PLUNKET SOCIETY

Grey River Argus, 5 October 1945, Page 2

PLUNKET SOCIETY

ANNUAL MEETING

The Mayor, Mr. F. A. Kitchingham, presided at the annual meeting of the Greymouth branch of the Plunket Society, held recently. Representatives attended from Hokitika, Runanga and Brunner branches. A’ photograph of the late Sir Truly King, founder of the Society, presented to the branch by Mrs. Cecil Wood, Christchurch, was hung in the rooms by Mrs. J. O’Brien, a member of the Dominion Council. The President (Mrs. Dennehy) introduced Miss Lusk, Nursing Adviser to the Council, making her first visit to the Coast since hei’ appointment. Miss Lusk was pleased to meet the committee and delegates and congratulated the branch on its fine rooms. Greymouth was holding its 20th annual meeting and would attain its majority next year. Plunket nurses had to secure general nursing certificates before undergoing Plunket training. Many had their maternity certificates also, and some midwifery. At Dunedin training centre, 25 were trained each term of four months but the Society could not keep up' with demand for nurses, particularly in the North Island. Too many peoole thought that Plunket was a diet. This was an error. The aim was to have babies breast-fed, with which no artificial feeding could compare. Feeding was only one of 12 essentials of the Plunket system. She thought Hokitika could form a branch, and she would send particulars of finance and procedure on her return. At present the district was too big for two nurses.

Mrs. O’Brien said her nomination to the District Council was an honour she appreciated. She thanked the branch for their support.

The election of officers resulted:— President: Mrs. F. M, Dennehy. VicePresidents: Mesdames J. O’Brien. F. A. Kitchingham, M. W. Olson and A. J. Fairmaid. Executive: Mesdames F. A. Kitchingham, J. O'Brien, E. Parfitt, A. J. Fairmaid, and M. W. Olson. Committee Mesdames Leahy, McKechnie, Blair, Roud, Parfitt, Fahey, Boucher, Walters. Lovell, Joyce, Coleman,' Hughes, Shankland. Miss Anderson. Advisory Board: Drs. W. McKay, J. F. C. Moore, W. A. Bird, H. S. Ray, D. M. Logan, G. A. 'Andrae; Messrs J. O’Brien, M.P., F. A. Kitchingham, W. Meldrum, J. W. Greenslade, L. D. McGlashan, A. M. Jamieson and P. Coll. Hon. Secretary:. Mrs. K. McCarthy (re-elected). Hon. Treasurer: Mr. E. Parfitt (re-elected). Hon. Auditor: Mr. F. C. Heap’hy (reelected). Hon. Solicitor: Mr. J. W. Hannan (re-elected). Hokitika "Representatives: Mesdames Mclntyre and Stevens; Reef ton: Mesdames McElwee and Dellaca; Runanga, Mesdames Spiers and Cairney; Brunner: Mesdames Wylde and Coates; Ikamatua: Ross, Blackball and Hari Hari committees did not submit nominees’ names.

The resignation of Mesdames J. M. Bunt, J. Griffin and J. M. Macaulay was accepted and appreciation of their services recorded.