ST. JOHN AMBULANCE ASSOCIATION.

Otago Witness, Issue 3831, 16 August 1927, Page 16

ST. JOHN AMBULANCE ASSOCIATION.

ANNUAL MEETING.

The annual meeting of the St John Ambulance Association was held in the assembly hall at the Y.M.C.A. rooms on Thursday evening. The president (Mr J. J. Clark) occupied the chair, and there was a good attendance considering the state of the weather. Amongst those present were several members of the nursing division and the St. John Ambulance Brigade, both in uniform. The President said the attendance showed the enthusaism of those interessted in the association. The committee had decided to make the annual meeting purely a business one. For many centuries the association had carried the lamp that was lighted by the Old Crusaders, and the movement was becoming stronger and more influential vear by year. Very few realised the great humanitarian work done by the association, and only if the work were stopped would its great value be realised. The association was able, in spite of difficulties, to extend its work every year, and it was quite impossible to estimate the worth of what was being done. Much suffering und loss of life had been presented by the knowledge gained through the work of the association The total number of students last year -?3s 250. - The ambulance transport was increasing year by year, and it was very gratifying to know that this city hold the' record..for ambulaiioe transport in the Dominion. They were

very proud of the work that -was being done and it was a tribute to their ambulance drivels to record that all the work had been done without accident. The speaker paid a tribute to the members of the Fire Brigade for the willing and generous work done by them on behalf of the association. The tact displayed by the officers connected with ambulance transport was a very pleasing feature of the work. The association kept three nurses attending to the sick, and those nurses had made 5554 visits during the year, besides assisting with drugs and dressings when required. He was confident that if the people got some idea of the work done by the nurses there would be no shortage of funds. A special work carried on by the association was the provision of a hospital hostess. .This was a very wise move, and they had been very fortunate in securing the services of Miss M‘Nab for the work. The Women’s Club motor section was doing' wonderful work in the way of taking hospital patients out for drives and to their homes when they were discharged. The speaker welcomed the members of the nursing division, and expressed pleasure at seeing members of the men’s brigade present in uniform for the first time. Appreciation was expressed of the quiet and efficient ambulance work done during the visit .of the Duke and Duchess of York. Mr Clark extended a welcome to Dr Borrie (assist-ant-commissioner), who was looked upon as head of the movement here. They believed that the movement would grow and prosper under Dr Borrie’s wise guidance. Anything that the association could do for the ambulance brigade would be cheerfully done. Everything had been most harmonious between the association and tire Red Cross, and he had. no doubt

that the happy relations would be continued. Sister Kilpatrick was doing good work in the schools. He was sure the work done would earn the appreciation of the public to such an extent that funds would be liberally provided. _ It would not be long before the association had to provide another motor ambulance, and in addition it was looking forward to the possibility and the desirability, of having a room of its own, where it and the brigade could work together in comfort and much more efficiently than was possible at present. The speaker concluded by moving the adoption of the annual report and balance sheet.

The motion was seconded by the Rev. V. G. B. King, and carried unanimously. Long service medals were presented by Dr Borrie to the following:—Senior district superintendent, Thomas Belworthy; district officer, E. M. Harborow; ladydistrict superintendent Mrs Grace Davis; lady divisional superintendent, Miss E. L. Applegarth; lady ambulance officer, Mrs M. Wilkinson; lady ambulance officer, Miss M. Wragge; ambulance sister. Miss May Dawson; ambulance sister, Miss M. Hooper; ambulance sister, Miss M. Ritchie; ambulance sister, Miss M. Feeney. Reserve: Lady corps superintendent, Miss J. Pollok; lady superindent, Miss A. Dippie. Dr Borrie, who gave a brief address,' stated that out of the 250 students at least 50 should have passed into the brigade. He felt that it should be strongly impressed upon them that when they were finished with the classes they should go on with the work so that their study would still be available for the

common good. He felt certain that the great majority of the public did not understand the difference between the St. John Ambulance Association and the St. John Ambulance Brigade. The work of the association primarily' was instructional —arranging for lectures in first aid and home nursing, and issuing certificates of proficiency to those who had passed the prescribed examinations. They might extend their activities as in Dunedin, where they provided district nurses and a hospital hostess. The object of the brigade was to afford holders of first aid and nursing certificates opportunities to meet and practice in these subjects, also by lectures from their surgeon to keep abreast of the times, with the object of combining individual efforts for the public good.—ln pre-war days most of the men were absorbed by the Military Field Ambulance, so that the men’s division was never strong in Dunedin, but the nursing division was always to the fore. A great effort was made to have the brigade and nursing division available for public service during the recent Exhibition, and it was known that they did excellent work. Efforts were now being made to increase the work and usefulness of the brigade. Men now attended race meetings, football matches, and other sports grounds where accidents were liable to occur, and it was a common sight to see a man in brigade uniform assisting or taking an injured player to his medical advisor or the hospital. The advantages of having men with a good knowledge of first aid had been fully proved at Hillside, where the brigade had done excellent work, and

the Government had now arranged for first, aid classes in all department of the railway, so that it was hoped shortly’- to have several more brigades in Dunedin. Brigade men were also available to assist in the transport of patients, assisting in their removal to hospital, train, or steamer, as the case might be. A number of members of the nursing division had volunteered to assist in district nursing. For example, one might be living near a patient, and by daily visit saved the nurse many a long trip. Unfortunately most of the members were at work during the day, so only a few were available for this work. To give some idea of the work done by’ members of the Dunedin brigades he had the following list of cases attended by them during the first six months of this year:—Dunedin nursing 261, Caversham nursing 20, Dunedin Men’s Division 170, Oamaru Men’s Division 22, Hillside Men’s Division 1598, cases attended at the children’s demonstration at Logan Park 200; total, 2271. Ono thing wanted was better equipment for the division. The number of stretchers and other material was very limited. In many ceptres to encourage the brigades they had special competitions every year. Why should not Dunedin follow this excellent example. At present he believed there were three trophies available for competition—the Dr Barnett Rose Bowl, the Novice Cup, and the Association Cup. It was to the association that' they had to lock for financial support and equipment, and through it to the public. The most urgent need in his opinion was up-to-date quarters. The present quarters were old, dilapidated, and had. insufficient accommodation. They were in a back street, as if the association was ashamed of them instead of being in a main thoroughfare. He would like to see tho nursing division have a representative on the executive. Many of its members were keenly interested in. their work, and would do anything to forward the interest of the association and brigade. Dr Falconer proposed a hearty vote of thanks to the Ladies’ Guild, the medical practitioners, those "who had given donations, the chairman of the executive (tho Rev. Mr King), the president (Mr Clark), and the press. He stated that the Ladies’ Guild had filled a very great, want in the community bv assisting the district nurses and by putting the position of the hospital hostess on a good footing. The fact that the doctors supported the movement showed that it was a worthy one. Donations wore always very welcome, and a good deal more in the wav of funds would be required if what Dr Borrie. had asked for was to bo brought to fruition. The motion was carried by acclamation.