25 YEARS WORK

Wairarapa Times-Age, 9 July 1942, Page 2

25 YEARS WORK

MASTERTON PLUNKET SOCIETY ANNUAL MEETING. PRESIDENT REVIEWS ACTIVITIES. Another year of successful activity and a satisfactory financial position were recorded at the 25th annual meeting of the Masterton Branch of the Plunket Society, which was held yesterday afternoon. Mr A. Owen Jones, honorary auditor, presided. In apologising for the absence of the Mayor (Mr T. Jordan), Mr Jones said Mr Jordan’s .appreciation of the work of the society was obvious from the time he gave up to help the branch. Mr Jordan had not missed attending the annual meeting of the society foi many years. Mr Jones went on to state that the financial position of the branch was satisfactory, especially in view of the present critical times. It was more than ever necessary, he said, for everyone to do everything they could to support the society. Reference was made by Mr Jones to the work of Mrs J. D. O’Connor as treasurer. Stating that this year's annual meeting marked the 25th year of the branch’s existence, Mrs J. Caselberg (president) said it was considered that the time was not opportune to hold a social gathering, but at a later date it was hoped to have the pleasuie of entertaining the mothers. The society realised the great strain many of the mothers were enduring, particularly those who were alone, and the society would not fail them. She could promise on behalf of all members that the society would do its utmost to give sympathetic service. Referring to the unavoidable absence of the Mayor, who was out of town, Mrs Caselberg said the society was indebted to Mr Jordan for his continued interest in its affairs and was extremely fortunate in having a man of his standing to support it.

RETROSPECTIVE SURVEY.

In a report on the year’s activities, Mrs Caselberg, after referring to the 25 years’ service rendered by the branch, said they could well pause and endeavour to assess the value of the work that had been accomplished. Was it too much to claim that, where parents had truly followed instructions, the results had been worth while and there was a marked improvement in the general well-being of a normal baby? Valuable knowledge was gained by the mother, who received advice at the Plunket rooms, in all branches of mothercraft. Thanks to Sir Truby King’s years of intense study, the care and management of babies had become simplified and was no longer a trial and anxiety during the very early stages, but without the faithful adherence to the teaching given by the Plunket nurses, that would not be the case. The devastation caused by the war made it most imperative that nothing must be left undone to safeguard the infant and continue the education of the parents in the best methods for the preservation of health.

TRAINING OF AIDS.

Mrs Caselberg proceeded to refer to the proceedings at the last annual meeting and to various activities and events during the past year. Mention was made to the deaths of Miss Hoddinott, Dominion secretary and treasurer, Mrs John Perry, a foundation member, and Mrs Reynolds. Two courses of lectures and demonstrations were given by the nurses to Plunket aids, who now felt more qualified to give simple advice and help if required and appreciated all the trouble taken by Nurses Cocker and Humphries in preparing the courses. Pre-school children had received special attention. At the request of the Tinui Committee, Nurse Cocker had resumed her fortnightly visits, the sub-branch having generously given an increased amount above their quota,of £3O towards the expenses. The Featherston branch had celebrated its 25th anniversary in June. Mrs Caselberg, when in Sydney during the year, visited the Ethel Allen Karitane (Sydney) Mothercraft Training Centre and also one of the baby welfare centres, at one of the largest department stores in the heart of the city. The matron in charge of the Karitane centre was Miss Warneke, formerly matron of the Karitane Hospital, Wellington. Baby welfare centres were established in many centres and the demand for Karitane nurses exceeded the supply. After referring to the business at the Plunket conference held in Wellington in October last, Mrs Caselberg said that at the beginning of the year the finances of the branch caused the committee much anxiety but it was satisfactory to state that now the position was greatly improved. The response to the house-to-house appeal was even better than that in the previous year. A debt of gratitude was due to the enthusiastic efforts of grandmothers, besides other helpers outside the members of the committee, also for the valuable co-operation given by many young mothers. The subscriptions were also higher. Expenses again were negligible. Mr J. Jameson had agreed to take Mr Irwin’s place as convenor of the car committee. Ninetytwo new mothers had become subscribers. Nurses Cocker and Humphries continued their excellent work. Committee members, at Christmas, had visited some of the wives of men who were on war service and had given small gifts to the babies. Gifts of all kinds had been received by the branch. Thanks were expressed to the nurses, the committee, the hon. auditor, Mr Owen Jones, and all who had assisted durin* .the year. An appeal was made to all to continue with their assistance in order to carry on the national work of the society. OFFICERS ELECTED. Officers were elected as follow:-— Patrons: Mesdames Archer Hosking and T. F. Watson, Messrs Hugh Morrison and L. B. Maunsell; president, Mrs J. Caselberg: vice-presidents, Mesdames C. A. Cameron. J. M. Cm-adine, W. McKenzie, T. W. Wardell, T. Jordan. R. C. Drummond and R, Judd; executive committee, Mesdames J. Caselberg, J. M. Coradine, S. L. P. Free, J. D. O’Connor 1 . H. H. Daniell. A. F. Stewart and J. V. Gordon: committee Mesdames J. C. Broad, I. Bunny, J. M. Coradine. C. Carmine, G. Cowie, H. H. Daniell. R. C. Drummond. D. Donald A. H. Falloon, J. V. Gordon. E. R. Heffer, N. M. Irwin, J. M. James. T. Jordan, H. R. Keltie, W. Michael. W. McKenzie. P. Nathan. E. G. Norman, C. T. Richardson, Sortain Smith. R. Judd, A. F. Stewart. T. F. Watson, T. W. Wardell. Kembell Welch and H. Robinson, and Miss B. Kummer; sub-branch delegates, Mesdames R. Miller and R. Dagg (Mauriceville), H. Morrison. R. Pilmer, Laird Meredith (Tinui): advisory board, Messrs A. Donald, T. Jordan, R. Lee, Dr. A. Hosking. Dr. N. H. Prior. Dr. J. Forsyth. Dr. H. B. Berney, Dr. G. Cowie, Dr. Parr and Dr. Ri6h; hon. solicitor, Mr T. Jordan; hon.

