ST. JOHN AMBULANCE ASSOCIATION

Taupo Times, Volume I, Issue 46, 26 November 1952, Page 6

ST. JOHN AMBULANCE ASSOCIATION

ANNUAL MEETING THINLY ATTENDED At the annual meeting of the St. John Ambulance Association last week there was an attendance of 12 people. We publish here under a letter on the subject of apparent lack of public interest shown in this valuable community service.- — Editor. (To the Editor.) Sir — Through the eolumns of your paper I would like to draw the attention of the Public of Taupo of the work given to them by the St. J ohn Brigade and the association committee. In the past 12 months the Ambulance covere 1 a distance of 9,581 miles. That is 90 trips comprising 8531 man hours.

The average time each trip is hours and a trip has been made on the average, every 4 days. Now Sir all the above service is voluntary by members of the Brigade and Nursing Drvision. They give their time willingly to assist the sick and suffering, and I would like to point out that the Brigade with other Volunteer drivers have only 7 drivers to do this work. Each driver and assistant take a 24 hours duty from Midnight to midnight.

On holidays (and by that I mean Thursday, Saturday and Sunday ) , there has been no difficulty in finding drivers and attendants to do ihe duty. But on working day vis, Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday at times it has been difficult to ar.range the duties because on those days the drivers private duties may take him out of town. I have given the above information for the benefit of the Public that in my opinion seems to have the idea that all we have to have is the

Ambulance and it can run itself and there is nothing to worry about. Taupo is living up to its reputation because last Thursday the 20th. the annual general meeting of the St. John Association was held, and only 12 people attended and of that 12, there was 10 members of the Association and Brigade. That leaves 2 private citizens of Taupo interested enough to attend the meeting to hear a report on working of the Brigade and to hear the report and Balance Sheet of A'ssociation. I would like to remind the Public that on the 8th. August, 1950 a man was seriously injured at a local mill early in the afternoon and was not admitted to the hospital until midnight. This delay was caused by Taupo not having an Ambulance and having to call for the Rotorua Ambulance, which on this occasion was already out on a distant call.

This delay cause an aggitation in the Town and a Public meeting was called to find ways and means of getting an Ambulance at Taupo. A committee was formed and did good work collecting funds. But interest waned and the chairman called another Public Meeting. At 'this meeting the Chairman said that through the lack of support that the committee (Then a small Number) had thought seriously of dropping the venture and barding the monies colloctea back to the donors.

An'»t;icr comndltee was formed and under the chairmanship of the late Dean Fancourt more funds were eoliec.ted and without going into all detalls the present Ambulance was bought. That was last October, 12 months. Now after the work that , has been given by the Brigade and the Association the Public have lost interest in the Ambulance except when they unfortunately have to made use of it or criticise it. I would like to point out that the Association has outstanding accounts ior over £200 and these acco^unts have been given to our Solicitors for legal action to be taken. In the last 12 months we have not asked the Public for donations. We did lorm a Family Benefit at the cost of 25/- for each family. But the i association treat that as an insur-

ance. I might point out that for 12 months any family taking advantage of that Benefit is entitled to use the Ambulance as many times in the year that the doctor orders it. i But the Public must remember that an Ambulance is for conveying stretcher cases and is not a Glorif ied Taxi.

As President of the St. John Association I trust that if at any time I find it necessary to call a Public Meeting that it will be well supported by the Public. It is rather dishearting to see at the meeting only the people that are giving the service. What would happen if they lost interest. —

W. J.

SHIONIS,

President.