CRIPPLED CHILDREN

Wairarapa Times-Age, 15 May 1941, Page 4

CRIPPLED CHILDREN

ACTIVITIES OF WAIRARAPA SOCIETY SCOPE OF WORK STEADILY INCREASING. MANY CASES ASSISTED. “The past year has been an exceedingly busy one for this branch,” states the annual report of the Wairarapa Crippled Children Society. “At the commencement of the year your ctitive decided that there should be no lessening of the society’s activities in the district as a result of war demands upon its various members, but that increased effort should be made to reach all those who might benefit from our care and attention and by so doiiig aid the national effort. “At the beginning of the year there were 81 active cases on our register, and during the period three have been transferred and withdrawn, there Has been one unavoidable death, and 19 new cases have received attention, making a total at the end of the year of 96 active cases on our files. This indicates the steady increase in scope of our work, and also shows that there are probably still quite a number of children in our area still requiring assistance. The above 96 cases are distributed over the district as follows:— Masterton. 42; Carterton, 9; Grey town, 11; Featherston, 4: Martinborough. 5; Mauriceville, 3; Eketahuna. 11; Pahiatua, 11. Regular visits have been made by our welfare officer every three months at their homes and we are pleased to report that a large number of our children have benefited considerably by the various types of assistance w.e have been able to render. During the Christmas season suitable* gifts were sent to all cases, and the appreciative letters received from them indicates just how much this simple act means to them.

“This is the second complete year of our welfare officers’ work and it has been increasingly evident that her skilled knowledge and sympathetic assistance are becoming more important and of greater value to the society as time goes on. “It is interesting to note that during the year some of the ways in which we have been able to assist are as follows: Three cases have been operated on for cleft palate: three cases have received special dental operations: thirteen have been assisted with special footwear and clothing; a number have been assisted with special foods, board and lodging, handcraft training, vocational training, special education, splints, transport, and many other facilities, while employment has been obtained for four cases. Four have been, and are still receiving special education and speech training from three of our public spirited citizens, who are doing excellent work. Other activities are mentioned tp*. in our welfare officer’s report." Reference is made to the visits of Dr. Mulholland, school medical officer, and Mr Meachen. secretary of the New Zealand executive, and regret is expressed at the loss of Miss M. Hodges s services on the executive owing to her taking up a new appointment. Miss K. I. Craig, district health nurse, had joined the executive and already was proving a worthy successor to Miss Hodges. The society’s income exceeded expenditure by £45 14s 6d, but if the liabilities entered into and not completed at the end of the year were taken into account, the surplus would have been reduced by a few pounds only. The co-operation of other societies and the help freely given by many public-spirited citizens had been invaluable. The membership showed further growth, an increase of nine during the year making the total 125. Thanks are expressed to all helpers, special mention being made of the splendid co-operation existing between the board and staff of the Wairarapa Hospital Board, the assistance of the dental and medical profession, the welfare officer. Mrs S. N. Kilgour. the secretaries. Messrs Dunderdale and Gray, the hon. auditor. Mr D. B. Curry, and the Press. The report is presented by the chairman. Mr E M Hodder