OAKURA NEWS

Taranaki Daily News, 24 September 1928, Page 16

OAKURA NEWS

HOME NURSING CLASS ENTERTAINS The Oakura home nursing class entertained Sister Corkill at afternoon tea in the hall on Wednesday as a fitting finish to the course of lectures she has given there this winter, writes the News’ correspondent. The local branch of the women’s division was represented by several members, and a very delightfill tea was served by the members of the class. Miss Small, Korn, spoke most appreciatively of Sister Corkill’s lectures. She felt sure that the students had all learned much that would always be useful to them, as she certainly had done. Mrs. C. J, Harris spoke of the excellence of the nursing lectures and of Sister Corkill’s outstanding ability as a lecturer, both in the scope of the work done and the very clear and educative manner in which instruction had been imparted. She reminded the class that the course had been arranged for by the local branch of the women’s division, and hoped that next year the students would take another course, and go on until they had had all they could secure of the first-aid and nursing lectures. Mrs. Harris then remarked that words were soon spoken and soon gone, and while she had tried to voice the appreciation of the class for Sister Corkill’s work, they had decided to show it in a more tangible form. Mrs. Mahon handed to Sister Corkill the gift from the class, two pieces of cut crystal, a powder bowl for the dressing table, and a flower glass. In thanking the class for their gift and for the words of appreciation that had been spoken, Sister Corkill said she had had great pleasure in the work at Oakura. She hoped they w-ould take the more advanced courses in home nursing.

Songs were sung during the afternoon by Miss Maisie Rusling and Mrs. Harris, and Miss Lucy Knight gave two delightful recitations. At a meeting of the local branch of the women’s division on Wednesday afternoon, the committee elected two advisory members to the central committee of the bush nursing auxiliary. Mrs. Harris explained the function of the advisory members, and said that while it scarcely seemed probable that the bush nurse or housekeeper would ever be asked for in the district, she herself had had an application from a farmers’ wife in another district for a nurse, and members might have friends elsewhere who might inquire of them if they could obtain temporary domestic help through the division. For this reason it was necessary that the branch should be prepared to deal with cases, although tiiese might be in other districts.

Mrs. Harris mentioned the work of the book club, and appealed for books, magazines and children’s literature, to be sent to Mrs. Mahon this month. The women’s exchange scheme was in its infancy, said Mrs. Harris, but was an excellent scheme for the sale of the handiwork of country women. At present this was sold only at conferences, when the delegates bought the work, but it was hoped to extend the scheme and have centres where work could always be sold. Mrs. Harris suggested that members might begin now and prepare work for the next conference in July. These, she said, were the principal activities of the division, but every district had some individual work or reform which it could carry out through the division, as some districts had already done, when Government depart-’ ments and other authorities were approached, and reforms had been accomplished. SCHOOL BASKETBALL. The school basketball team met Okato school A team in a return match at Oakura on Friday last. The play was very even in both teams and remarkably few penalties were given. Catching and passing were noticeably smart on the Okato side, which was composed entirely of girls, but the home team ran them very close. The Oakura boys and girls have improved splendidly during the season, and there was an alertness and confidence in their play which enhanced the game very much from the spectators’ point of view. Victory went to Okato, for a very well contested match, the score being 14 to 11. The visitors were entertained at afternoon tea by the home team before leaving for Okato.