GIFT TO ORDER OF ST. JOHN

Press, Volume LXXXII, Issue 24798, 12 February 1946, Page 4

GIFT TO ORDER OF ST. JOHN

AMBULANCE PRESENTED BY WOMEN’S AUXILIARY

An ambulance for the transport of walking cases was presented to the Canterbury and West Coast Centre of the Venerable Order of St. John yesterday afternoon by the Women’s Auxiliary. After the dedication and naming of the ambulance by Archbishop WestWatson, it was formally presented by Mrs W. Hobbs, president of the Women’s Auxiliary, and received on behalf of the order by the Hon. Sir R. Heaton Rhodes, president of the centre.

The gift was an expression of goodwill to the greatest order of chivalry in the world, said Archbishop WestWatson. It would assist in a great work of mercy and was dedicated to the comfort and relief of the sick and suffering and named Sir Truby King. This was the second occasion on which the Women’s Auxiliary had been able to present an ambulance to the brigade, said Mrs Hobbs. It was hoped that its service would be as long and useful as that of its predecessor. Sir Heaton Rhodes said the centre was deeply grateful for the gift of the ambulance. The first, presented by the Women’s Auxiliary in 1940, had covered 100,000 miles in the service of the suffering. This was a larger car, which would be a valuable adjunct to the work in the district. The choice of the name Sir Truby King had been a happy one, commemorating his great work for mothers. The car would join a fleet which was on call day and night in the service of the sick and injured. Among those present at the ceremony at St. John Ambulance Headquarters were the Mayor (Mr E. H. Andrews), Mr B. J. McKenna, chairman of the general committee, Mr John Rhodes, deputy-chairman, officers and members of the brigade, and representatives of the Red Cross Society, the Plunket Society, and the North Canterbury Hospital Board.