MOUNTED TRAINING

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXVIII, Issue 20622, 25 November 1941, Page 10

MOUNTED TRAINING

ST. JOHN AUXILIARY GRADED SEPARATE UNIT WEEK’S CAMP CONCLUDED A mounted training camp, lasting eight days, for members of the St. John Mounted Auxiliary, closed on Saturday, the showgrounds having been placed at the disposal of the unit for the purpose. Up to the present the Mounted Auxiliary has been attached to the Gisborne Nursing Division of the St. John Ambulance Brigade, but now that a number of members hold first aid and home nursing certificates it is possible to register it # as a separate qualified unit of tile St. John Ambulance. During camp week, each day was fully occupied with mounted' drill, stretcher drill and lectures, the lectures being given by members of the medical and nursing professions in the evenings. On Sunday morning members attended services at their respective churches. Mounted drill instruction given by Sergeant-Major E. Mothes, N.Z.T.S., brought the auxiliary to a state of perfection which delighted visitors on Friday, when also a display of stretcher drill was given by 12 members who had been trained by Mr. A. Freebairn, the complicated details being performed very .creditably. Afterwards first aid and home nursing certificates were presented by Mrs. H. H. De Costa, wife of the- chairman of the St, John Ambulance Association in Gisborne, in the absence of the Mayoress, Mrs. N. H. Bull.

Auxiliary Congratulated

On Thursday afternoon a visit was naid to the camp by Captain C. E. IT. Menzies, D.C.M., second-in-command of the No. 4 Squadron of the Independent Mounted Rides, and Dr. W. A. Bowie, divisional surgeon of the Nursing Division. After witnessing the mounted drill. Captain Menzies addressed the members and congratulated them on the degree of efficiency they had attained in so short a period, and expressed the hope shared by the other members of No. 4 squadron that the auxiliary, before long, would be officially attached to them as first aid workers. As there were not sufficient horsewomen available for the work, he hoped that many more in the scattered district would join this most necessary unit. On Friday afternoon a brief visit was paid to the camp by Captain T. A. Snelling, M.C., and Captain E. R. Black, M.C., area officer, who is also very interested in mounted work, as

he was a mounted officer in the last war. They»expressed satisfaction at the manner in which the drill movements were carried out, and stressed the importance of the work. Members in Camp The following members were in camp: Misses F. Hood (Kanakanaia), D. Cowan, U. Duncan (Makarori), D. Hansen (Hexton), G. Moore, N. Park, C. Parkinson (Whatatutu), O. Moore (Mangatu), P. Williams. (Muriwai), I. McKenzie (Ormond), P. Burnett, D. Kemp, M. Williams, B. Morice (Ruatoria), M. McNeil (Tikitiki), W. Lysnar (Gisborne), M. Cooper (Wainui Beach), J. Barker, M. Frazer, F. Loffler (Pouawa), B. Eivers (Tokomaru Bay), M. Simpson (Patutahi), and M. O. Williams (Te Puia).

Valuable assistance in the running of the camp was given by Mrs. Ferguson, Gisborne, who was in charge of the stores and clerical work, and by Mrs. Pearson, Gisborne, who was responsible for the cooking arrangements.