THOUSAND BABIESAND ALL WELL

Dominion, Volume 30, Issue 64, 9 December 1936, Page 4

THOUSAND BABIES—AND ALL WELL

Nurse’s Remarkable Record SALVATION ARMY CAREER One of the most interested and interesting spectators at yesterday’s opening of the new wing addition to the Salvation Army’s maternity home in Kensington Street, Wellington, was Major Alice Robins, of Masterton. During 30 years of midwifery in Salvation Army homes. Major Robins brought into the world more than 1000 babies, without the loss of a single mother or child.

Only on special occasions were the services of a doctor called upon. In far the majority of eases Major Robins attended each patient personally and took in her own hands the responsibility—and the Little Stranger. Major Robins is now on the retired list, but “willing and ready” to give her services again should they be needed. A native of the Island of Guernsey, she was one of a family of 15 children of whom nine sisters are still living. She came to New Zea-

land at the age of 15, and entered the Salvation Army in Christchurch, where she was trained for her career.

“I came in absolutely raw, but learned to like the -work,” she said yesterday. Modest to a degree, she preferred to say nothing of her capabilities, but a friend, well acquainted with her work, told “The Dominion” that she became quickly recognised as a maternity nurse of great skill and resource. Wise and efficient, she was an example to others in her profession, and was especially noted for her calm, level-headedness in moments of emergency.

Major Robins was the second matron appointed to the Salvation Army’s Thompson Street home, Wellington, and there she carried on with two assistants when as many as 2(5 mothers and 20 babies were in the home at one time. She also served for 11 years in Christchurch, for three different periods in Auckland, and in Launceston (Tasmania), Fitzroy (Melbourne), where she was second in charge, and in Newcastle (New South Wales).