AMBULANCE BRIGADE GROWTH

Taupo Times, Volume II, Issue 90, 9 October 1953, Page 1

AMBULANCE BRIGADE GROWTH

WORK OF Mr H. D. COBB Speaking to members of the Taupo St. John Ambulance Brigade at Taupo on Monday, September 28th, £ommissioner h. d. Cobb told a story of his first interest in the Brigade's work. With his wife he was holidaying at Hamilton and spending an afternoon at the Lake, not then the neat and tidy place it was today. A bather got into difficulties and when he was rescued not one of the forty or fifty people present had any knowledge of artificial respiration. Fortunately a man arrived who wa able to treat the patient. Shortly after someone asked Mr Cobb if he were interested in first aid, and remembering this incident he said he was. The expansion of the Brigade's work in the South Auckland District had been a life interest for Mr Cobb, who in forty years had seen it grow from one division to a peak of ninety-five divisions. A substantial area was then transferred to another district and there were now seventy-five divisions with three or four more probably to be formed shortly. In the early days the aim was to establish the organisation in every town of any size. This had been accomplished and now officers of the district were seeking to spread their influence into bush camps where it was sometimes possible to provide training for some personnel. Throughout the Dominion there were 8000 members and these were among ten other districts besides South Auckland. Over the past year 46,295 persons had been assisted through the organisation, while members of the Brigade had further assisted 52,460 people.