ST. JOHN AMBULANCE

Taupo Times, Volume II, Issue 98, 4 December 1953, Page 1

ST. JOHN AMBULANCE

ANNUAL MEETING At the Annual Meeting of the Taupo St. John Ambulance Association, held in- Rickit's Hall on Monday evening, November 16, a report presented by the President, Mr W. Stevens, showed that during the year ended October 31st, 1953 the ambulance had made 82 trips to hospital with patients, 78 to Rotorua and 4 to Hamilton. The mileage covered was 9,476, involving 836 man hours of voluntary duty by drivers and attendants. It was found necessary to engage a paid driver who now drives the ambulance for calls received to 5 p.m. Mondays to Fridays. All calls after 5 p.m. on those days, and all week-end calls, were taken by the Brigade's voluntary drivers, while on all trips the attendants were the voluntary workers of the Brigade and Nursing Division. It now appeared, said the President, that any hope of Taupo having a local hospital had vanished and this meant that Taupo would have to rely on the ambulance to take patients long distances to hospital. This stressed the importance of the Association and the Brigade being supported by the public. The means of transport and the equipment must be in the best of order and that could only be done as long as finance was available. . A Blood Bank had been fofrmed in Taupo, there being 35 volunteers at the first meeting, who had already given blood and a number had received advice as to the use made of it. Mere donors were needed, and those wishing to volunteer should give their names to the Chairman of the Blood Bank Committee, Mr J. R. Osborne, or to its secretary, Mr A. Kennedy. It was hoped to have the Association's building started this year. Thanks was due to Mrs Reid and the Social Committee for their work; to Mrs Reid for laundering the linen; to Miss Rickit for use of the Hall; and to Mrs Gillies for housing the ambulance, and taking and delivering messages. The balance sheet showed that the credit balance was some £300 more than last year, this being due mainly to the fact that subsidies due for the previous year had only been paid during the year just ended. In closing, the President made an appeal for new members ( for both the Brigade and the Nursing Division, stating that any one interested could get full information from Mr A. Kennedy and Mrs G. E. Booth. There was also a cadet class for boys, which school boys could join, The election of offieers for the ensuing year resulted as follows: — Patron, Mr J. Blundell; President, Mr W. J. Stevens; Vice-presidents, Mr E. T. Smith, Dr. Thomas, Mr T. Price, Mr A. M. Smith, Mr H. Minett, Dr. Richards, Mr J. E. Story; Vice-chairman, Mr E. S. West; Secretary, Miss A. Wehringo; Treasurer, Mr E. F. Wright; Committee, Mrs Reid, Messrs. J. R. Osborne, W. L. Fulljames, J. Robertsou, S. Kilford, J. D. Swan.