HOMEWARD BOUND PATIENTS

Dominion, Volume 37, Issue 280, 23 August 1944, Page 6

HOMEWARD BOUND PATIENTS

Hospitality Extended To

Hospital Ship When the matron of-the New Zealand hospital ship. Miss E. Lewis, addressed a large gathering of the Wellington V.A.D. recently she described the hospitality extended en route to the sick and wounded privately and L>.v the Red Cross. The meeting' was- arranged by the local Red Cross Society, aud St. John V.A.’s were specially invited to attend. When going ashore at Colombo, the patients wore tropical kit, khaki shorts, blue shirts, with “N.Z.S.W.” on the pockets (N.Z. Sick and Wounded) and red ties.' “I tell them they look like so many Nelsou Eddy’s,” said Miss Lewis, “and I think they look very, nice.” The Red Cross looked after them, giving them fruit drinks, cakes, sweets and cigarettes and certain European people would take them in buses for a drive to one of the celebrated beauty spots. The men liked Colombo,; it was so much cleaner than Cairo and other places, with which their stay in the Middle East had made them familiar. They loved going for rickshaw rides and there was one thing they could and did all get—tea. Besides the 4001 b of tea put aboard so that every patient got a pound, it was common to see fivepound boxes tucked under the men’s arms as they returned to the ship. The tea used to be done up in pretty baskets, but now it was in plain boxes. It required a knowledge of silks and jewels before attempting to buy there nowadays .and it was folly to consider a purchase of ivory. A mah ions set which the speaker said she paid 20 rupees for on her first voyage, cost 100 rupees now. Tailoring and dressmaking were two things that were cheap. Lots of the sisters bought materials, on the ships journey up, aud 'the finished articles would be ready when they called back. Towels could be, bought quite reasonably. Getting Near Home. “The boys like Fremantle better than anywhere else; its akin to home. The band meets us and always plays “Waltzing Matilda,” and that helps them to feel they are near home.” Miss Lewis said. “They are so tired of the native element, on whom their quick-tongued repartee is lost, but it’s understood by the Aussie.’ “To my miud, Perth is one of the loveliest centres of the Southern Hemisphere.” she said. The people there were full of admiration for what the New Zealanders had done aud felt there was nothing good enough for the hospital ship patients and staff, who were entertained on the way back recently at the big Red .Cross social centre in the new military hospital. It. featured a snack bar, billiard and writing-rooms aud lounges and all up to date facilities, and it was all dor” within the confines of the Red Cross. In the occupational therapy department she watched girls teaching the men all sorts of useful things. The whole place wtis a revelation. , At Kandy, the Red Cross, girls boarded every ship to see that the wen had all thev needed. When their ship reached Suez, there, too. the Red Cross personnel were the first on board, eager to give them whatever they’ required. They needed ping-pong balls and got them. The vessel had been the first N.Z. hospital ship to visit Glasgow and people showered them with gifts and hospitality. When asked if there was anything she needed. Miss Lewis said she diffidently asked the Red Cross for 100 pairs of pyjama shorts for hot weather use. as there had been great difficulty in procuring them. She was told that such a small quantity would go nowhere and was'given 2000 pairs. “That’s Scotland for you, she told the audience. Articles for occupational therapy work aboard ship that she had had difficulty in obtaining were among other gifts from Glasgow centres. Miss Lewis said she visited a Red Cross hospital in Northumberland where the commandant was a friend of hers. Except for the matron, who was a registered nurse, all the rest of the staff were V.A.s and as they had hud New Zealanders there she spoke to them about the Dominion. The hospital was formerly a castle and belonged' to a daughter of the Earl of Durham. At the Queen Alexandra Hospital at Shenley, specially run for the nursing services, she saw more V.A.’s. They were doing magnificent work under difficulties. The matron-in-chief of the Queen Alexandra Nursing Service told her that she had between 9000 and 10,000 sisters serving overseas.

Tea Dance. There will he a tea dance tomorrow in the Gwenet.be Walsbe studio, commencing at 5.30. Phinket Society Officers. The 36th annual report ol' the Wellington branch of the I’luukct Society was read last week at (he annual meeting by Mrs. A. E. G. Hare, who is acting as secertary during the absence of Mrs. 11. A’. Turner, the secretary-treasurer. The president, advisory board, and sub-committee representatives were reelected and the election of vice-presi-dents was as follows: —Mesdames D. A. Aiken, Tythe Brown, T. G. Gray, IL Hall, F. Hodson, Knox Gilmer, R. M. Jack. 11. Jowett, W. A. Parton, Misses A. Kane and E. Cameron; general committee, Mesdames B. Brown, D. Brown, Benseman, Paterson, T. Logie, E. Reeves, J. Scott, F. Burgess, L. M.< Caeheinaille. M. E. Chesterman, S. Cory-Wright, G. Holden. V. J. Innes, A. Maylor, E. C. Save, A. Schloss, J. L. Stout. R. B. Tennent, H. R. Chalmers, P. B. Cooke, E. O. Good, R. Matthews. S. P. McDonald, 11. Vickerman, G. D. Virtue;