ST. JOHN AMBULANCE

Otago Daily Times, Issue 23014, 17 October 1936, Page 5

ST. JOHN AMBULANCE

BRIGADE NOTES The No. 1 Loco Railway Division’s annual social and presentation of trophies, held in the Hillside Social Hall on Saturday last, was a brilliant success. The divisional secretary. Mr P. Bond, and a willing band i of helpers spared no effort in de- | corating the hall, adorning the ; supper tables with spring flowers and otherwise adding to the success of the evening. Among those presI ent were Assistant Commissioner | Lieutenant-colonel P. H. Morey and I Mrs Morey, District Officer G. Swanson and Mrs Swanson, District Officer H. O. Marsh and Mrs Marsh, Lady Corps Superintendent Miss Anplegarth, Superintendent D. N. M‘Fie and Mrs M'Fie, Ambulance Officer A. Westfield and Mrs Westfield, Ambulance Officer H. Archer, as well as representatives and members of other local ambulance and nursing divisions. The Railways Department was also well represented in the person of Mr C. L. ' Pope, station master, Messrs J. Bisch, T. Anderson, J Newsome and | T. M'Connell, Locomotive Depart- : ment, and Messrs T. Reel and D Rogers renresented the local branch ■ E.F and C.A Donors of the vari- j ous trophies competed for at the , recent competitions were also pres-1 ent. . 1 | Dancing, interspersed with items ’ contributed by Miss Phyllis Page, j tap dancing; Misses Margaret Stevens and Lorraine Ross. Highland dancing; Mr Ken Murray, song; and Mr V. Mulrooney, humorous recitation, passed a most enjoyable ; evening. Outlining the activities of the divi- I sion during the past year. Superin-} tendent M'Fie stated the cases I

treated by members on and off public duty are as follows:—Outdoor sports and various public functions, 405 members on duty; cases treated, 428; cases treated during working hours: Goods Department 398, station 163, at the locomotive depot 52, ! other cases treated 42; bringing the ; total cases treated for the year to I 1083. Expressing his appreciation for the unfailing support rendered ■ to him by the members, Superintendent M'Fie also thanked the judges, artists, stewards, patients, ; and all who had assisted the division during his term of office, i Colonel Morey, presenting the certij ficates, bars, and medallions gained ■ i during the year, stated now much he appreciated the support of the i division and congratulated the ' superintendent on the efficiency of j the unit, which was equal to any I’ in the Dominion. Cups and trophies I won at the recent competitions were j also presented, the speakers express- | ing their appreciation of the work | carried out by the division and i hoped (hey would long continue to 1 do such excellent service to their 1 workmates and to the community in I general. The presentation of a, i framed photograph of the division I was also made to Master R Ibbot- i | son on behalf of the members for ; j his services as patient while squads j | were practising during the year, j ; After supper was served dancing | was indulged in until a late hour I Present at the monthly combined ( District and Corps meeting held at I headquarters, Moray place, on ’ Tuesday evening last were Lieuten-ant-colonel P. H. Morey, Ass. I Comm., in the chair, District Superl intendent J. C. White, District Offij cers W. D. Pirritt, G. Swanson and i ; H. 0. Marsh; Lary Corps Super in- j I tendent Miss Applegarth; Lady i | Corps Officer. Mrs Parker: Corps j ; Officer P, Wilkinson, and Mr A. I Peters. i Progress reports were received j

} from the Milton classes, and as these 1 units have not as yet qualified as f. divisions, it was decided that they be attached to the Dunedin city divisions respectively until such time as , sufficient members had qualified. It was also reported that all local divisions were functioning, and at present busy practising for the Labour Day competitions. As there is still considerable delay in receiving publicity reports from some divisions, it was decided to request divisional superintendents to appoint n.c.o.’s in their respective divisions to rectify this matter. In future cadets will be attached to senior members on public duty wherever practicable for experience. Superintendents are also reminded that all trophies must be returned to the Ass. Comm, at 503 George street, on or before Monday. Arrangements are now almost completed for the New Zealand championship competitions to be held here on Labour Day, when 34 teams representing divisions from all the main centres in the South Island will compete. As this is the first time the Dominion championship competitions have been held in Dun- ; edin, all local units are requested to combine in a supreme effort to make, i the event an outstanding success.’ ; The two new shields presented by i the Otago district will be called the “ E. M. Harborow Memorial Shield ” for nursing divisions and the “ Thomas Belworthy Shield ” for ambulance divisions, and these will be competed for for the first time. As these shields will be recognised as the Dominion championship trophies, and will be competed for annually in the four main centres in turn, they should stimulate interest in inter-district events which has beep sadly lacking for several years. The complimentary social to be held in the Hillside Social Hall on the 26th inst. will be a uniform event for ambulance divisions, nursing divisions optional.

A meeting of cadet officers was held on October 7, when the report from the recent conference held in Wellington was received and discussed. It was decided to hold the Otago district cadet competitions in the Drill Hall on Saturday, November 14, when it is hoped teams from all local cadet divisions will compete, as well as teams from the Hampden division. The Dunedin cadet division paraded on Tuesday evening last, when superintendent W. Spence outlined conditions for the forthcoming competitions, and a decision was made to enter two junior teams. The members then spent on hour at practical bandaging, while next week a special course of roller .bandage work will be taken. It is pleasing to note that Superintendent W. Spence has resumed control of the division after being laid aside with v illness, and the thanks of the members go to Corps Officer W. Ashman, who so ably carried on the good worlt while Superintendent Spence was indisposed. Twenty-five members were on parade when the Hillside cadet division met on Thursday evening last, when squads were picked and settled down to team work and stretcher drill. The senior members paraded later in the evening and, after an ambulance talk, spent the remainder of the time at their disposal in first aid team work in preparation forthecompetitions.