A NOBLE WORK.

Franklin Times, Volume XXII, Issue 58, 20 May 1932, Page 8 (Supplement)

A NOBLE WORK.

ST. JOHN AMBULANCE ASSOCIATION

BRANCH AT PAPAKURA

MR TUNKS' INTERESTING ADDRESS

A meeting of those interested in the formation of a branch of the St. John Ambulance Association at Papakura, was held last evening, and Mr D. Weir, chairman of the Papakura Town Board, presided. The principal speaker was Mr G. J. Tunks, chairman of the St. John Amburance Association, who was accompanied by Mr J. F.. Hutchinson, assistant Commissioner, Mr A. W. Probert, District Superintendent, Mr S. E. Langstone, transport officer and manager, Mrs E. Cammell, ladies' divisional superintendent of the national reserve division, and Miss M. McLeod, lady divisional superintendent of the Auckland division. During the evening demonstrations by and ambulance squad were particularly interesting. M.r Weir stated the objects of the meeting and eulogised the fine work performed by the association at all sports gatherings and street accidents. He then called on Mr H. G. Baulf.

Meetings Already Held. Mr Baulf, a member of the town board, said for some time now ambulance meetings had been conducted in

the scout hut. Papakura was the I geographic centre, for the establishing of a branch of the St. John Ambulance Association. On the north

they had Takanini, Manurewa and Weymouth, on the east Ardmore, Glevedon, Ness \ alley, Hunua, Happy Valley, on the south Drury, Rama Rama and Bombay, and on the west Karaka district. The population in this district of 20 miles by 30 was 8000 with 2000 more on the fringe. "We

! have all stood on the football and cricI ket fields and cycling track and heard j ihe cry 'Hurry up Zambuk.' When I there has been an accident, we have

learned to respect the asociation for

its good work. The word 'Zambuk' is now almost a term of endearment. We cheer when we see him with his little bag, or rags and smell." (Laughter). In conclusion Mr Baulf appealed to all present to do everything possible to help the association in the future by forming a branch here and taking a deep interest in its activities.

The Rev. W. C. Wood said he was pleased to see Mr Tunks and his party. He had come into contact with the association a little more of late owing to the fact that the St. John Ambulance Association was now doing all the hosj pital's transport work and he would? like to say it was doing it in a very effective and efficient manner. Mr Wood said in conclusion he was present to show his good will and good wishes.

| Dr. Lock said he also would like to express his thanks as a medical man. The association lent wonderful aid to the sick and suffering, rich and poor. It made no difference. 25 services were at the disposal of all day and night. It could easily be called "the service that never sleeps." The officers often risked their lives—an example was when a call was received in' the Hunua district and an ambulance rushing to the call ended in a tragedy when the ambulance ran over the gorge, killing a prominent member of. the association.

Apologies for absence were received from Mrs (Dr) P. Cross, Rev. J. F. Martin and the Rev. Father Duffy. Demonstrations of dressing accident; cases were given by Corporal Harvey, Privates Harvey, Reed and Burman. Commissioner's Remarks. Mr Tunks, in his opening remarks, said his difficulty in speaking of the St. John Ambulance Association was that once he got started he did notknow when to leave off. He understood Papakura was anxious to form a branch of the association. Mr

Tunks first of all dealt with the objects of the association, first aid and home nursing, and afterwards explained the difference of the association and the brigade. The association, the parent body, did the teaching and training. When a candidate had received his certificate of efficiency and got into uniform, he could join»the active body—the brigade—for work and public duty at all kinds of sports meetings. He was subject of an annual inspection and re-examination. Dealing with the formation of a branch in Papakura, the proceeding was simple. All that was required was to appoint a committee, a chairman, secretary and treasurer. The secretary kept the roll and arranged with the centre for classes and examinations. As time went on the necessity for the St. John Ambulance Association became greater. Accidents were getting more frequent. "Ask yourself this question," he said, "what would I do to stop a person bleeding to death? What would I do with a man with a broken limb? The most important thing is, sometimes, what not to do."

To illustrate his point, Mr Tunks recalled that some time ago word was received "that a man had been taken out of the water and to send a car." The police had been advised at the same' time to "send a car to move the body." The ambulance arrived there first and first aid was applied for quarter of an hour and the man eventually recovered. The police were told the man was drowned and what would have happened had the police arrived first. The man might have been left to die. Knowing what to do saved the man's life. Association's History. Mr Tunks next traced the history of the association which went back to 1099 when Jerusalem was taken by the third Crusaders, and soldiers were cared for in a hospital which was established in 1048 by an Italian merchant. The order, starting from this time, 1099, when crusaders took Jerusalem, three vows were taken by the members of the order—namely, chastity, obedience and poverty. From then it became a regular order and at the. same time a military one. Mr Tunks traced the activities of the order from this beginning in 1099 to 1187. When Jerusalem was lost, the order established itself in various places, including Rhodes, Cyprus and Malta in 1530. The speaker next referred to the 10 acres in London known as St. John Gate. Their own headquarters in

Rutland street had two stones from the Crypt of the Parish Church in St. John Gate, the gift of the vicar. Two mottoes of the order were mentioned by the speaker. (1) "For the faith";

(2) "for the serv'ce of mankind." The real headquarters of the order were in Rome, said Mr Tunks. In England they had the Grand Order of St. John; the Opthalmic Hospital in Jerusalem, as diseases of the eye are very great in the east.

Mr Tunks, speaking of the work carried on by the order, said there was no armistice in peace for them, as they were going night and day for 365 days in the year. An ambulance was always to be had. Seventeen cases were attended yesterday, including Waiuku and Pukekohe. "We pride ! ourselves never to let anyone down," jhe added. "In our buildings in Rutland street we have a casualty ward, garage for ambulances, office lecture hall, orderly room, and so on." Mr Tunks commended very highly the work carried on by the nursing division which did a good deal of sewing and had its own clinic. To facilitate the work the lady superintendents each had a "baby" car which had helped their work immensely. Mr Tunks briefly touched on payment for service and said that if people were in a position to pay they were expected, and ought to pay. If people were hard up they could pay when they were able to. "If you haven't got a bean," said the speaker, "well, all right, we are not out to make money."

Mr Tunks next touched on the expenses of the association and said they liked to get a new chassis every three years for their ambulance. In their station they had a supply of medical comforts, crutches, air cushions, air bed, 20 invalid chairs and a host of other things.

Mr Tunks paid a glowing tribute to the medical fraternity and nursing sisters in concluding his address. Mr H. E. McEntee moved that a branch of the St. John Ambulance Association be formed in Papakura to include the following: Ministers of all the churches; chairman of town board, the two doctors, scoutmaster, girl guide captain, chairman Chamber of Commerce, chairman of Fire Brigade, with Mr H. C. Baulf and the mover. This was carried unanimously. A hearty vote of thanks was moved to Mr Tunks and his officers by the Rev. W. C. Wood, and carried by acclamation.