Increasing Interest In St. John Noted At The Board Mills

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 15, Issue 98, 20 September 1950, Page 4

Increasing Interest In St. John Noted At The Board Mills

An increasing interest was noted in the report of the Whakatane Board Mills Ambulance Division to the annual meeting of- the St. John Ambulance Association.

The report by the Superintendent stated:—

Our Division consists at present of 23 active members and I am pleased to note an increasing interest in our work.

Regular fortnightly drills have and are being held, and considering the fact that most of our members are shift-workers the attendance has been very satisfactory. We have not yet been able to provide the members with the regular St. John uniforms. However, the majority are in possession of Air Force uniforms, but these are not really considered satisfactory. Hats have been ordered and should be at hand in three to four months. Fii’st Aid equipment is distributed throughout the Mill’s various departments and looked after by our members, and a variety of accidents have successfully been dealt with.

I am pleased to report that our previously greatest handicap—the transport problem—has been solved, inasmuch as we now operate our own ambulance. This is a converted Buick car and we think the conversion was a successful one. We are pleased to be able to transport the sick and injured in the comfort that is so necessary.

At the beginning of the year the Division took the initiative to provide First Aiders at Matahina about 27 miles from Whakatane. With the valuable assistance of Mr A. Carling classes were held and this good work terminated in an examination at which 15 persons are presumed to have passed. The Matahina people are at present awaiting the official examihation result upon receipt of which they will decide whether to form a division of their own or join up with the Board Mill Division —personally I would like to see a separate Matahina Division.

I am rather pleased to be able to report that a new and very satisfactory First Aid Room has been built.

Everything considered, we feel that we are well equipped to meet any emergency and look to the future with every confidence.