Impressed By Meals-On-Wheels

Press, Volume CV, Issue 30973, 1 February 1966, Page 2

Impressed By Meals-On-Wheels

The Red Cross Society’s meals-on-wheels scheme for the elderly has made a deep impression on two delegates from the Western Samoan branch of the New Zealand society, Mesdames Imoa Tuisila and Anevili Maiava, who are visiting Red Cross centres throughout New Zealand.

“We have never thought about it before. So when we go home we are going to have a look round and see if we need to start our own,” said Mrs Tuisila. While most elderly people lived with their families there were some who were alone and might need such a service, she said.

Mrs Maiava, a registered nurse, and Mrs Tuisila, who was a school teacher for 15 years, form the backbone of the 12-year-old Red Cross

branch in Western Samoa. Their main concern is the Junior Red Cross, which has 1000 members. Part of their New Zealand visit has been spent attending a Junior Red Cross leadership training course at Lincoln College. They will impart what they learned in their own leadership course soon. They said that the adult section comprised 40 members, much of whose work was done for hospitals. The branch recently had given 16 transistor radios to district hospitals on Upolu and Savaii Islands; six wheel chairs to the general hospital in Apia, the first bed in the new maternity ward at the hospital, and a table tennis table to the lepers’ ward there.

Clothing also was given to children in hospital. Junior members sent flowers to each patient and brought handmade gifts to children at Christmas.

In addition, the branch had a scheme which sent people who needed specialised treatment to New Zealand.

The branch raised money technical training in Wellington. A fourth child, a girl, is a nurse.

Mrs Maiava and Mrs Tuisila visit each of Western Samoa’s 42 schools at least once a year by running stalls and most firms gave both money and goods. Mrs Tuisila said the branch was thinking of opening a handicraft shop to sell items to tourists. Both women have children in New Zealand. Mrs Tuisila’s eldest daughter trained as a nurse and is married and living here. Mrs Maiava’s three sons are studying in the North Island. One has just received a degree in horticulture at Massey University, another has almost completed his accountancy course at Auckland University and the third is doing

to give lectures and demonstrations in hygiene, home safety, water safety and firstaid. Their branch also sends food, clothing and financial aid to victims of floods and hurricanes.