Y.W.C.A. FESTIVITIES

Auckland Star, Volume LXXIV, Issue 304, 23 December 1943, Page 3

Y.W.C.A. FESTIVITIES

HOLIDAY CAMP PLANS DOWN TOWN CLUB'S GIFT The camp at Blockhouse Bay for wives and children of men serving overseas is being held again this year by the Y.W.C.A. Already 100 women and children have registered and plans are being made to take another 100. A. week's free holiday will be given to as many women and children as possible, and the money is being provided by members of the Down Town Club and their friends. As before, preference is given to widows and orphans. The Y.W.C.A. provides for this purpose Holiday House at Blockhouse Bay, situated in 51 acres of ground and overlooking the Manukau. The staff consists of a matron, a kitchen staff of two, and a trained nurse, who has volunteered her services for the duration of the holiday. There is also a youth worker in attendance, to take charge of the children's activities and thus enable the mothers to be entirely free. The camp is limited to 10 mothers and 15 children. By the courtesy of Mr. Bonnett, of Avondale, free transport of the women and children from the Y.W.C.A. in Queen Street direct to Holiday House has been arranged. In addition to this camp, the Down Town Club is holding various special Christmas actiyities for the benefit of men in the Allied fighting forces. The young people's camps are being run by the Y.W.C.A. youth department. One of these, for older girls, is 'oeing held at Rotorua from ' December 27 to January 5, the other for schoolgirls, at Blockhouse Bay, ' opens on January 8 and lasts two weeks. ; The association held its usual buffet tea and Christmas party recently, each guest bringing a gift for an elderly person. These amounted to 265 presents, which are being shared among the old people at St. John's, St. Stephen's, Knox ', Home Green Lane Hospital, and ; Eventide Home. A special Sunday meal is being provided on Boxing Day for men in the forces.