ST. JOHN AMBULANCE.

Taranaki Daily News, 6 May 1926, Page 10

ST. JOHN AMBULANCE.

NEW PLYMOUTH BRANCH. THE ANNUAL MEETING. CERTIFICATES AWARDED. The annual meeting of the St. Jobs Ambulance Association was held last night. The Mayor (Mr. F. E. Wilson 7 presided. Six classes had been conducted by the centre, stated the annual report. Two — first-aid classes, a senior and junior, Were held at the Convent School. Dr, G- 11. Thomson lectured to both classes. Sixteen senior and 19 junior pupils were successful in the examination by Dr. D. Blackley. They had to thank the Sisters of the Convent for their kindness and help in connection with the classes. A first-aid class was held at Fitzroy sub-section, with Miss Colson as local honorary secretary. Dr. D. E. Brown gave the lectures, and nine students were examined by Dr. T. A. Milroy; ‘ all passed successfully. Mesdames Thompson, Chivers and Tanner qualified for their medallions (third year). A home nursing class was held at the Technical College. Dr. Brewster was lecturer, and Dr. Davie the examiner. Five students were successful, Mesdames Wright and Harkness qualifying for their pendant (fourth year). The committee was indebted to Sister Muir for giving the. class an evening at her private hospital, and instructing them in bedmaking and changing sheets. At the Stratford sub-section a home nursing class was conducted by Dr. D. Steven, but the examination could not be held. A first-aid class in connection with the Stratford High School was held. Dr. D. Steven was lecturer, and Dr. Gordon examiner. Fifteen pupils sat for the examination, and 13 passed. Thanks were due to Miss N. Johnston, locaf honorary secretary, and her assistant, Mrs. Black, for their work, and to the doctors. On September 1 LieutenantColonel G. Barclay, 0.8. E., V.D., Knight of Grace of the Order of St. John, and deputy-chief commissioner of the ambulance deuartment, paid a visit to New Plymouth and met the committee an(t gave an address on the working of the centres in New Zealand. He expressed a hope that in -the near future an ambulance division would be formed in th? to\vn. On September 18, at a gathering of citizens at St. Mary’s Hall, the. Governor-General, Sir Charles Fergusson, at the request of the London headquarters, invested Mrs. E. Doekrill with Aho insigua and diploma of honorary serving sister of the Grand Priory of the Hospital of St. John of Jerusalem, an honour conferred by them in recogntion of her long services as hon. secretary for 18 fears to the order. Thanks were expressed to the vestry of St, Mary’s Church for a donation of £2 3s 9d," a collection made on Anzac Day, 1925, and for the free use of a room for holding the committee meetings; and to the Caledonian Society for a donation ot £1 Is. The balance-sheet showed a credit of £54 17s 2d.

In moving the adoption of the report and balance-sheet, the chairman referred appreciatively to the assistance given by 4 members and sympathisers, especially the doctors who took the classes, often at great personal inconvenience. The motion was seconded by Mr. McGahey and carried. Officers for the ensuing year were elected as follows: President, the Mayor (Mr. F. E. Wilson); vice-president, Mr. R. C. Hughes; committee, Mesdames Wright, Chivers, Harkness, Black, McCrorie, Misses Colson, N. Johnston, Harper and Corney, Messrs. G. McGahey, J. Davis and A. J. Way; hon. secretary and treasurer, Mrs. E. Dockrill. Commenting on a letter from Colonel Barclay advocating the formation of a nursing division, the Mayor said it seemed to him that the weak point in connection with the loc.-.l association was that there was no means by which interest eould be maintained after members had gone through the classes. In Wellington they had an organisation which filled the want. It was stated that a number of students had expressed a desire for a nursing division, and it was eventually decided that the time had arrived for the formation of a home nursing division in New Plymouth, and that it be a recommendation to the committee to give the matter support. CERTIFICATES AWARDED. In presenting certificates to successful local students, Mr. Wilson said that he had already distributed the awards at the Convent. The following gained certificates:— First-aid. —Convert High School (Lecturer, Dr. G. H. Thomson; examiner, Dr. D. Blackley): Seniors, Ellen Fleming, Margaret A. Fleming, Mary Riordan, Dorothy Cooney, Audrey M. O’Neill, Margaret Fleming, Florence Julian and Eva Mellar (equal), Muriel Grace and Gladys Thompson (equal), Julia A Killalea, Una Cornwall, Mary Kurta, Vera McCarthy, Mary F. Nelson, Miry Jane McGorman. Juniors,. Mary Doody and Mary Brophy (equal), Vera Jones and Mary Crawshaw (equal), Mona Glengarry, NoUt Murray, Muriel Courtney, Nina Smith, Alice West, Agnes Coyne. Fitzroy sub-section (Lecturer, Dr. E. D. Brown; examiner, Dr. T. A. Milroy) : Mrs. Doris Thompson, Mrs. Laura Chivers, Joseph Davis, Ada Corney, Emily Ward, Cyril Calvert, Douglas Calvert, Mrs. Ellen Tanner, Nellie Davis. Stratford Technical High School (Lecturer, Dr. D. Steven; examiner, Dr. W. I'. P. Gordon): Rene Burke, Tom Hickson, Michael C. Ford. Iris Tarrant, Margaret Gill, Elsie Aitken, Clement Hill. Ngaere Burgess, Marjorie Armstrong, Alma Blennerhassett, Bruce Edwards, Mamie McKee, Oswald Crossman. Home nursing.—Technical College (Lecturer Dr. Brewster; examiner, Dr. Davie): Mrs. Emma Harkness, Airs. Louisa Wright, Matilda W. Knoffloc'r, Ruby Goodwin, Ethel Wood.