MORE NEEDED

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume 58, Issue 4121, 4 April 1949, Page 5

MORE NEEDED

INTERESTED MEMBERS ST. JOHN AMBULANCE POSITION IN PAEROA The Paeroa branch of the nursing division of St. John Ambulance is facing very difficult times and, unless support is forthcoming immediately, may cease to be able to provide the splendid service it renders to the community.

Enquiries of Mrs E. L. Shaw, superintendent of the local nursing division disclosed that the work is at present being -carried on under very great difficulties and that unless more adult members come forward the nursing division will have to go into recess.

Mrs Shaw explained that at one time quite a number of young girls took the St. John Ambulance course and became active members, but many of these had married and gone to live away from Paeroa. The position now is that the division has only some six adult members to undertake the many duties they are called upon to fulfil. The nursing division renders first aid and nursing attention where families are in urgent need of the same. In addition duties comprise attendance at all sports meetings, shows and such gatherings as hockey and other ball matches. With only six members to carry out this work it is obvious that the burden of duty has become too great to be carried much longer.

Mrs Shaw points out that the course of instruction is quite and consists of the attendance at 12 classes spread over a period of 12 weeks. She suggests that many organisations such as girls’ hockey and other ball clubs could carry out their own first aid service if members took the first aid course. In such case the nursing division would supply the necessary kit free of any charge.

All th*e services rendered by the nursing division are voluntary. The knowledge and experience gained by taking the course must always be most useful, not only in the home, but in every walk of life. Mrs Shaw makes an urgent appeal to the women of Paeroa for their immediate assistance in keeping alive what is not only a great movement but a service of; which the community is ever in need.

It is to be hoped that Mrs Shaw’s urgent appeal will be heeded by the women of Paeroa for it would be tragic if this useful part of the services provided by St. John Ambulance has to be abandoned in Paeroa.