HEALTH CAMP

Southland Times, Issue 22293, 7 April 1934, Page 7

HEALTH CAMP

SOUTHLAND ASSOCIATION ANNUAL REPORT. Following is the second annual report of the Southland Children’s Health Camp Association: This effort originated from the realization that in Southland many poor and delicate children had no opportunity of growing strong without a ; good holiday. Again this year’s effort, as last, proved that good food, plenty of sleep, fresh air and exercise were just the needful things to build up ■ some of our weaker little Southlanders. Finance and Maintenance. —The committee again has pleasure in reporting the generous assistance of the people of Invercargill and Southland towards the support of this movement. The funds were augmented by the sale of health stamps amounting to £35, by membership fees at 2/6 realizing £3l 13/9, by money donations both from public bodies and private individuals amounting to £l9B 18/11, and by an allotment of £l5O from the Minister of Internal Affairs from art union No. 28. Donations in kind and much equipment were also received from many business firms. We were able to purchase a good deal of equipment this year, especially blankets. Last year most of the children brought their own blankets, this year your association supplied the blankets. We have now 90 pairs of blankets, over 40 quilts and 60 pillows. We have also pots and pans and tubs and other smaller kitchen utensils. We have also a complete change of clothing for between 50 and 60 children. The Camp and Staff. —The Pounawea Convention Committee again granted its buildings with equipment for our camp at the very reasonable rental of £lO for the four weeks. Mrs Stanley Brown was again in charge. We are indebted to her for the very keen interest she takes in all the camp work and for her devoted service to the children. Unfortunately she had to leave before the month was up, and for the last ten days Miss Cherry, from the Health department, Christchurch, was asked to take charge. The association is also indebted to this nurse for the thorough way she carried out her duties. Nurses Tangney and Richard-

son again gave admirable sei-vice. Eight young men and women gave up their holiday and spent the time in voluntary service at the camp. Their help was invaluable and saved the committee much expense. The meals and all the work pertaining thereto were capably attended to by two Home Science graduates and an assistant. The Children.—On Friday, January 5, sixty children (15 more than last year) entrained for the 100-mile trip to the camp. They were selected from the primary schools at Gore. Riverton, Mataura, Nightcaps, Balfour, Bluff, Menzie Ferry, Morton Mains, Hedgehope, Winton, Ohai, Tuatapere, Ruahine, Orepuki, Wairio, Gorge Road, Otatara, Invercargill, and North Invercargill and Gore Convents. These children were selected for us by Dr Abbott, the school medical officer. Thirty-two boys and 28 girls, and of these 16 girls and 13 boys came from country schools, the rest from the city schools. Twenty-four were from 6 to 8 years old. Despite the unsettled weather the children had a good time. They never wearied, they all seemed very happy and contented, and all had very good appetites. The following paragraphs from Dr Abbott’s report are interesting: “The health of the children was good. Two cases of mumps occurred, but apart from a few cases of biliousness and the usual cuts and bruises there was nothing to note. All the children gained in weight but one, who lost Alb, the amounts gained varying from i to 81b, while the average gain was 3.31 b. Twenty-eight children gained in height from i io Sin. The child who gamed most was a country boy of 13 years who suffers very badly from asthma, and misses a great deal of schooling on that account. While in camp he had no attacks of asthma and gained 81b in weight and Jin in height. The girl who gained most was also a country girl of the same age; she gained in weight by 6jlb. The girls put on more weight on an average than did the boys . . . while country boys averaged 3.61 b against 3.21 b gain for city boys." Mrs Stanley Brown, the Camp Commandant, in her report, which will be before the annual meeting, says, regarding the big proportion of children from the open spaces: “This number from the country districts, where fresh air and sunlight are there for the having, makes one wonder whether we need to be so concerned when sunshine is lacking, and should we not concentrate upon the thought that perhaps the things of most benefit to these our undernourished children are regulated rest and diet.’’ Thanks. —The association is indebted for valuable assistance to the secretary of the Southland Education Board, Invercargill City Council, Wallace and Southland County Councils, Gore Bor-

ough Council, the manager of the Southland Times, Southland War Funds Association, Invercargill and Gore Rotary Clubs, Southland Radio Club, the Little Pakehas, Little Southlanders, Girl Guides and Rangers, the chairman and secretary of the Owaka Committee, and all the many organizations and concert companies that handed in donations. Our thanks are due also to the Health Department for the services of its medical and nursing officers, to. the Press for the measure of publicity freely given, to Dr J. N. Johnson, of Owaka, for his visits to the camp as honorary medical adviser, and to Meek and Oughton for use of depot. Resignations.—lt was with great regret that we had to lose the services of Mr H. Grace, chairman of the executive last year and transport officer, owing to ill-health and pressure of business; and also of Mrs J. N. Armour (convener of the food and supplies committee). Both these members did valuable work during the first year when everything was new. We are pleased that Mr Grenfell, who had to resign the office of secretary owing to ill-health, is himself again and, we hope, able to carry on this coming year and so relieve Mrs McKeever who so unselfishly filled the vacancy. The Future. —Mrs Stanley Brown, in her first report as camp commandant, wrote: “It was a great venture which grew more interesting as the days went by and it has given me a vision of the wonderful possibilities of health camps of the future. After a second year’s activity it is quite clear that the Southland Children’s Health Camp Association has set itself a task which cannot be relinquished. Our statistics show that the number of children that need a course of treatment in a health camp is more than double that which we have been able so far to touch. In future we should not have to restrict ourselves to fifty or sixty children once a year, but should continue the camp for a longer period and take more children in a season. Then again we should look out for a convenient and suitable place for a permanent camp. We spend too much in railway fares. If, however, we are to go forward to these larger activities we must have the sympathy and co-operation of the Southland public. Our experience of the past two years has shown us that if properly organized Southland will respond to this most humanitarian appeal.” ______________