FLORENCE NIGHTINGALE

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXIV, Issue 22724, 10 May 1937, Page 2

FLORENCE NIGHTINGALE

BIRTHDAY CELEBRATIONS

REUNION OF TRAINEES FUNCTION AT NURSES' HOME A function of particular interest to the nursing profession took place on Saturday afternoon, at the Nurses' Home, Park Boad, when a large gathering of the Auckland Hospital graduate nurses and former trainees met to commemorate the birthday of Florence Nightingale. The function was a particularly happy one in that it enabled many of the senior trainees to renew acquaintances after many years and to exchange reminiscences. The social hall was attractively decorated with large floating bowls of golden chrysanthemums, while in the corners of the room were placed tall vases of calendulas in the same shade. The guests were received by Miss E. M. Nutsey, lady superintendent of the Auckland Hospital and by Miss V. Cussen, assistant lady superintendent. The Mayoress, Mrs. Davis, attended the function, and was presented with a bouquet by Miss M. Walshe, the daughter of a former trainee, while Miss M. B. Bell, the senior Auckland trainee, was given a bouquet by Miss Dufaur, the junior nurse, who commenced her duties at the hospital on May 3. There were also present: Mrs. C. E. Maguire, Mrs. J. W. Craven, Mrs. A. D. Campbell, president of the Auckland Hospital Auxiliary, Mrs. J.. Hardie Neil, Mrs. R. Tracy Inglis, Mrs. Gordon Cook, Miss M. Bagley, president of the Auckland branch of the Registered Nurses' Association; Miss V. Oppenheim, matron of St. Helen's Hospital; and Miss A. Bagley. A Remarkable Woman Short addresses of welcome were given by Miss Nutsey, on behalf "of the nursing staff; by Dr. J. W. Craven, medical superintendent, on behalf of the hospital staff; and by the Rev. W. C. Wood, chairman of the board, en behalf of the board members. A brief address on the life, of Florence Nightingale was also given by Mr. Wood, who said it was impossible to express in words what the Englishspeaking world owed to Florence She was probably one of the most "remarkable and splendid women England had ever produced. Not only was she famous for her work among the eoldiers in the Crimean War, but her memory was also honoured for her work in raising the nurs-" ing profession from the degraded state into which it had fallen. She was also responsible for the founding of the first two training schools for nurses in England. Her greatness, however, lay not only in her work but in her wonderful character as a woman. It was a fitting thing, Mr. Wood said, that the study of her life was part of the training of the present-day nurse. A brief resume of over 25 years' work for the Auckland Hospital Board was given by Dr. C. E. Maguire, medical superintendent at the Infirmary. Dr. Maguire referred to the fact that several Auckland trained nurses were holding important posts abroad. Hospital History Recalled

Some amusing reminiscences of the work at the Auckland Hospital during her 16 years' experience was given by Miss M. B. Bell, who joined the nureing staff of the hospital in 1895. Miss 801 l also gave an interesting outline of the conditions under which the nurses worked during her time in comparison with their work to-da.v. Interspersed with the addresses was a programme of entertainment, and music, the principal feature of which was a pageant entitled "Nursing Through the Ages," which depicted famous women of the nursing profession through 1900 years, from the time of Hygeia and Phoebe to the present-day nurse. The various characters were portrayed by members of the staff dressed in the picturesque if unsuitable nursing costumes of the day. The sisters taking part in the pageant comprised: Miss Shadbolt (Hygeia); Miss Hyde (Phoebe); Miss Christian (Fabiola); Miss Dunne (Knight of St. John); Miss Delugar (Elizabeth of Hungary); Miss King (Sister of Charity); Miss Tyler (Sairey Gamp); Mrs. Jamieson (Elizabeth Fry); Miss Mclndoe (Friederike Fleidner); Miss Falls (Florence Nightingale) ; Miss Gilchrist (nurse from the Florence Nightingale training school); Miss Sutherland (Army Nurse, 1914); Miss Davidson (present-day nurse); Miss Farland (Plunket nurse); and Miss Underwood (district nurse). Other items included songs by Mrs. Humfrey Gordon, recitations by Miss B. Mulholland, pianoforte solos by Miss P. Graham and flute solos by Miss Feist.

Afternoon tea was served in the nurses' diniug room, which was decorated with Empire flags, while the long tables were arranged with vivid Iceland poppies. The committee responsible for the arrangements comprised: Miss V. Cussen (convener), Miss N. Ross, Miss M. Sutherland, Miss M. J. Jackson, Miss E. S. Brown, Miss H. MacDiarmid, assisted by members of the nursing staff.