ST. JOHN AMBULANCE

Wairarapa Times-Age, 27 June 1939, Page 4

ST. JOHN AMBULANCE

LARGE ATTENDANCE AT CHURCH PARADE. SERVICES TO COMMUNITY. There was a large attendance of members of the St John Ambulance Brigade at St Matthew's Church on Sunday, when a church parade was held. All divisions were well represented. The Rev E. J. Rich, referring to the work of the brigade, said that in days like these, when the-call to national service was being sounded, it was good to know that bodies like the St John Ambulance Brigade had for centuries been carrying out its humanitarian work, giving up their leisure and devoting their energies to the amelioration of human suffering. The patriotism that impelled them to serve was the spirit behind the members of this organisation. Mr Rich went on to refer to the work of the local brigade in rendering first aid at sports meetings, in training for ambulance work and the nursing auxiliary and assistance in blood transfusion. The work of the brigade in the whole of New Zealand was a remarkable record of fine achievement. Suffering had been lessened and lives saved. On one Saturday 853 members of the association and 181 cadets were on duty at 998 games throughout New Zealand and 1726 cases were actually treated on the same day. Last year in New Zealand 75,775 first aid and similar services were rendered by members of the brigade. Services of this nature, said MiRich, given without thought of monetary reward helped to create the spirit of service needed in the world today.