Y.W.C.A. CAMP REFUGE

Press, Volume XCVII, Issue 28478, 7 January 1958, Page 2

Y.W.C.A. CAMP REFUGE

Home For Flood Victims

How the Y.W.C.A.’s Blue Triangle camp at Spencerville became a temporary sanctuary for flood victims from Kainga was described yesterday by the camp director (Miss Rosemary Barlee). “It has been a wonderful camp —a camp with a difference,” she said. Twelve men, women, and children ranging in age from 80 to four moved in through the open doors of the camp buildings on December 29, after they had been forced to leave their own houses.

“This is your home. Make yourselves comfortable,” they were told. Some had been sleeping on the floor at the Brooklands Hall. When they went to the camp they had comfortable beds and big meals served to them. The strain and fatigue of the previous few days and nights were soon eased. Work Shared

“There has been no such thing as a duty roster, all have pulled their weight,” Miss Barlee said. “Camp chores and extra jobs have been done without even the suggestion of a request.” Elderly men turned to the washing up, peeled vegetables and chopped firewood. One of them repaired a table and two chairs. A woman helped Miss Barlee do the cooking, “supervised” by one of the men. “If I had hand-picked this group I could not have selected a finer team,” Miss Barlee said, paying a special tribute to the six elderly men who lived in the camp. Gifts of Food

Although the camp was well equipped with provisions when the flood victims were accommodated, Miss Barlee said she had been most grateful for supplies sent in by the Red Cross and for gifts of foods from neighbours. A frozen meat firm had given the camp two carcases of lamb and someone else sent in eggs. The Salvation Army and the Army Department supplied bedding. The vicar of Belfast (the Rev. C. S. Knight) returned from his holiday to help. Some of the residents had been flooded out of their homes and others were not able to reach their houses because of flooded approaches. Most had now been able to return home. The camp “family” had dwindled to five yesterday, but Miss Barlee was expecting three more residents to arrive last evening—a mother and two children. On January 15 the Y.W.C.A. girls will move in to the camp.