AMBULANCE WORK.

Auckland Star, Volume LX, Issue 11, 14 January 1929, Page 8

AMBULANCE WORK.

FLOURISHING IN AUSTRALIA. HIGH OFFICIAL ARRIVES. DELEGATION FROM ENGLAND. Fully satisfied with the progress of the Order of St. John of Jerusalem in its voluntary work in Australia, Sir John Hewett, G.C.5.1.. K.8.E.. C.1.E., Bailiff Grand Cross, and Bailiff of Egle, arrived by the Aorangi last evening in the course of a world tour. During hies stay in New Zealand he will visit* the many branches of the Order of St. John. Referring to the scope of the work in England. Sir John said there were 49.000 men and women engaged, all of whom were voluntary workers; the ambulan-e associations numbered over 1000. and there were over r>oo muvinjr divisions.

One of Sir John's duties to bring greetings to the brigades and tions hi the Dominion. He i< accompanied by hi* daughter. Mrs. St. John Atkinson, who i* a Dame of Grace of the Order. While in Australia they visited every State. including Tasmania, and r<aid that they found toe work verv flourishing, although it appeared to have been in a somewhat dormant state in ra.-niania for about nine yean*. During la>t year there had been a revival of interest, and work was now active again in LaiMK-oxt'iti and Hobart. In Queensland there was no brigade, but an association existed with tea chin? function?. The ambulance work was carried out bv the Queensland Ambulance Transport Board, members ~f wnk-h were required to have the St. John Ambulance certiri-

cates. Sir John and his daughter have been delegated tu invent, with the u-ual ceremony, member? of the Order who have been recently promoted, or admitted to the Order; to inspect the various foundations; to pre-ent awards to member* wno have become entitled to them, and to endeavour, by means o f addres>« and the exhibition of a him concerning the Order, to make the Dominion "more lamiliar with its purpo-es. The desire i> to hold conferences wherever possible. with both the and the brigade, and to link up more closely brothers and sister* who are members ol tne Order and its in various part- of the world. >ir John, in an interview on the Aorangi, *aid the Order had under its »tatutei» two foundations. <j lle wab tiie ophthalmic hospital in Jerusalem, and the other, the St. John Ambulance As>ociation with itr auxiliaries, wnich included St. John Ambulance Brigade at Home, and St. John Ambulance Brigade o\ei>eai«. 1 lie association wa» in the position of a mother to the brigade. It taught first aid. and tho-e who obtained certificates, where eligible, if men, to join the ambulance division. and. if women, to join the nur>ing division. The association worked in all tne States in Australia and New Zealand, and the brigade had divisions everywhere, except in Queensland. Its servi-e- were given free, in the member-' own time, and were entirelv voluntary.