The Bay of Plenty Beacon Published Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays. WEDNESDAY, MAY 10th, 1939. TRUBY KING MEMORIAL

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 1, Issue 9, 10 May 1939, Page 4

The Bay of Plenty Beacon Published Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays. WEDNESDAY, MAY 10th, 1939. TRUBY KING MEMORIAL

IN deference to an appeal from the Royal New Zealand Society for the Health of Women and Children better known as the '"Plunket Society" we take pleasure in furthering a deserving a!nd popular movement for the erection of a memorial to the iat,e Sir Truby King; the beloved founder of the Society . The objective is to raise .the sum of £5000 which will be spread over the following projects:— (a) £2000 to be set aside as an endowment fund, the income of which to be handed to the Wellington branch committee to assist with the upkeep and maintenance of Truby King House. (This was the home of the late Sir Truby King, which was bequeathed by him to the. Society for mothercraft work). (b) £2,500 or more to be invested for the purpose of providing a post-graduate course for Plunket and Karitane Nurses. (c) £300 to be expended on a suitable bronze plaque or other monument to be erected above the burial ground of the late Sir Truby King. ( (<d) £100 to be ,set asidt for a portrait of Sir Truby King to be hung in a suitable place in Truby King House above an appropriate inscription. In making this appeal it is hardly necessary for us to point out that the late Sir Truby King devoted his life to tihe welfare of the women and children of this Dominion. To his painstaking research, amazing energy and enthusiasm., New Zealand and the world owe a tremendous debt of gratitude. Eminent men throughout the world have referred to Sir Truby King as being one of the greatest benefactors to mankind. We are proud that he was a New Zealander, and that the work which has made his name famous was established in this Dominion. Sir Truby King founded the Society in 1907 and with tireless energy devoted.his life to its welfare and development. His spiritual and moral leadership and his dynamic personality inspired thousand's of men and women to enlist in the work of reducing infant mortality and of raising the standard of health of mothers and young children in this Dominion. When Sir .Truby began his crusade medical knowledge of infant feeding 'was very limited. As a result of his research and practical work with babies the sum total of medical knowledge has been enriched, and interest in infant welfare throughout the world* has been greatly stimulated. He established a system of mothercraft whereby the whole process of rearing a child, even from the prenatal stage, might be safeguarded. His work in the direction of educating .mothers in the importance of natural feeding of infants and in their, correct care and handling has had a far-reaching effect. Sir Truby King has been described by eminent authorities throughout; the world as one of the greatest men of this generation. As far baqk as 1925, the Melbourne Herald, in a leading a|rt|cje, following a health conference said, inter alia : "The Health Conference hasi come and 1 gone and one man stands out, attracting, compelling, and alone. Truby King, one of tihe world's greatest benefactors, a New Zealander by birth and education, takes his plaqe alongside another New 1 Zealander, Rutherford, as one of the Empire's great men." Sir Truby might have attained eminence in many directions — he might have become, a wealthy man. Instead he devoted his wealth of knowledge and energy to the furtherance of the cause he loved. His death at Wellington on 10th February, 1938, called forth remarkabile. tributes to his work from all parts of the civilised world. Donations to the memorial fund may be received by the secretary of the Whakatane branch of the Society or be sent direct to the Dominion President Mrs D. M. R. Begg, Princess Street, Dune din.