GOOD PROGRESS

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume 55, Issue 32706, 29 April 1946, Page 7

GOOD PROGRESS

WORK IN THE DISTRICT REVIEW OF PAST YEAR CRIPPLED CHILDREN’S SOCIETY '“After a further year of effort your executive feels that good heacPway has been made and that satisfactory progress can be reported in organising the territory under its jurisdiction,” states the annual report of the president, Mr R. S. Carden, of the Thames Hospitaf District Sub-centre of the Auckland Crippled Children’s Society to be presented at the annual meeting to be held in the Coronation Chambers on Tuesday, April 30. The report continues: — “Regular meetings of the executive have been held every month and’ representatives have been appointed in the outlying areas to watch the interests of the sub-centre and to form points of contact for the Welfare Officer, Miss E. Lerew. They have been most helpful to Miss Lerew in the carrying out of her work. District Fully Covered “The whole of the district of the sub-centre has been fully covered by Miss tLerew who has kept in close contact with the 60 cases which have during the year come under the notice and attention of this- sub L centre. Her task has been a far from easy one owing to the very- extensive area including the Bay of Plenty which she has to cover in the course of her duties. Miss Lerew’s devotion to duty has really been an inspiration to us and' has made our task a very easy one. We feel however that she should be given .some relief by dividing up the extensive area she has to cover into at least two districts, each under a separatate welfare officer. “’Of the 60 cases handled by this sub-centre within this district a number have been- admitted to the Wilson Home and the Auckland Hospital, one case has been- given over to the attention of Dr. Pickerill for the surgical

adjustment of hair lip, and cleft palate; surgical boots have been provided andi two cases have been enabled to attend speech therapy. One child has been rehabilitated, being now in full-time employment in Auckland although waiting to enter hospital for an operation. Street Appeal “A street appeal combined with a circular appeal being the first of such to be held by the sub-centre resulted in the collection of £lfll/'l'7/10 and' in addition to this sum a generous l donation of £lOO was received from Mr and Mrs Philip Williamson of Whangamata. 'Such generosity has made us feel that our work is being appreciated and that the time and effort have been well spent by us. ‘We regret that our endeavours to arrange with the Thames' Hospital Board for a contract with Dr Pickerill in regard to hair lip and cleft palate cases' have so far not met with success' but we still feel that the' final word has not yet been said 1 by the board. Accordingly we refer this 1 question to the in-coming committee for further consideration in the ensuing year. Society’s Thanks “Your executive extends' its thanks to all of those who have so readily assisted us in the past year and in particular to Dr Gifford' and the Thames Hospital Board, also to those ladies and organisations who assisted in and made the street appeal such a success. We are also indebted to the local press, for the assistance which it has rendered us and to St. John Ambulance Association for the free use of its rooms for our meetings. sdiC7ew oe athdnaßa nrdeffi; seniyTT