NEW ZEALAND LADY AS NURSE

Lyttelton Times, Volume CXVII, Issue 17384, 23 January 1917, Page 11

NEW ZEALAND LADY AS NURSE

TWELVE MONTHS' VOLUNTARY ' WORK. A recent issue of a Worcester papa? contained the following, which will bet read with interest, Mrs Batt being well known throughout New Zealand:— "There was an interesting presentation at Battenhall Mount Hospital on Friday night, when the patients and members of the staff said farewell to Mrs Batt. who for a year has given s willing service l in the hospital. There was a large attendance of members of the staff and visitors at a concert arranged by Private R. Barnett. The Rev G. F. Hooper presided. During an interval in the programme, Miss Ogilvy, the Commandant, said slie was speaking for everybody connected with the hospital when she said that they said 'Good-bye' to Mrs Batt with the very greatest regret. Mrs Batt left New Zealand last year, and she to the hospital and had worked there for a year. She had been an inspiration to them by reason of her good and thorough work. It had been the greatest pleasure to work with her. They wished her a safe voyago home to .New Zealand, arid many years of happiness and health and strength, and-' opportunity to work there as she had worked at Battenhall. Miss Ogilvy read a telegram which she had received : ' Good hick and happiness to Mrs Batt from Mrs Bunting and Miss Ingram.' She said they were in Scotland. She added that three of the patients would hand to Mrs Batt something in grateful recognition of the twelve months she had worked in the hospital.. Rifle'riian Stretch and Privates Yeates and J. Burnett then handed to Mrs.Batt a silver tray on which was inscribed: 'To Mrs Batt, from the staff and patients of Battenhall A r .A.D. Hospital, in grateful recognition of twelve months' voluntary service.—October 13, 1916.' With the tray was a brooch and a framed card bearing the names of the subscribers. It represented the patients and all sections of workers connected with the hospital. Riflemaji Stretch said the patients desired to thank Mrs Batt for all that she had done for them. He then called for three cheers for Mrs Battj and the 'boys' responded right heartily. Mrs Batt, who was enthusiastically ap-; planded, expressed her deep gratitude to the patients and the staff for the! way in which they had recognised ' the: little bit' she had done. She said that if she was spared to get to New Zealand, there awaited her a Red Cross shop which she had been asked to take charge of. She referred with humour nad pathos to her early days in Worcester (for she is a native of the city), and of her visits to England, formerly with her husband, who had since, died, and last year alone. She told how she, had offered her services to ithe High Commissioner in London, and how, later, she came to Worcester, and, thanks to the offices of Mr Turner and Mr Duckworth, she found work in. Battenhall Hospital. She added that the time spent at the hospital had been the happiest of her life. The patients sang with vigour and feeling ' For she's a jolly good lady/ and again gave cheers. Mrs Batt also received from Nurse Twycross a brooch."