GOOD YEAR FOR RED CROSS

Press, Volume CVI, Issue 31366, 11 May 1967, Page 2

GOOD YEAR FOR RED CROSS

All sections of the work had shown an increase during the year —membership had increased by 377, donations by £607, goods received by 531 and certificates by 33, Miss T. G. Eldridge, the centre organiser, told the annual meeting of the North Canterbury Junior Red Cross yesterday afternoon.

Membership Is now 3659, with 3328 primary school members and 331 secondary school members. The movement embraces 108 schools of which 101 were primary schools.

Donations during the year totalled £1430 3s 4d, including £9B for Vietnam, £166 Ils Id for Western Samoa and £lO7 15s Id for South Pacific. “It is the first time our donations have reached over the £lOOO mark,” said Miss Eldridge. More than 1400 used garments. 533 new garments, 1051 toys, 241 friendship bags, 104 quilts, 344 scrapbooks and 89 health kits were received at the headquarters. Sixteen cartons of used clothing were sent to Korea, and six large cartons of light weight clothing were sent to Western Samoa. One carton of new toys and new garments was sent to Vietnam and a large carton of cotton clothing to Hong Kong.

Children had also continued their work on the home front visiting many children's homes, bringing puzzles, toys, scrapbooks and aprons. They had also given many toys to children who had lost their possessions in local disasters. Junior members had also visited elderly residents in their own homes, and in hospitals. Community service was particularly apparent during the Christmas season. Circles had visited children’s homes, homes for the elderly, and hospitals. Several times school choirs and orchestras had accompanied the Junior Red Cross members on their visits. The Good Neighbour Service had always been a popular project, and many circles had sent large collections of fruit, vegetables and jam. About 20 dozen eggs

were received for Easter gifts, each half dozen packed in a decorated carton. Over £l5O was raised at the Junior Red Cross stall, held in conjunction with the street appeal and market. There was an increase in the number of children taking courses for health certificates, and the total number of certificates gained was 1101. This year there were over 1300 children receiving tuition. Election of officers.—Chairman, Miss T. G. Eldridge; secretary, Mrs V. Readman, centre president, Mrs R. I. Brake; Voluntary Aid Division Commandant, Miss M. Peate; representative of Good Neighbour Service, Mrs W. D. Bunt: centre tutor sister, Sister J. Coles; advisory centre director, Mrs H. Hyman; representative to Education Board, Mrs C. C. Holland; Glenelg, Mrs E. Millton, Regional Youth Council, Mrs T. Rainey; correspondence secretary, Mrs B. Drayton; city primary school teachers, Mrs D. Taylor, Miss J. Leggat, Mr W. Clinton; country school teachers, Miss K. Keane; city sub-centres, Mrs F. Biss, Mrs A. Fazackerley, Miss P. Haylock, Mrs E. Thomas, Mrs A. Wylie; country sub-centres, Mrs E. Johnson: other elected members, Mesdames D. Wales, N. Saunders, T. Rainey, B. Drayton, Mrs E. Millton.