A VISIT TO THE CHILDREN'S

Evening Star, Issue 21636, 3 February 1934, Page 20

A VISIT TO THE CHILDREN'S

HEALTH CAMP To take a family of five or six children to the seaside has its problems, as any mother knows, and therefore all visitors to the camp at Waikouaiti will agree that Airs Marshall Alacdonald and her band of willing helpers are to Ire congratulated upon the success of their efforts to bring health and happiness to the sixty-five little people at present under their care. I bade farewell to this family as they left First Church grounds only a few weeks ago, and so could appreciate what camp life had done for them when I visited on a recent afternoon. The racecourse site is ideal, plenty of space, with well-cropped grass to play about in. and excellent buildings for dormitories, dining room, and kitchen. All are lent free by the Waikouaiti Racing Club, and in the latter department the club has most generously installed a new two-oven range. This has aided considerably in the cooking of meals, which is being carried out by home science students. A typical day’s menu is; Breakfast —Porridge, bread, butter and jam, and a cup of milk; dinner—boiled mutton with parsley sauce, cabbage and potatoes, milky rice and stewed fruit; evening meal—bread and butter, lettuce, jam, bananas, cocoa or milk. The children march in to tables covered with bright patterned oilcloth, and arranged with fresh flowers. The diet is such as any mother can supply t and judging by the results is most satisfactory. Ice cream,

an added delicacy,, is supplied twice daily by the generosity of the Crystal Ice Company, while Wilson’s malt extract given after meals to those who hi Dtuelit by it, has also been generously donated by the proprietors. The regular hours for meals, the wholesome food, and plenty of sleep and fresh air have worked wonders with the children, who will come back to town on Monday with brown skins and healthy bodies ready to cope wrth next year’s school work. A walk through the dormitories showed rows of beds, each covered with a rug made from samples supplied by the local mills, or with a coloured blanket, and each with its pillow covered by. a bright pillow case. The new dormitory, built during the year, capable of accommodating sixteen children, and the property of the committee, has proved a great joy, and here beds, utensils, etc., can be stored until next year. Clothes for all the children are provided; pull-ons and skirts or pants for cold days, and pretty print frocks and grey cotton shirts, with sun hats, for warm days. The Waikouaiti residents have been most generous to the camp. The meat bill, for instance, has been quite small, because of the many sheep and lambs sent in. Many other gifts have been I'GCGlVfid. * On Thursday the children were given a picnic on tlie beach, and were the guests of the residents, who treated them exceedingly well. One could not possibly mention all the helpers, but one who has rendered invaluable service, because of her knowledge of such work, has been Sister Valentine (late of Dunedin Hospital), who now lives nearby and comes every day to lend her assistance. When one sees the good results one must wish the camp to he an annual fixture, and thus help many children on the road to health.