Whangarei Red Cross Appeal

Northern Advocate, 21 July 1949, Page 4

Whangarei Red Cross Appeal

Among the many organisations which perform community service in Whangarei district is the local subcentre of the New Zealand Red Cross Society. This organisation, which, in conjunction with the St John Ambulance, -worked energetically during the war years, has continued successfully to keep alive the spirit of service in what is ostensibly peacetime by encouraging the provision of relief to overseas victims of the war, and, in many ways, carrying on philanthropic work in its homo district. Statistics are cold and often uninspiring, but analysis of figures relat-

ing to the sub-branch’s operations are impressive. In the years 1945-48 there were sent away 14,777 garments, 42 complete layettes, 27 dozen pairs of shoes and 102 quilts. Medical supplies included 8516 medical pads, 415 dozen medical requirements, 12 large bundles of white rag, 12 dozen lavender bags, 160 medical kits for women and three boxes of cotton-wool. These articles were the result of

work done by members of Red Cross sub-centre, the W.D.F.F., Women’s Institutes and residents of town and country, the sub-centre undertaking the assembling and shipping arrangements.

In addition to the medical supplies mentioned the sub-centre has sent each year over 70 food parcels to blinded ex-servicemen in Britain. The mobile library service at the Whangarei Hospital, consisting of 500 books, was provided and maintained by the sub-centre, which has the assistance of members of kindred organisations in exchanging Hie books.

Weekly classes in home nursing training, and junior Red Cross iri the schools are maintained by officers of the sub-branch, with the assistance of school staffs.

By all these means, practical interest is being kept alive in a form of community service which would be of national value in the event of an emergency, and for this reason the appeal for funds which is being made tomorrow will doubtless meet with due response.