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CHILDREN AT MOTUIHI

WORK OF HEALTH CAMP MOST BENEFICIAL RESULTS VISIT BY ROTARIANS The 90 children who are tho guests of the Auckland Rotary Club for a inonili in tho Community Sunshiuo -Association's health camp at Motuihi Island gave a warm welcome on Saturday afternoon to a party of Rotarians and their wives who went to tho camp by launch in order to see for themselves tho good work that is being dono there. In spite of tho rain tho party was a large one. It was accompanied by tho president of the Community Sunshine Association, Mr. A. J. Slallworthy, M.P., and the secretary, Mr. J. A. Campbell. The children wcro found seated -on tho floor of the largo recreation room in tho upper storey of one of tho quarantine buildings. They had been grouped to form a representation of tho cogwheel emblem of Rotary. The girls formed tho hub and spokes, tha boys the rim and cog-teoth. When tho visitors wero seated the children, unaccompanied, sang a Maori song of welcome, first in the native language and then in English. Short addresses wero given to the children by the Rotary president, Mr. T. U. Wells, Sir' Georgo Fowlds and Mr. J. Astley, chairman of the cominitteo responsible for carrying out tho arrangement with tho Sunshine Association. Aims of the Camp Sir George Richardson pleased tho youngsters very much by holding a rollcall according to age. When this was over Sir George taught them an oath, resembling one he had composed for school children in Samffa: "New Zealand is a beautiful country; to-morrow I am going to make it better."

The aims of the camp were explained to the Rotarians by the honorary medical superintendent, Dr. J. Walls, who said that its work for nearly two years past would not have been possible but for the help of voluntary workers. One of these, not himself, had served continuously in the camp for 15 months, never visiting Auckland except on camp business. Mr. F. Shaw, second-in-command, mentioned that" although all the parties of children had been drawn from practically the same area, each" group had a character and individuality of its own. Mr. Stallworthy, in a short speech, said he hoped that when the arrangements for quarantining animals at Motuilii were revised the Sunshine Association would be granted the permanent sole use of the quarantine station buildings, so that its work for the health of children might be carried on continuously until further notice.

Before the visitors departed to afternoon tea in the dining hall each child received a bag of fruit, extracted from two large boxes which the Rotarinns had brought with them. Improvement in Health

Although lately the children at Motuilii have not had the advantage of summer weather, the improvement in the health of every party has been most marked. Under a regimen of abundant plain food, fresh air, games, exercise and school lessons, the average child puts on anything up to half a stono in weight, and after the first week the camp officers notice a new look in the youngsters' eyes and a wonderfull access of energy. Thanks to generous gifts of foodstuffs and other necessary supplies by Auckland business houses the cash cost of maintaining a child at the camp for one month is only about £l. The Sunshine Association believes that if this wero widely known many more private citizens would feel disposed to assist the good work that is being done. When the present party of children leaves the island another will take its place, and it is hoped to continue the camps throughout the summer. The Rotary Club expects to raise a further £IOO to meet the expenses of a second party of children for one month.

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Permanent link to this item

https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/NZH19320926.2.102

Bibliographic details

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIX, Issue 21297, 26 September 1932, Page 10

Word Count
625

CHILDREN AT MOTUIHI New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIX, Issue 21297, 26 September 1932, Page 10

CHILDREN AT MOTUIHI New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIX, Issue 21297, 26 September 1932, Page 10