SISTER PAT'S CAMP.

Auckland Star, Volume LXV, Issue 27, 1 February 1934, Page 8

SISTER PAT'S CAMP.

FOR DELICATE CHILDREN.

FUN AT WAIHEKE.

During the past five weeks ITO children have been entertained at Sister Pat s Camp, Oneroa, Waiheke, as the guests of the Auckland City Mission. Unfortunately, the weather throughout Christmas Was not summer-like, but provision had been made for this by the erection of a huge play house with a sand floor, where in bleak or rainy weather the youngsters may play games to their hearts' content. Three different parties of children have had a holiday, and in almost every case the result has been beneficial. The third party, which returns from Waiheke this evening, includes a larger number of delicate and crippled children than usual, and the manner in which the sound and rhealthy ones have fostered these youngsters has been the occasion of comment from the staff and visitors alike. The keynote of the camp management is that the youngsters are encouraged in the community spirit. Each day a small group is told off for fatigue duty, and this is always made as pleasant as possible. Rules and regulations are reduced to the minimum, the tradition being that all "institutionalism" is taboo in a holiday camp. Perhaps the one exception to'this policy is fire drill, which is so essential in wooden buildings. At a time when the youngsters least expect it, the fire alarm rings out. The senior children spring to their appointed posts, each crippled or delicate child is carried to the ramp in the case of the boys and the "slide" in the case of the girls, and is promptly slithered into safety. In 35 seconds from the time that the "alarm is sounded the whole building is cleared and the children are lined up in a place of safety.

The Rev. Jasper Calder, City Missioner, recently paid a visit to the camp and a children's entertainment was staged in his honour. The producer was a lad of 13, and the stage manager was one of the senior girls. No assistance was given by adults, and the result was a unique entertainment devised entirely by juvenile minds. The youngest performer was the "camp mascot," just over three, and the eldest was in her early teens. " Five playlets were staged, and the announcer, one of the senior girls, had to work hard to create the necessary atmosphere for each item.

During the north-east weather the hospital tent suffered considerable damage, but it is understood that a visitor is arranging for a hospital ward to be erected on the property before the next camping season. Mrs. Wilkie has been in charge of the camp during the temporary absence of Sister Pat. Nurses I. Watts and L. Jamieson have been in charge of the medical department, and Mr. W. Fort in charge of the boys' department. Fortunately no cases of serious sickness occurred, and the camp has been a most successful one.