PLUNKET SOCIETY

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXXII, 13 December 1938, Page 2

PLUNKET SOCIETY

FAREWELL TO NURSE PASCOE SEVENTEEN YEARS’ SERVICE IN DISTRICT LARGE GATHERING OF PLUNKET MOTHERS YESTERDAY A gathering of about 100 Plunket mothers at the Mayfair rooms yesterday afternoon to farewell Nurse E. N. Pascoe, who is leaving the district after seventeen years as Plunket nurse, was evidence of her popularity, and the esteem in which she is held in the district Prior to afternoon tea and the presentation to Nurse Pascoe, a Scottish monologue, “The Pipes o' Troon,” was presented by Mrs S. Wilson, and a vocal number, "Nursery Rhymes,” by Mrs M. A. Nightingale. Miss M. Prussing also sang a soprano solo. “Vilia.”

Mrs N. Watson, convenor of the committee of mothers which organised the gathering, said that they had met to bid goodbye to Nurse Pascoe who had been in Nelson for the last seventeen years, and to whom they were all deeply grateful for her magnificent work. They all regretted that she was now retiring, but she carried away the good wishes of all mothers, and they were many, whom she had so faithfully attended. The mothers felt they could not let Nurse Pascoe go without showing, in some small way, their appreciation of i her great work, said Mrs Watson, and ; it gave her pleasure to call on Mrs P. S. Boyes to make a presentation. Mrs Boyes. who was the first mother who Nurse Pascoe attended in Nelson, after expressing pleasure at being afforded the opportunity of taking part in the ceremony and amplifying Mrs Watson’s remarks, presented Nurse Pascoe with a suitably inscribed hand-bag containing a cheque, “with the gratitude of 500 mothers.” In returning thanks for the presentation and the pleasant afternoon. Nurse Pascoe expressed pleasure at seeing so many familiar faces and so many of her ex-babies present; they were children any mother could be proud of. The work of a Plunket nurse could not be done without the support of the mothers, for although the nurses could give advice, unless the mother carried out that advice it was useless. In her work she had found the mothers very helpful. When she first began her work three-quarters of the babies were artificially fed from birth, but to-day 95 per cent, of the babies were naturally fed, and 70 per cent, continue in this j way until they are six months old. i Nurse Pascoe then thanked the various nurses who had worked with her. especially Nurse Lumsden. who had been her colleague for the past eleven years. She then expressed the hope that the mothers would give her successor, Miss Hurst, the same support as they had given her. The president of the Nelson Plunket Society, Miss Niven, said all that all the Plunket Society had done towards arranging the afternoon was calling the initial meeting for forming a committee. The society was having a farewell of its own at a later date for Nurse Pascoe.

The meeting of mothers was unique in the annals of the Nelson Plunket Society, continued Miss Niven, but it was to be hoped that after this a meeting of mothers would be held at least once a year so that the executive committee could meet. At present the committee was very much in the dark as to whom they were working for and it j was to be hoped that in the future they I would have the co-operation of the mothers in any effort they might make.