St. John Ambulance

Hutt News, Volume 15, Issue 20, 15 October 1941, Page 2

St. John Ambulance

HTJTT VALLBI' CORPS (sy-W. Roy.) The year of Grace, 194*1, has certainly been a year of progress in the Hutt Valley. The above corpß came into existence on the first day of January of this year, and its strength then was six divisions. In less than nine montths it has more than doubled' its establishment. The number of divisions is now thirteen. Congratulations to Corps Superintendent C. E. Binns and his staff. This article is, however, to deal with the latest addition to our family of St. John workers. Some time ago an Ambulance Division was formed in Upper Hutt, and the ladies of that progressive borooh said: "Why should we, the mothers of the world, hot also be members of the ancient and honourable Order of St. John?" And having expressed this thought, they immediately set to work and there came into existence the Upper Hutt Nursing Division. On Wednesday, 29th September, 1941, the officers of the Wellington district and of Hutt Valley Corps were called upon to meet the foundation members of, a new nursing division, and after the usual preliminary words of advice and congratulations, declare same a true and working division of the Ancient Order of St. John. It has been often said that the vitality and life of a plant depends to a major extent on the source from which it springs and the attention paid to it during its early life until it has become strong enough to fight life's battles itself. If this is true, as I think it is, the Upper Hutt Nursing Division should fare well. You ask why; 1 It is because the senior citizen, His Worship the Mayor (Mr. J. Blewman, J.P.) gave that helping hand, which is of so much value. His Worship was ably assisted in this grand ideal by Cr. W. A. Stewart.

The ceremony took place in the Council Chambers at Upper Hutt, His Worship the Mayor presiding. Wellington District St. John Ambulance was represented by District Commissioner W. W. Dutton, Diy trict Superintendent J. P. Hislop, Lady District. Officers, Mrs. Russell and Miss McKnight. Corps Officer Greenfield and four of his staff were also present. In his opening re marks, His Worship the Mayor extended a very hearty welcome to all who had done so much work in the forming of the new division. Mr. Dutton, in his remarks, gave, the new division a very clear outline of the work reciuired to remain

y efficient unci to qualify tor the much coveted service medal. He pointed out to them the scope of their work and the opportunities at their dis posal to remain efficient. He thanked , the members of the medical and nursing professions for their valuable assistance, and wished the new j division every success. x Dr. Lemehen. replying on behalf } of the doctors, was most eulogistic in his remarks on the efficiency of the foundation members of the new , division. He also laid stress 011 his willingness, as divisional surgeon, to do everything in his power to further the cause and maintain the , division at a high status. At this , point the secretary of Ilutt Valley , Corps St. John Ambulance present- ( ed the secretary of the. new division (Miss N. Haines) with a cheque for a corps donation to form the first payment into a credit account, which he hopeft would grow to a large enough credit to enable the new division to become a uniformed body. 111 replying to all the eulogistic remarks, the Lady .Superintendent of the new division (Mrs. 1. E. Ferguson; thanked everyone fervently for their good wishes, and promised to make her divisional work one continued effort to attain the high ideal connected with the ancient Order to which she had now the honour to belong. In the concluding remarks. His Worship the Mayor and Cr, Stewart not only expressed good wishes for the success of the new nursing division and their confreres, the St. John Ambulance Division, but promised to make it their duty to gain from the borough that assistance that such a great ideal deserved. 111 his remarks His Worship inadvertently referred to the new organisation as the Upper Hutt Corps. It is said that the wish is father to the thought. I wonder did he visualise such a future for the division of his district. It is from ideals such as these that great edifices are built. Carry on. Upper Hutt.