PRACTICAL HELP FOR SICK MOTHERS

Dominion, Volume 38, Issue 3, 28 September 1944, Page 6

PRACTICAL HELP FOR SICK MOTHERS

Increased Nursery Aid

The Residential Nursery was really helping those carrying the burden of sickness, said Mrs. F. Porter, president, when presenting the .nursery’s 24th annual report at its annual meeting in Wellington. She emphasized that the children who received care, the majority of whom were between one and two years of age, belonged to sick mothers. Encouragement had been given by a generous quota of gifts and donations received from various i trusts and organizations. a j-he Health Department helped appreciably in reducing the nursery’s milk . account by donating an extra half-pint a day for each child, and each of the supporting branches had supplied liberal and practical aid —groceries and clothing were contributed and the mending of garments and household linen had ben of inestimable value. She mentioned the resignation of Miss Freiss, who had been matron for the past three years. Mrs. L. O. H. Tripp, who was. in the chair, also referred to the keen interest and help evinced by a great many people. There had been a sharp rise in finances in spite of many patriotic claims, she said, and it was obvious, by looking through the balance-sheet, that this could not have been attained except by working well. A member of the nursery committee in Dunedin was present She congratulated members on behalf of the Dunedin committee and expressed admiration for the work being accomplished in Wellington, particularly in regard to the co-operation of suburban branches. So far the Dunedin committee had not been able to function so extensively. Special mention was nipde of the services of Mesdames Porter, Tripp and S. W. Peterson arid Miss I. Sheppard. Some of the myriad off-duty sightseeing diversions available, to New Zealand Army nurses in the historic regions of Egypt and Syria were described by Miss D. Waldie, a Khandallah branch member who recently returned to New Zealand after three and a half years’ service in the Middle East. Cairo and its surroundings made it a place of great contrasts, she said, depicting the modern section of the city with its elaborate shops (where a handbag might cost from £lO upward), and its crowded, narrow and squalid native environs. If one looked round, however, the number of little things that could be picked up was surprising, she added. She was attached to a British hospital when she arrived, and often frequented the English Club on Gezira island, where mauy nurses spent many pleasant hours. Sixteen, tennis courts, a private race track, polo, cricket and football grounds, gardens, and tea served beside the swimming pool were available to officers, who were admitted as honorary members, and onco or twice a week the club arranged entertainment for other troops. Mrs. L. 0. H. Tripp was re-elected chairman of the nursery committee and Mrs. F. Porter was re-elected president. Others returned to office included: Vicepresidents, Lady Myers, Mrs. T. G. A. Hislop, Dr. Agnes Bennett, Mesdames Alfred Atkinson, E. B. Bristow, G. M. Morris, Misses McKibbin, Inglis and Marjorie Adams; executive committee. Mesdames Tripp, A. B. Gibbons, S. W. Peterson, William Young, Alex. Crawford, Corliss, Porter and Miss Sheppard: management committee, Mesdauies A. B. Gibbons, Lancaster, Coghlan, T. F. Walshe, Price, B. Knox, F. Craven, Collyer. Otway, Booth. Dunn, Maxwell, D. H. Taylor. ‘Misses Myrtle Bennett, N. Taylor and Sheppard.

Shop Day. The Victoria League will hold a shop day tomorrow in aid of funds for soldiers overseas. All donations will be gratefully accepted. E.S.U. War Work. The war work group of the E.S.U. has to date raised £453, according to the report, presented at the annual meeting in Welling!on last night. Seven cases have been dispatched for the relief of blitzed areas in Britain and the eighth case will shortly be ready. Each case averages 250 articles (2000 articles in all) comprising beautiful haifd-knit'tcd garments, bed quilts, and warm woollen clothing, all new. One thousands four hundred and sixty articles have been returned to the Metropolitan Patriotic Committee, knitted from wool supplied, and comprising mittens, gloves, scarves, balaclavas, sox, and Air Force pullovers: 50 knitted articles have been returned to the Navy League. Eighty khaki pullovers were sent to the American hospital at Silvertstream; 50 camouflage nets were made and returned to the W.W.S.A.; 388 knitted articles (sox. pullovers, scarves, mittens, and balaclavas) have been, given to New Zealand servicemen.