HEALTH CAMP AT GERALDINE

Press, Volume LXXI, Issue 21384, 29 January 1935, Page 4

HEALTH CAMP AT GERALDINE

* MEDICAL REPORT ON RESULTS AN OUTSTANDING SUCCESS The children who attended the health camp at Geraldine during the school holidays left for their homes on Saturday, when the camp closed after a- very happy three weeks. Before leaving, the children were examined by Dr. E. Baker-McLaglen, of the Health Department. In her report to the Division of the Health Camp League, Dr. Baker-McLaglen said that it had been the greatest of pleasures to inspect the camp. She congratulated the league on the delightful atmosphere which had been created in the camp, where the children had all looked most happy. The children all looked better after the camp, said the report. Some had put on more weight than others, but the increase in weight was not the only improvement. The texture of their skins was finer, and their eyes were brighter, while the general alertness showed that they had greatly benefited from the stay in camp.

The Geraldine School had been most useful and convenient. She knew that Mr and Mrs Ruston had been helped by a willing band of workers, and jt was almost invidious to single out anyone, but Miss R. Cleland, who was in charge of the commissariat, had done much to Improve the health and happiness of everyone in the camp. Altogether this was virtually the first health camp held in South Canterbury and it was to be hoped that there would be a bigger camp next year. She suggested that next year the camp should last four weeks instead of three. Mr Ruston, camp superintendent, reported that the last week of the camp had gone very quickly, and that the children had been unanimous in their desire to stay longer. Loeal residents had again shown a keen desire to make the children's lives happier, and on Friday night Mr and Mrs F. W. Maddox and Miss P. Black entertained the children to a tea. Mrs J. Morrison, Captain A. W. McArthur, Messrs W. H. Kirk, and W. McColl had taken the children for a motor drive to Burwood Bush and Peel Forest. The average increase in weight was 31b for boys and 2.31b for girls. Thanks were due to all the camp staff for their fine work. Mr Ruston also wished to record his appreciation of the work of Toe H in Timaru and Waimate, and especially in Geraldine, under the leadership of Mr J. S. Lorimer. The Geraldine Boy Scout troop had worked hard during the whole period of the camp. More than 300 people had visited the camp, many of whom were from the surrounding district, and who had helped to provide equipment for recreation. Thanks were also due to the press for generous publication of the progress of the camp, and to lyirs Johnson <Geraldine) who assisted at the cam j).