ST. JOHN AMBULANCE

Hutt News, Volume 18, Issue 4, 28 June 1944, Page 5

ST. JOHN AMBULANCE

HUTT VALLEY COUPS OIJR NURSING SISTERS Reference has been made to tlu Niu sing Division ol' both bt J oik. aiiu ine Ked Cioss, anu to the ia.. o >.. number of these two great tidns who have qualined to aay, xv.-, I am a member of the V.A.D. Hec tion of my Division." My eiKctiivour in this chapter o. my write up wili be to express my conception of the nieainuy ui tu~. three words —Voluntary Aid Department. Voluntary: To volunteer to do u job of work of tour own free will. The men and women who laid the foundation stones of our great Empire in the far-fltili« r parts of the world were volunteers. travelled over thousands of miles of unchartered seas; they settled ii strange lands; they surmounted the greatest difficulties, and attained a success in which we of to-day stan. in the reflected glory—Canada, South Africa, Australia, New r '~ land, and many others. Also we have the many great legislative mo;; sures that have become law by the

continued voluntary work of th men and women of our great Empire. But it would take volumes to hold even an incpmplete record of the great work done by Voluntary Service. *1 will now deal with the second word— Aid —To assist; to help. 'It is more blessed to give thanto receive." I think this Biblical quotation is the most fitting analysis of the word A' In addition I feel that the happiest moment of our lives are when we are able to see that through our help some fellow mortal has benefited, and this pleasure , and joy must be multiplied a thousandfold when tfia aid means the lessening of pain ir the wounded or sick. This line of thought must have been in the run - " of Sir Walter wScott when lie wrote the following— ; "O woman in oun hours -of ease, Uncertain, coy, and hard *to piease. When pain and anguish $ring the brow A ministering Angel, thou-?-." Now let us deW \vHt-h 'the third and last w,ord of this historic title— Department.—This may seem a very common \v< ...... frame a paragraph- -ttf -frords. This is by no means the case. The word department means the organising and carrying on of a Body, or Company that has become too gruu individual control. ! 'It' therefore s the greatest proof we could have of the innate desire to give Voluntary Aid when a Department has to oe formed to control the volume of work done by our splendid Y.A.s.

Yes, gentle readers, the letter?. V.A.D. form au " other of the glories oC ur great Empire. The of this Department can be dficJ ly in all tho> War Zones, in the tfeousifands of Public Hospitals, visiting the homes of the sick and injured." We met them here in New Zealand during the Ilawlte's Bay Earthquake. The scenes of mining diggers the worl( over have been where'* they were pre Isent—quiet and efficient; no job too small or too great. Tlie gentle toivcli and kind word ever present. In conclusion I would ask you of Hutt Valley to bear all I have written in miiul when you see our local members of St. John Nursing, or the Red Cross. Remember that members of both Branches are overseas; remember that the ladies you see are carrying on here unheralded an ! unsung. Yes they are truly V.A.s. "To volunteer to help ttle sick, To aid the wounded i, ll the fray, Is, was, and will be throughout life A woman's foremost thought and prayer." J AC O BTtfT."