RED CROSS SOCIETY

Hawera Star, Volume XLIX, 5 December 1929, Page 4

RED CROSS SOCIETY

PRESENTATION OF CERTIFICATES Some 50 guests were present at a social evening in the Islington Tearooms last evening on the occasion of certificates being presented to 16 members of the Hawera Red Cross Society ;who recently passed examinations in home nursing. The list of the successful candidates was in the “Hawera Star” some days ago.. The Mayoress (Mrs E. A. Paeey) presented the certificates and congratulated the recipients upon their successes. In extending a welcome to the guests, Mr W. G. Simpson, who presided, said that the work of the society was more or less new to Hawera and district, but wonderful efforts had been made during the period it had been established here. A very pleasing feature was the fact that. Sister Ingles would now be stationed in Hawera for another I year and the value of her assistance could not be over-estimated. Mr F. Gillanders congratulated the candidates upon their successes and also Sister Ingles for her efforts in coaching them. A dainty supper was provided and musical items were rendered by Mr and Mrs Antoni Bonetti (songs and violin solos), Miss - Clement (recitation), Miss D. Hooper (cornet solo), Mr W. G. Simpson (songs and stories), and a haka was given by six Rangers present. Dr. R. J. R. Mecredy, medical officer of health for Taranaki, briefly addressed the gathering. He referred to the Health Department’s co-operation ■with the Red Cross .Society and said that more efforts should be made, not only to stamp out disease, but also to prevent it. A member’s training was not completed by a knowledge of -bandaging and home nursing, but each one should be a missionary of health in the community. Diatetics and cookery for health were subjects upon which the public should be much more enlightened if the sturdiness of our race was to he maintained. A great deal of research into the causes of .disease arid the production -of health through diet ■was being carried out. by scientists, and many discoveries 'had been made that were of enormous value to the world in general. The saving of infant life was a work that, had been greatly extended all over the world with wonderful results, and a big percentage of infant lives were now being, saved that, would have been lost 20

years ago. Br. Mecredy again emphasised the fact that the member’s work was not finished at any time; more could always be learnt and a .greater service thus rendered the community. Personally. he would like to sec the society run a health camp for children who were below par, and such a camp should he guided along lines that ensured the health of the child and an outline that would teach it to live correctly. In moving a vote of thanks to Dr. Mecredy, Mr Simpson referred to the increase in hospital rates throughout the Dominion, and eonsidcred that, with a proper public study of health, the hospital rates could be very materially reduced.