Searching for Plunket's oldest baby

Ruapehu Bulletin, Volume 12, 20 September 1994, Page 3

Searching for Plunket's oldest baby

The search is on for Plunket's 'First Family'. Plunket wants to find the country ' s oldest Plunket baby and Plunket Book to help celebrate its annual appeal and International Year of the Family. In this special family year,. Plunket and appeal sponsors Bank of New Zealand will award a special prize package to Plunket's 'First Family' during Plunket week in October as a way of honouring the Society 's own earliest family. To do that, Plunket has to find New Zealand' s oldest Plunket baby who still has their original Plunket Book, or the equivalent record book of the time. Plunket was founded in 1907, so it's likely the oldest Plunket babies around will be well into their eighties, says Plunket public relations officer Stephen Hill. "We're quite sure that many of the earliest Plunket babies will still have their Plunket books," Mr Hill says. "These books are often a kind of family treasure. "Over the years we have come across Plunket books going right back to the early decades of Plunket nursing but we'd really love to find the oldest surviving Plunket Book owner and their familv."

To honour their 'First Family' Plunket and appeal sponsors Bank of New Zealand have put together a»very special prize package for the oldest Plunket baby, accompanied by a representative of each generation in their family. "9 The winning family will receive a night' s free accommodation at a top class hotel in their nearest main centre, with free air travel if required. Then there' s a celebrity champagne breakfast in the morning with some very special celebrity guests, and some special family entertainment. I For the youngest member of the family, the Bank of New Zealand will provide a $500 savings bond, and the first family will receive a commemorative plaque and photographs of the special event. Anyone who thinks their Plunket Book may be the oldest or who knows someone in their family who might qualify as the oldest Plunket baby should contact Plunket and ask for an official entry form. Contact the Plunket First Family contest on 03-477-01 10, or write to PO Box 6042, Dunedin for details.