ST. JOHN AMBULANCE

Evening Star, Issue 22192, 21 November 1935, Page 15

ST. JOHN AMBULANCE

ENGAGE ACTIVITIES His Royal Highness tlie Grand Prior has approved of the issue of the service medal of the order to the following members of the St. Jplm Ambulance Brigade overseas, in recognition of the completion by each of 12 years’ efficient service:—Corps Officer M. Griffiths (Wellington Corps), Corps Officer F. D. Elvines (Wellington Corps), Ambulance Sister M. Compton (Wellington Nursing (Division), Ambulance Sister E. S. Granger (Timaru Nursing Division), Ambulance Sister R. Everiss (Timaru Nursing Division), Lady Ambulance Officer _ C. Asher (Oamaru Nursing Division), Lady Cadet Superintendent L. M'Kernan (Caversham Cadet Nursing). The service medal bar, representing five years’ additional efficient service, has been approved for the following holders of the service medal:—First bar: Dist. Surgeon N. M'Dougall (Auckland District), Lady Ambulance Officer L. M. Scopes (Onehunga Nursing Division), Lady Divisional Superintendent M. L, Russell (Y.M.C.A. Nursing Division, Wellington), Ambulance Sister H. Archbold (New Brighton Nursing Division). Second bar: Dist. Surgeon N. M'Dougall (Auckland District), Lady Divisional Superintendent C. Bassett (Onehunga Nursing Division). The chief commissioner for the brigade overseas has sanctioned that the Grand Prior’s badge, when worn on the uniform of members of the adult nursing divisions, is to be placed on the right breast of the cape of the adult nursing uniform. In the normal position the badge would be obscured by the cape. Members of tlm brigade are looking forward to the visit to New Zealand of Colonel J. L. Sleemnn, chief com-, missloner for the St. John Ambulance Brigade overseas. Ho comes as the representative of the Chapter-General of the order, and during his stay in the Dominion will meet the members of the commandery in New Zealand, the executive committees of the various centres of the association, and will also inspect the St. John Ambulance Brigade at the four centres, and at other places where there are association headquarters. Some other places may also bo visited if time permits. The ambulance competitions held at Labour Day week-end proved very successful. The South Island interdistrict competitions at Timaru drew large entries, teams from Wellington, Dunedin, and Invercargill taking part. The cadet competitions at Christchurch were equally successful, several teams being present from other districts. Monday, November 18, was a redletter occasion for the North-east Valley.nursing division, when the annual social and presentation of prizes, was held, a large assembly of guests, members, and friends being present. Among the former was Corps Superintendent J. C, White and Mrs White, the hon. secretary of the centre, Mr A. Peters, and Mrs Peters, Divisional Superintendent P. C. Wilkinson and Mrs Wilkinson, Divisional Superintendent Hobby, Divisional Superintendent R. Arnott, Amb. Officer E. Flawn. Dr C. Hanan, in a happy speech, commended Lady Divisional Superintendent Mrs Fox on the excellent results attained by the division in both competition and certificate work when presenting the Canterbury Rose Bowl and Wells Shield, both won at the recent New Zealand championships at Timaru, to the winning team (E. M'Kenzie, J. Rendell, D. Hancock, A. Wilson, M. Fox). He spoke in glowing terms of their keenness and steady application to training. Dr Hanan also presented a large number of home nursing certificates earned during the year. Mrs J. C. White presented the division homo nursing silver cup and complimented the winners on the excellent work. Mr Hobby, on behalf of Hillside Works division, presented Mrs Fox and members of the competition team with boxes of and extended congratulations on their recent success. Mr A, Peters expressed his pleasure at being present, and commented on the valuable work being done by ambulance and nursing units, and appealed to all to help make the street day a success. Corps Superintendent J. C. White referred to the practical value of first-aid work in saving life and relieving pain in everyday life. Dancing and gamcs_ were indulged in, interspersed by items by Miss Meryl Swanson, Miss F. Sumner, Mr J. Black, with Mr Alf. Pettitt at the piano. Mr W. Ashman was M.O. Another case of the necessity of trained first aid men and women. _ On a day recently a neighbour complained to a St. John Ambulance man of pain and sickness. A swift and skilled diagnosis suggested internal hemorrhage. The sufferer was speedily removed to hospital, where expert treatment at a critical time _in all probability saved the victim’s life. The second jubilee of the great Queen Victoria saw the establishment of the Ambulance Department and Brigade in England, brigade members being on duty for the first time, during the jubilee celebrations in 1887. There is one body associated with the work of St. John in this city of which very little is hoard, but which moves quietly and unostentatiously in its good work, and that is the St. John Sewing Guild. Instituted some 16 or 17 years ago, the guild, which consists of a band of enthusiastic ladies, holds its regular weekly meetings, when garments of all suitable kinds are made for the sick and poor, and distributed by means of the district nurses of the St. John Ambulance Association, whose daily rounds take them into many homes where want exists. The guild has recently concluded its session for the current year. The Chief Commissioner for the Dominion has approved of the following appointments in the Otago district: — Kaiiangata Ambulance Division : Dr W. L. Dodds to be divisional surgeon. North-east Valley Nursing, Division: Mrs E. K. Parker to be lady ambulance officer. Miss J. S. Stephens to be lady divisional storekeeper. The St. John Ambulance established and maintained two base hospitals, one in Franco and one in England, of 500 beds each and 21,986 members, and served with the naval and military medical services during the- war, 19141918. The organisation of the great St. John Ambulance street day on Friday, November 29, is well under way. Bands of willing assistants will man “ strategic points ” in an attempt to collect the nimble coins from sympathetic citizens. When it is remembered that it is some 20 years since an appeal of this_natu.ro has been made by St. John, it should meet with the ready support of all. Would any who are willing to help on this occasion get in touch with Mr A. Peters, hon. secretary to the association, Moray Place. Now Zealand was the first overseas Dominion to establish a branch of the brigade overseas, the Dunedin division being started in 1892.