ORDER OF ST JOHN

Hutt News, Volume 20, Issue 2, 12 December 1945, Page 4

ORDER OF ST JOHN

HONOUR FOK 1)11. DUDLEY FAREWELL BY NURSING DIVISION "His Excellency the GovernorGeneral has been pleased to recommend to His Majesty the King thai Dr. B. J. Dudley be admitted as a member oi: the Order of St. John," said Mr. Keith Falconer, an officer of the Commandery of the St. John Ambulance Brigade, at a farewell social tendered Dr. and: Mrs; Dudley by the Lower Hutt Nursing Division and V.A. Detachment in .tlujj,, U.S.A. rooms last Wednesday night. The announcement was received with loud applause. There was a large attendance at the tunction, and with the Mayoress, Mrs. J. W. Andrews, in the chair, everything passed off happily. Mrs. Andrews welcomed the visitors and said the group was pleased to do honour to those who had worked so arduously and well for it for years. Apologies for unavoidable absence were received from Cr. E. I'. Hay and the Mayor of Petone. On behalf of the citizens, the Mayor paid tribute to the work of .Dr. and Mrs. Dudley and expressed regret at their forthcoming departure. The Hutt Valley would be the poorer for their departure but, richer tor the years they had spent here. The residents owed thefn a great debt, of gratitude for what they had done, especially during the war » years. Mrs. Dudley had proved herself an organising genius and with Dr. Dudley had done outstanding work for the community. He was: sorry that two such distinguished residents were leaving the city. The large, sum in hand for the new building for the brigade was largely due to the efforts of Dr. and Mrs.-Dud-ley; , Honour lot- Hutt, Group Mr. .Keith Falconer, as deputy for Mr. Ward, Commandery Commissioner, expressed appreciation of the work done by Dr. and Mrs. Dudley. The doctor had been connected with the St. John Ambulance Brigade almost since his boyhood, "and had given years of splendid service to it. Mrs. Dudley, too, had done very work. The number of hours worked by the V.A's of Mrs. group was a record for New Zealand 1 tor one group. The names of the Hutt Valley group wouid be sent to Hingiand with a recommendation for recognition. Their valuable work and enthusiasm' were an object lesson to the whole of New Zealand. In announcing j 'the admission of Dr. Dudley to tWbrder of St.. John, Mr. Falconer said it was an honour well earned. ' t Mt. Dutton, assistaht-Coriimission-er, Wellington .district, thanked the guests of the evening for what they had done for the 'district, and wished them long life and happiness. They would take with them' to Nelson the good wishes of all. j Mrs. Fuller, Corps Superintend- - ent, in asking Dr. and Mrs;' Dudley . to accept a travelling bag from the Hutt Valley said that,,th§y | had the cause of St. John at heart f and had put in many years' work on its behalf. Mrs. Dudley had * taken over at, a critical time, and under her guidance the V.A. Department had become second to none in New Zealand. Mr. Featherston, as secretary of the building committee, said they were losing a real friend as well as a chairman, a tower of strength to the brigade. He handed Dr. Dudley a tobacco jar on behalf of the building committee.

Mrs. McMillan, secretary,, said they had been a happy family under Mrs. Dudley. The Nursing Division had had 80 parades, of which Mrs. Dudley had attended 73, besides V.A.D. parades. They asked her to accept as a parting girt something for her wardrobe. Mrs. Andrews stated that she had never appealed to Mrs. Dudley without getting more than she asked for. and she felt that she must say "thank you" for all the assistance given. She warmly congratulated Dr. Dudley on the great honour paid him. "We know he deserves it," she said. Dr. Dudley's Thanlcs. Dr. Dudley, after'paying tribute to Mrs. Andrews' success as chairwoman, said he and his wife were extremely grateful for the honour paid them, and the gifts would bring them happy memories. He had always been keenly interested in the work of the St. John Ambulance Brigade. Of the many splen-.; did workers for a headquarters building, nobody had done more than Mr. Featherston. "We must' 'keep the tradition Of brigade flying," concluded Dr. Dudley. Mrs. Dudley also thariks, stating that she could not have done the work but for the assistance given by the Division and the V.A.'s." She appealed to them n'bt" to lose interest; though the exciting war years were over there was much still to be done. Sister Irvine and the building committee would need 'all the help they could got next year. During the evening M«. Li. Anderson gave some very amusing modern versions of. old fairy tales, and Miss Joan Alters-and Mr. Bonifant sang very pleasingly. Mrs J. W. Andrews acted as accompanist. .. Supper and a pleasant social hour 'brbught a successful functioii to :a close. :