HEALTH CAMP

Evening Star, Issue 22212, 14 December 1935, Page 11

HEALTH CAMP

OPEN-AIR LIFE FOR CHILDREN A MONTH AT WAIKQUAITI v So successful has been the work carried out by the Otago Health Camp Association at the Waikouaiti camp during the past few years that it hae been decided to increase the number of children who will be given a month in the open air this year, this having been made possible by a fuller public recognition of the value of the association’s activities. When _ tho association in 1933 commenced its work 50 children were taken into the first camp. Last year the number was 80, and this year, so generous has been the response of the public to the appeal for assistance, that Mrs Marshall Macdonald will have under her control at Waikouaiti 100 children from the homes of unemployed men in Dunedin and Oamaru. Once ■ again the Waikouaiti Racing Club has placed its grounds and buildings at the disposal of the association, which will commence the camp on January 4. The support of the club has gone even further than that, for in addition it has given the ground upon which the Health Camp Association has erected a bath house, with three baths and two hot and cold showers. A fm*ther improvement at the camp this year has been effected through tho generosity of the Oamaru Committee, which has undertaken tho installation of electric light in one of the rooms and in the grounds. The same committee has shown its appreciation of what has been done during past years_ for the children from Oamaru by_ giving the enamel ware for tho dining i'oom as well as making its usual contribution towards the cost of maintaining the children during their stay at tho camp. The children to be taken to the camp will be selected from the homes of unemployed men by the school medical officers, 25 of them being from Oamaru. It will be the aim of those controlling the camp to give these children a happy, carefree holiday in the open air under conditions which they would never otherwise enjoy. Previous experience at these camps has shown that the children respond to tho holiday in a marvellous manner and in very few cases is a substantial gain in weight not recorded, while the benefit to their physical and mental wellbeing is incalculable. The cooking will be undertaken by girls from Studholme House, and in addition to Mrs Macdonald, who is herself a trained nurse, there will be two day and two night nurses on -duty at the camp during the month tho children are there. Among tho special donations which have been received by the association are tho following;—John Edmond Ltd., £5 ss; Mrs Blancy, £1 Is; Lodge St. Andrews No. 432, £2 2a, Messrs .Cad-

bury Fry Hudson have promised n large supply of biscuits, and Barnett’s Radio Supplies have undertaken to install a wireless set at the camp. Mr it. Dawson has again placed a car at the disposal of tho camp. A street collection in aid of the camp funds will bo held next Friday, and girls willing to assist are asked to give their names to Messrs Noble or Sherriff at the Chief Post Office.