot wounds and drowning. We had the lot! The ffunny side Just think of a mini that had finishcd up over the bank and six young people inside. You are faced with 12 legs and 12 arms and have to find who belongs to who. No one was seriously hurt. It was like gctting sardincs out of a half opened tin! Anothcr case involved a car over a bank with five people in it and not one could speak English. The probleni lay in gciting them to understand what you wantcd them to do.

Numbers wax & wane The numbers in the Brigade fluctuated very much after the war - in 1940 there were 25 first aiders and in 1946 we were down to three. At the time of the Tangiwai disaster in 1953, there were just five and

all those not on duty at the Railway were down at the bridge. Some spent two days at the accident. Credit must be given to the NZ Forest Service for their valuable assistance. It took a major disaster to wake the people up - in 1954 volunteers numbered

11, but sad to say that once again over the years the numbers have dropped not only here but all over New Zealand. In the early years we were taught the three P's which stood for "Pick em up, Push them in (ambulance) and P . .

. Off". The lliree P's are still used, but now they mean Persevere, Patience and Plenty of time, because now you can get the ambulance. Now most accidents are attended by the Fire Brigade and Ambulance Service which is ideal as the firemen have all

taken courses in First Aid and also have all the rescue equipment in the engines. "This history article is to remind you all that if you wish to keep the St John Ambulance members at your sports events, what about some of you that have

been through a first aid course in the last few years giving us a hand? All you have to do is contact any one of the Brigade members or give me a phone call at home.

George

Murdie

St John Ambulance Phone 58-323