225 CHILDREN ADMITTED TO HEALTH CAMP

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXXVI, Issue 23093, 4 November 1949, Page 4

225 CHILDREN ADMITTED TO HEALTH CAMP

“A total of 225 children from the Gisborne and surrounding districts were admitted to the King George V memorial health camp at the Park Domain during the past year. These children were selected by district and school nurses, to whom the P.B. and E.C. district executive was much indebted,” said the chairman, Mr. H. Holmes, in his annual report last night.

The four main districts from which the children were drawn were: Gisborne, 79; Bay of Plenty, 38; Wairoa, 59; and East Coast, 49. All children were medically examined both on arrival and departure, and the improvement gained in six weeks, both mentally and physically, had been remarkable in many cases.

General maintennace had been carried out as required during the year, Mr. Holmes stated, and it was anticipated that in the near future many necessary extensions and improvements would be made to fit the camp more suitably to an all-year-round camp. Plans for the required extensions had been prepared by Mr. F. H. Forge, and had been forwarded for approval. Successful Stamp Campaign

The health stamp campaign had been particularly successful this year, sales in the Gisborne postal district having yielded £768 19s 9cl towards the maintenance of the camp. In this connection the executive was very grateful to the chief postmaster and his staff and to the postmasters in the country districts, also to the Cook Hospital nurses and the numerous people who assisted in making the campaign successful.

During the year Miss Deane had resigned her position as matron of the camp. In carrying out her work she had never spared herself, Mr. Holmes said, and the welfare of the children had always been her first consideration. The duties of matron were now being carried out very capably by Miss Thompson, who previously had been employed at the camp in Roxburgh. Two resignations from executive members were received with regret. Dr. Theo Hall, whose valuable advice and assistance had been a considerable help to the executive for many years, intimated that she would be unable to continue in her former capacity. The second resignation was that of Mr. H. H. De Costa, who had been a member of the executive since its inception 15 years ago. The representative chosen by the Gisborne Borough Council at the initial public meeting to set up the executive, he had been a regular attender of meetings and had at times represented the executive at central council meetings. Cost of Maintenance The balance sheet, showing a total of £391 18s 5d at the end of the year against £6BO 2s 2d at the beginning of the year, was nevertheless satisfactory, said Mr. Holmes, commenting on the’ cost of maintaining a health camp in these times. The thanks of the executive were expressed by Mr. Holmes to all who had given assistance during the year, including Sister Craig and the staff of the Health Department, the Cook County Council, and those who had sponsored entertainments for the children. The Ministers’ Association was thanked for its regular religious instruction. The election of officers resulted in the return of Mrs. W. Clarke and Mr. N. H. Bull to their respective positions of patron and president. Vice-presi-dents, Mesdames E. R. Black, H. Holmes, P. Burton, Tamihann and Quirk, were returned to office. Mr. H. Holmes was re-elected unopposed to the chair, several members voicing their appreciation of his services to the health camp over a period of .15 years. The list of executive members was amended to read as follows:- —Dr. J. McConnell, Mesdames Clarke. G. A. Nicholls, Misses Craig and Matthews, Sister E. Pritchard, and Messrs. 11. K. Bersersen, K. W. Campbell, A. Cassin. C. J. Cox, 11. C. Gibson. A. L. Martin, W. Ogilvie, R. A. Keeling. Crafts, L. Rhodes, and Dr. D. Taylor.