HEALTH CAMPS

Evening Post, Volume CXXIII, Issue 108, 8 May 1937, Page 10

HEALTH CAMPS

HOW THEY STARTED

DR. ELIZABETH GUNN'S

WORK

CHILDREN'S WELFARE

Now that the Health Camp movement has assumed national importance by virtue, of the fact that it is to be encouraged by : money raised through the King George V Memorial Fund, it- is interestingl to recall that Doctor Elizabeth Gunn, medical officer in charge of the schools in the Wanganui Education Board district, was the founder of the movement in New Zealand, in which she brought not only distinction to herself, but honour to Wanganui -(states the "Wanganui Chronicle"). In fact, one might go a stage further and state that the doctor was the first in the world to realise the benefits of health camps for children suffering from malnutrition and to put her theories to the practical test and prove beyond doubt the benefits that would, acrue to children who were supplied with suitable food, regular hours, and open-air treatment . . .

. The first camp had its birthplace at Turakina, in 1919, on the grounds of the late Mr. B. P. Lethbridge. Dr; Gunn had been the guest of Mr. and Mrs. Lethbridge over* a weekend, anid had been discussing health matters in regard to school children, in which she was so vitally interested, when a bet arose with Mr. Lethbridge, the doctor claiming that if she were given the. facilities for holding a health caanp,' she could improve the health of children suffering from malnutrition, .not only for a short time, but so improve the. general health that it would be . lasting. Her ideas had been based not ,only on practical knowledge, but also on the principle that if one looks after and takes care of a weedling plant, in! a few months it is as good as the strongest plant in the same box. ■', Mr. Lethbridge took'up the bet and; generously offered to provide most of' the facilities, the grounds, the milk, the meat, etc. The Wanganui Education Board, always read^ to forward any schemes to benefit the children,. provided the camp gear, etc. INITIAL DIFFICULTIES. The first health camp was not conducted without its difficulties through the lack of sutiable buildings and also owing to a good deal of bad weather. Tents and marquees had to be utilised, but in the following year Mr. Lethbridge had .erected a large shed, to be utilised as a dining-room and shelter, and he also provided much better cooking facilities. In spite of the drawbacks in the initial effort the children improved. The camp, of course, had its discipline, being run on military lines, and the children enjoyed it. The doctor had just returned from three years' war service, gnd . had acquired a thorough grasp, of the1, army routine there. There were Church parades, headed by the band, kit inspection, tent inspection, and there were no harder disciplinarians in, this, than the children chosen each, day for this duty. The doctor herself "was the final inspector. The proud helpers and corporals and . sergeants took their, duties most seriously. The smiling hard-working students, from the Wellington Training College were there also on duty— cookhouse one day, next rouseabouts, next teachers, and next orderlies, always with their band of helpers, girls and boys, adding tremendously to the success, of these camps.' There was no 48-hour week for the school nurses, who experienced practically a 24-hour day for the first few days at least. The excellent meals provided by the camp cook, Mrs. Sampson, and her assistants, helped tremendously, and the children were always supplied with plenty of plain wholesome food. The mingling of the children in camp, also had an excellent effect and many new friends were made. The teachers in charge always arranged lessons to suit the camp. There was plenty of singing, which develops the lungs and breathing. There was Nature study every day in that beautful garden surrounding the home of Mr. Lethbridge, and incidentally a plentiful supply .of strawberries. The beautiful grounds of Ann- ; bank were never injured by the children. Those from the towns took a lively ' interest in the farm activities. The joys of a ride in the farm cart, or a jaunt in Mr. Lethbridge's Hispanp Suisa for the country children tb see the trains were included among ■the many pleasures which all helped to make the Health Camps a success. PERMANENT CAMPS. Camps were held until 1930, the largest one then to date, which was held at the Awapuni Racecourse, after ■the death of Mr. Lethbridge. This was a wonderful camp and arrangements were, made by a committee of businessmen for the supply of meat, milk, etc.

Dr. Gunn always had visions of permanent health camps and their inestimable ..value, and it must be gratifying now to her to' see the movement extending in the Dominion and to know that in Wanganui, where she commenced her efforts, that a fine Health Camp is now available in which to carry pn the good work. The fact should not be lost sight of that in these Health.Camps there is no call for elaborate buildings. What is required is not only suitable buildings, but suitable and attractive surroundings, where country children can be brought near the town and seaside and vice versa. It is a matter of regret that there has been no Health Camp in Wanganui since 1930, but this defect will be remedied in the future, thanks to Mr. Hope Gibbons, and a number of public spirited citizens. Dr. Gunn has always maintained that her camps were experimental, held to prove her own ideas, and she has -done so by having some 900 children in camp in 11 years. :. The doctor is. no faddist. All she advocates for malnutrition is plenty of rest in the open air and in ■ open sleeping quarters, plenty of sunshine-, sun' and air bathing under supervision, and all children will improve and become perfectly healthy. Dr. Gunn had returned from England in' 1918, and while there and in Scotland she had the opportunity of seeing the effects of malnutrition among the children in the schools, due :o want of and poor quality otfood. She was also astonished to find that New Zealand children who had suffered no privations, were suffering also from malnutrition, due to lack of quality of food and thjs spurred her on to establish the first Health Camp.

The doctor deserves to be heartily congratulated upon her initiative and courage, and in doing good to the children she has also conferred honour upon Wanganui. Wanganui also owed a debt of gratitude to the late Mr. Lethbridge for the public-spirited way he accepted the doctor's bet and threw his energy whole-heartedly into the Health Camp movement and gave liberally to encourage it. The Health Camp movement in New Zealand will be a wonderful memorial not only to Dr. Elizabeth Gunn, but also to Mr. Lethbridge.