CHILDREN’S HEALTH

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 83, Issue 50, 1 March 1939, Page 6

CHILDREN’S HEALTH

THE WANGANUI CAMP FIRST INMATES ARRIVE The Wanganui Children Health Camp at Gonville was occupied lor the first time yesterday when 30 children from various parts of the Wanganui Education Board’s district arrived. This number will be increased to 50 children within the next two weeks. The official opening of the health camp, which will be the second permanent camp in New Zealand, will be held within the next three weeks. The Hon. Peter Fraser, Minister of Health and Education, will open the building, after which it will be opened for inspection by the public. The children who are being admitted to the camp have been inspected and approved by the schools’ medical officer and particulars of each child's age, weight and physical condition are recorded at the camp at the time of admission. Old Tea Kiosk. The main building at the health camp was formerly a tea kiosk at Castlecliff beach, where it stood for many years. About three years ago it was taken over by the health camp trustees, demolished and transported to Gonville and then re-erected on its present elevated site. The building was completed reconditioned throughout and is now a first-class building for a health camp. Its many windows and high ceilings give the maximum of ventilation and airiness and the design of the interior is such that the building can be kept clean with the minimum effort. The dormitories are located along the outside of the building and a feature of them is the attractive curtains and bed coverings. The beds of the tiny tots have printed figures of Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs. Each bed has its clothes locker with a compartment for day clothes ana another for night attire. There are 14 beds in the Jessie Hope Gibbons dormitory, which was furnished by members of the Hope Gibbons family. The colour scheme in this dormitory is blue and white and in the other dormitories green and white and yellow and white. The dining hall is located in the middle of the building and there are four large tables capable of seating more than 10 children each. The kitchen, storeroom, matron’s quarters and a cubicle for the night nurse all adjoin the dining hall. The kitchen is equipped with an electric stove in addition to a coal range for cooking and the heating of water. Diet and Health. ■ Efforts will be made at the camp 1 to improve the physical condition of each child and the daily routine provides for periods of rest, sunbathing, l recreation, exercise and school lessons. All the resting will be done out of doors, the children lying on waterproof sheets and covered with rugs. The diet of each child will be studied. The lessons will be under the direction of two teachers appointed by the Wanganui Education Board. The site of the health camp is considered to be one of the best available in the Dominion. The grounds are ideal for recreation purposes and; the many trees and small hills will appeal to the children. The sandy nature of the ground will assist in keeping the building dry and clean during periods of wet weather. When the first children arrived at the camp yesterday they lost no time in becoming acquainted and soon were engaged in happy games out of doors. In order to assist the children in becoming acquainted each wears a tag bearing his of her name. The equipping and furnishing of the camp has been a heavy task for the trustees over a lengthy period. The secretary, Mr. A. R. Donaldson, in particular, has had a busy time, especially during the past three or four weeks when final arrangements for the opening had to be made.