Health Camp Pioneer

Dominion, Volume 31, Issue 128, 24 February 1938, Page 5

Health Camp Pioneer

Welcome To Dr. Elizabeth Gunn

WELCOME to Dr. Elizabeth Gunn, recently appointed Director of the Division of School Hygiene, was extended by the Wellington Education Board at its meeting yesterday. The chairman, Mr. W. V.. Dyer, said Dr. Gunu, who was taking the place of the late Dr. Ada Patterson, had been appointed to the School Medical Service in 1912, being one of three or four of the pioneers of that department. During the Great War, Dr. Gunn went abroad on military duty, was on a hospital ship and also in a military hospital in England. On her return, she took up duty in Wanganui. In 1919, added Mr. Dyer, Dr. Gunn had pioneered the health camp movement. The camp was held at Turakina, and his son, who had attended it, had come away with a great admiration for Dr. Gunn. The movement had grown and grown, but he hoped people had not forgotten that that success had come through the initiative and driving force of Dr. Gunn, who had-organ-ised the first camp. “We wish you a very happy time and rely on your cooperation,” said Mr. Dyer in conclusion. Replying to the board’s welcome. Dr. Gunn referred to her work in 1912, when her district had comprised Wellington, Nelson, Marlborough, Wanganui and Hawke’s Bay. She had worked a month in each area doing as much as she could, and had then come ou to Wellington.

Describing the first camp St Turakina, Dr. Gunn said those responsible for the camp had to do everything. She had a mental picture of a boy—it might have been Mr. Dyer’s son—digging trenches in the rain with a woman holding an umbrella over him to prevent him getting too wet. “It. was their camp and they loved it,” said Dr. Gunn. “Nothing pleased them more than the duties they had to perform. And their gain in weight was enormous. I simply couldn’t believe it, and wanted to get a new scales, but then we took about a dozen of them over to the butcher's weighed them; the btrtcher was quite as interested as we were at the progress they made.” Concentrated Health Centre. The Health Department was starting tn Wellington, Dr. Gunn said, a much more concentrated health centre. There would be examination of pre-school children and, in addition, older girls and mothers would be invited to attend the centre. It wag hoped also to obtain sufficient staff to extend the work to the secondary schools.