SAMARITANS FORM BRYNDWR BRANCH

Press, Volume CVI, Issue 31097, 28 June 1966, Page 18

SAMARITANS FORM BRYNDWR BRANCH

A branch of the Good Samaritan Society formed in Bryndwr last night received two urgent requests for assistance. The Rev. Canon R. A. Carson, vicar of St Aidan’s Anglican Church, where the meeting was held, asked for volunteers next Friday and Monday to look after a woman recently discharged from hospital, and for a person to offer daily transport to a crippled person living in the area and working in the city. More than 215 persons offered their services to the society at the meeting, which inaugurated the ninth, and last, area of Christchurch in which the society is working.

With the whole of the greater city covered it was hoped that there were 2000 Good Samaritans willing to offer at least an hour a month to assist the sick and distressed, said the chairman (Mr W. N. Rathbun). Started in Christchurch In the latter part of 1964, and “tried out very quietly for six months,” the society was now well organised and received requests for information about its working from

all parts of New Zealand and Australia, Mr Rathbun said. One of the unfortunate aspects of suburbia was that people built fences around themselves, and it became difficult for others to know their needs, said the Rev. T. Sheppard, speaking on behalf of the Methodist Church. The Good Samaritan Society allowed those willing to help to meet many needs. The Rev. J. Kelly, of St. Matthew’s Roman Catholic Church, said he knew of the good work already done by the society, and was glad that it was being extended.

Similar remarks were made by the Rev. A. Baxter, representing the Presbyterian Church, and Canon Carson.

The meeting elected Mr B. A. Grey as area chairman, and Mr B. Dwyer as area secretary. Telephone secretaries for distributing the work in seven sectors of Merivale, Fendalton, Bryndwr, Burnside, Bishopdale-Wairakei, Papanui and Papanui North will be appointed from volunteers who offered their services at the meeting. There were jobs for everyone from 16 to 80. ranging from mending a leaking tap to keeping a lonely person company, Mr Rathbun said. This did not always involve going away from one’s own home, as mothers with young children could do baking, mending and ironing, and look after children.