RED CROSS ACTIVITIES

Putaruru Press, Volume XXI, Issue 1232, 29 May 1947, Page 8

RED CROSS ACTIVITIES

ANNUAL MEETING The annual meeting of the Putaruru Red Cross was held recently, there being an excellent attendance of members and visitors. Mrs. A. G. Strang presided. The election of officers was held, and resulted in Mrs. Strang being re-elected to the office of president, and Mrs. C. E. Tulioeh to the position of secretary. Mrs. S. Martin was elected treasurer, Mesdames McEiwen (Tokoroa), J. E. Duxfield, Crickett and Mcßae vice-presidents, and a strong .committee was also formed. Conveners elected were: Mrs. L. Bent; sewing, Mrs. H. Martin; parcels for Britain, Mesdames Mcßae and Hitchcock. President’s Report The president, Mrs. Strang, presenting the eighth annual report of the Putaruru Red Cross, stated that following the war years it was- to be expected the membership and attendance on> work days would fall, and already signs of renewed interest were needed. The need for help and work such as is given by Red Cross still remains, as has been shown by the many and varied appeals made to the organisation. Last annual meeting, stated Mrs. Strang, found the Putaruru suibcen'tre homeless, but through the kindness of a sister organisation, the St. John Ambulance Brigade, who placed at the society’s disposal their room for work days and; meetings, members now had once again a comfortable meeting place. Through the brigade’s kindness the Red Cross had also had some place to stow their box for sewing materials, etc. The society would like to place on record, said the president, its 1 thanks for the help and kindness meted out to the society by St. John Ambulance Brigade. By the death of Mrs. H. Robinson the sub-centre lost a valuable and loyal member who was always to the fore when a social effort was being made, and who always had the works and aims of Red Cross in view. She has been sadly missed by all members. The departure from Putaruru of Mrs. McKay created another gap in the ranks. From the balance-sheet it would foe seen that once mere the subcentre’s principal source of income had been from the saleyards canteen, Mrs. Ranger, the convener, had made this a piece of splendid organisation, and the society was indebted to vfoer for her untiring efforts. The sewing circle, continued the president, had steadily continued. At Christmas time two dozen pairs of pyjamas were sent to the Rotorua Military Hospital for distribution to the inmates there ’ Not a little of the success of the sewing is due to the careful cutting out by the convener, Mrs. H. Martin.

Knitters had been badly needed throughout the year. Eight pairs of sox were sent to Rotorua with the Christmas parcel. The convener, Mrs. Bent, had wool to be used for the children’s; clothing campaign. Every month six 71b food parcels hadi been packed anjdi sent to addresses in Great Britain. Many interesting and grateful letters of acknowledgement had been; received. A case of children’s clothing made by members was sent to Mrs. W. Banks, Sti Mary, Chichester, through the British Red Cross, This arrived in excellent order and was distributed to sick and ailing children among the larger families of the village. Mrs. Banks, in a letter to the society, said that the clothes gave great pleasure to those in need. The annual street stall was also a great financial success. The sub-centre had been able to help .financially many organisations in whom it had sympathy and interest. As. can be seen from the balance-sheet the Plastic Hospital, Christchurch, was the recipient of £25 from the Putaruru Red Cross this-year. Last year’s donation was used towards purchasing of a piano for use by patients. The instrument carries a silver plate with the subcemtre’s name on it. The Leper Fund, the Navy League Sick Fund, and the Waikato Hospital library had also received donations from the sub-centre. The largest donation of £IOO was made towards the Waikato Red Cross fund for food fer Britain.

Many unexpected kindnesses and inltereslt had been shown towards the sub-centre during the year, particularly by Miss Whitton, of Arahiwi, who had sent donations of her work. ■ •

■Concluding, the president and committee thanked everyone who had in any way helped the wprk of the Red Cross throughout the year.