auditor, Mr A. Gwen Jones; hon. treasurer, Mrs N. Irwin; hon. secretary, Mrs S. L. P. Free; car committee, Messrs Neal Irwin, lan Cameron, J. T. Jameson. A motion of sympathy with Mrs J. D. O’Connor in her illness was passed and regret was expressed that she had found it necessary to give up her position as treasurer. It was agreed to forward Mrs O’Connor a letter expressing the society’s appreciation of her services. , Mrs Caselberg was presented with a spray of flowers and Mrs S. L. P. Free (hon. secretary) with a posy. MONTHLY MEETING REPORT OF THE NURSES. The monthly meeting of the Masterton branch of the Plunket Society was also held yesterday. The president (Mrs J. Caselberg) presided, and others present were: Mesdames N. Irwin, S. L. P. Free, A. F. Stewart, H. H. Daniell,, ,D. Donald, J. V. Gordon, A. H. Falloon, J. M. Coradine, C. A. Carmine, N. Nathan, H. R. Keltie, N. Norman, Sortain Smith, and T. Jordan. Apologies for absence were received from Mesdames T. Wardell, H. Morrison, E, J. Heffer, J. James, R. C. Drummond, J. C. Broad and R. Miller. Mrs Caselberg referred to the death of Mrs E. G. Eton, who had been a keen worker for the society for 14 years. Sympathy was also expressed with Mrs Harrison in the death of her husband. Members stood in silence as a mark of respect. The nurses’ report for June stated:— Masterton: Visits to office: Adults, 438; babies, 421; older’ children, 67; casuals, 25; total, 920. Visits to homes (town): New cases, 50; old cases, 180; total, 230. Pre-school children seen in homes, town, 13; country, 6; new cases for month, town, 13. Outstations: Tinui sub-branch, Taueru, Blairlogie, Tinui, Langdale, Tinui Valley and Annedale, 1 visit each; visits to homes, 15. Mauriceville sub-branch: Mauriceville East and West, Kopuaranga, 2 visits each; Ihaurau Valley, Mt. Bruce, 1 visit each; visits to homes, 30. Pre-natal section: New cases, 6; return visits, 7; visits to homes, 2; casuals, 2; total visits, 17. Gifts were acknowledged from the following: Tinui Women’s Institute, infants’ clothing; Mrs Hugh Morrison, sack of wood. A letter was received from the president of the Wellington branch notifying that the Provincial Conference would be held and asking for nominations for the council. Mrs H. Blundell, Martinborough, was renominated to represent the Wellington group on the Dominion Council. Accounts totalling £49 9s 3d were passed.