AMBULANCE ACTIVITIES

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 626, 1 April 1929, Page 7

AMBULANCE ACTIVITIES

TESTS FOR EFFICIENCY Accidents occurred in large numbers at the Auckland Drill Hall and its grounds on Saturday afternoon, but luckily they were purely imaginary. It was the occasion of the annual Easter competitions of the Auckland Centre of the St. John Ambulance Brigade, and the scene was one of keen activity. The picture was invested with the realism of a war-time base hospital. Bustling nurses and brigade officers, alert doctors, crisp commands, first aid appliances, heavy guns in the background, and zestful work everywhere all helped to give this effect. The event was to have taken place in the Domain, but on account of weather uncertainty the Drill Tlall was used. Representative teams from various branch associations in both islands took part, one team coming from as far South as Tiinaru. A committee of 10 local doctors did the judging. The association is indebted to these practitioners, who give indispensable assistance gratuitously. Air. C. J. Tunks, commissioner for the Auckland district, Air. F. G. Hutchinson, the district superintendent, and Air. A. AV. Probert, the district officer, were executives who watched the proceedings. The organisation and control of the competitions were in the hands of Corps-Superintendent F. .E. Schofield and Corps-Officers W. Hitchon and E. Gooderhain. Chatting with a Sun man, Air. Hitchon said that the competitions were increasing in size every year—this year 61 entries had been received for eight events. “We find the competitions are essential for maintaining a high standard of efficiency/’ said Air. Hitchon. “In keeping them going m New Zealand we are doing the same as is done in other countries. We have a fine lot of sisters and officers, and they work with enthusiasm.’’

Keenness and a high standard of work characterised all the events oi the afternoon. The outstanding victory was that of the F.F. team of the National Reserve Nursing Division, which won the Nurse Saunders-Jones Cup with the maximum of 100 points. A large number of spectators was present, and in the evening Commissioner Tunks presented the trophies at a social held in the ambulance station. Results: Gracie AJemorial Cup.—S team, Oneliunga Ambulance Division (Divisional superintendent AI. Ogden, Privates R. Grayson, J. Ogden, C. Goldsworthy), 63 points, 1; M team, Auckland Ambulance Division, 82 points; D team. National Reserve Division, 80 points, 3. Whangarei Efficiency Cup, for privates, rescue of patient with fractured femur from alongside burning car, one member of team being disabled from burns.—E team, National Reserve (Privates AV. Dean, A. Rodgers. B. Agnew, and G. Potter), 97.5 points, 1; C team, East Town Railway, Wanganui. 88 points, 2; L' team, Onehunga, 82 points, 3. Auckland Ambulance Cup, open to ambulance and nursing divisions, judged on observation, tact, resource and dexterity, impromptu first-aid test.—Al team, Auckland Ambulance (Corporal Hadaway, Privates Postlewaite, Easton, PI. Barker'), 82 points, 1; National Reserve Nursing and Hamilton Ambulance, tied, 79 points, 2; Plast Town Railway, AA'anganui, 76 points, 4. Horsley Cup, for nursing divisions throughout Dominion.—DD team. AVelliugton South (Ambulance Sisters A. Sharp, S. Bruce, K. Gaby, and G. Miller). 135 points, 1; BB team. Tirnaru Nursing Division, 131 points, 2: EE team, National Reserve Nursing, 121, 3. Nurse launders-Jones Cup, for efficiency in bedmaking, diagnosis and treatment of injury, etc.—FF team, Naional Reserve Nursing (AV. Tomlinson, I». Ilobilen, J. Xicholls and W. Alartin). 100 points; EE team, National Reserve Nursing, 89 points, 2; CC team, Auckland Nursing. 79 points, 3. Smith-Hathaway Rose Bowl, for nursing divisions. —FF team. National Reserve Nursing (Ambulance Sisters W. Tomlinson, B. Plobden, J. Xicholls and AV. Martin), SO points, 1: GG team, Epsom Nursing. 72 points, 2; CC team, Auckland Nursing, 70 points, 3. Intercolonial Challenge Cup, points for three events. —K team. Auckland A*mbu--Ihnee (Sergeant K. Crawford, Privates H. Turner, C. Hali, H. Chapman), 171 points, 1- S team. Onehunga Ambulance, 170 points. 2: O team, Whangarei Y.M.C.A., 166 points, 3. _ , Gage Challenge Cup, tirst-class test in first-aid and crossing unsafe obstacle with patient.—O team. Hamilton (Privates Mitchell. Hawkins. Whittaker. Hislop), 94 points 1 : C team. East Town Railway, P 3 points, 2; B team, National Reserve, 22 points, 3. J