RED CROSS SOCIETY.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 19204, 21 June 1924, Page 11

RED CROSS SOCIETY.

OTAGO CENTRE EIGHTH ANNUAL REPORT. The eighth annual report of the Rod Cross Executive Committee, Otago Centre, stales, inter alia: We extend congratulations to Sir Linda and Lady Ferguson on live honour recently conferred upon. As a member of the committee, Lady Ferguson has rendered valuable ecrvico to the Red Cross Society, and her counsel and collaboration have been much appreciated. We also record our pleasure at having Mrs George Roberts bade with ua after an absence of several months in-Eng-land, and Miss Rattray, who was for some time in the North Island. THE YEAR’S WORK.

During the year members have given willingly ot their time and service in the interests of sick and wounded soldier patients, in addition to the monthly meetings a number of special meetings have been held. Subcommittees have also dealt with various matters, and individual members have endeavoured to realise the high aims of the Rod eitous and genuine cases, Soldier patients in itous and genuine cases. Soldier patients m the Dunedin Hospital have been regularly visited, and various comforts dispensed to them. On a number of occasions arrangements were made tor entertainers to supply music in the soldiers' wards, and transport was also arranged tor patients to and from entertainments. Members of the committee also visit Wakun, and in various ways minister to the needs ot the patients there. In addition to sundry comforts the men have been supplied with warm underclothing, ana jackets. Laily papois have been supplied, and also gramophone records. Following representations from the Red Citosa Committee tire Hospital Board made provision for extra h-aring in the patients’ quarters. Soldier patients at Pleasant Valley have been supplied with outfits of underclothing on the recommendation of Dr Lytii The society has also assisted in the matter of enteinammenta. The Itc-d Cross continues to supjoly comforts to soldier patients m hcacliff Hospital. A number of patients, on discharge irom sanatoria, have received from tho society blankets and outfits of warm underclothing. During the past year a larger number than usual of discharged and ou.-patients have been ouppUcd with parcels oi underclothing. Every case has been recommended. The men have found the clothing very acceptable and of great beneifit. in certain other cases, very deserving ones, assistance has been rendered in various ways. The several patients using the invalid chairs supplied by the society have felt tho benefit of thus being able to got about. The Invercargill Red Cress has been attending to the needs of soldier patients in the Invercargill Hospital, and throughout tho Southland district. In regard to several ex-patients needing assistance Invercargill has 00-operated very cordially. The workshops at Montecillo Home, th* Public Hospital, and Wakari Sanatorium havo been of great benefit to the men, who have made good progress in vocational training under their instructress. In tho disposal of their work the men havo been largely helped by window displays, also by a stand at the Winter Show, the Middleraarch Show, and by the garden fete held at Montecillo. MONTECILLO HOME. The Montecillo Homo is still the committee’s special care. Everything possible is done to make for the comfort of the patients, and to cerate a real-home atmosphere. In this the committee is ably seconded by the matron and her staff. The homo is visited weekly by a special committee. The health of tho men is looked after by Lieut.-colonel Marshall. Assistant Director of Medical Services, who does all in his power to help his patients. The society is deeply indebted to Lieut.-colonel Marshall for his ready assistance and courtesy. The staff consists of a matron, two muses, a nurse-masseuse, a housekceper-cook, three V.A.D.’s, kitchenmaid, orderly, gardener and chauffeur. The average number of patients at the home has been 27 The patients have received every care and attention from the matron and her staff, and members of the committee very deeply appreciate the tact and kindness displayed by Matron Macmillan and hor assistants towards tho men under their charge. The home has been renovated and kept in repair, and judicious expense has been incurred in various ways, all with the one object of making tho homo as comfortable and attractive as possible for tho patients. The grounds about the home are the especial care of Mr Moir, gardener, who has kept them in splendid order. On several occasions visiting parlies have supplied enlertainmento, which have been much enjoyed and appreciated. To enable several of the patienCs (special cases) to get to their homes at Christmas the committee arranged for special transit facilities, both by train and motor. The home has had a number of visitors throuzout the year, including Commodore Beaie and Hon. Captain Ramsay, In connection with the flood distress that lirevaDed last year, tho committee "eport that the soldier patients at the home contributed the Film of £5 5s to the relief fund. .JOINT PEACE COUNCIL.'

Further to our previous report, we now date that a Joint Peace Council, conmoced of representatives from St. John Ambulance Association and the Red Cross Society, has been set up in this centre, wth tho object of undertaking peace-time work, such as the promotion of health, prevention of disease, nnd miti suit ion of suffering throughout the world. Tho council has already been functioning in the above direction, and the steady pursuit of its aims should do much to promote the we!l-bcmg of the people as a whole, whom it desires to help and serve. GREEN ISLAND BRANCH.

YVe arc pleased to report that this branch of the Red Cross lias done splendidly in regard to peace-time work. Under its auspices an attractive garden party was held at the residence of Mr and Mrs Miller, at Abbotsford. The function, which w. s most successful, wao in aid of the Otago Hospital Radium Fund A large crowd assembled in the well-iaid-out grounds, visitors bring present from Dunedin and the surrounding district. As a result of this fete the radium fund was considerably augmented. Miss Mary Mills is in charge of this brancir. EFFORTS APPRECIATED.

The •president and members of the ■’executive are much gratified at tho evidence they receive of appreciation of the society’s work. Throughout the year a number of very acceptable giflg. for the soldier patients have been received, and are gratefully acknowledged. It ; s pleasing to know th»t cHHens desire to second ot.r efforts m the interests of the patients. Patients at Montecillo. Dunedm Ilosn’tal, Wakari Hospital. Pleasant Valley Sanatorium, and cx-sold'ors throughout the province who have been assisted have expressed their thanks and appreciation hy word and letter for whav.nas teen done on them behalf. The committee desires to express it" thanks to Mr Garth G-nlmwav. hon. solicitor, for his norv’ees to the society, and also to acknowledge the consideration and courtesy of tho press.