IN THE DESERT

Evening Post, Volume CXXXII, Issue 3, 3 July 1941, Page 12

IN THE DESERT

HOSPITALITY FOR NURSES

DUNEDIN GIRL'S Y.W.C.A.

WORK

(0.C.) LONDON, May 2. Eleven British Y.W.C-A.1 War Service centres for Army nursing sisters in the Middle East are, now open, under construction, or planned. This is the latest report from Miss Jean 1 Begg, Dunedin, who is organising the work. The centres range from a large Nursing Services' Club in Ismailia, with residential quarters, to recreation huts in the desert and a possible houseboat on the Nile. . The first of the three desert huts already planned is now finished. It is a recreation hut to serve Sisters quartered in tents. Miss Begg says: "The location is desert—absolutely, with no redeeming feature, but it is marvellous to see such a place in a wilderness of tents, sand, and dust. I am i sure it will prove a boon to all the Sisters and their friends. We ' hope to have camels to bring up loads of what they call Nile mud, so thai; we can have a few plants and make badminton, deck tennis, and tennis courts." WELLINGTONIAN IN CHARGE. The hilt has a lounge—with a. fireplace complete to the last tong, given by one of the Royal Engineers, whoj .have been tremendously helpful everywhere—a reading room, kitchen,! with servery, and two bedrooms for the workers. There will be a piano and radio in the lounge. The readingroom is also to be used as a chapel for the padres when they wish to hold a service in the vicinity. The total cost of the building is about £1200. The hut is to be in charge of Miss Betty Lorimer, of Wellington. I The Y.W.C.A. workers are having a beige uniform, with characteristic blue epaulettes, and a blue triangle with the letters Y.W.C.A. embroidered on the pocket. A light-weight coat in woollen suiting and hat to match, will complete the outfit.