RED CROSS

Timaru Herald, Volume CXLIX, Issue 21983, 7 June 1941, Page 10

RED CROSS

Commandant’s Visit Use Of \ oluntary Aids Miss E. Tennent, Commandant-in-Chief of Voluntary Aids, arrived in Timaru yesterday from Geraldine, where she was the guest of Mrs J. Mowbray Tripp. On her arrival in Timaru. Miss Tennent was the ' uest of honour at morning tea given by the V.A. Committee of the Timaru Centre, when many interesting matters were discussed. Early in the afternoon, Miss Tennent conferred with country V.A.’s and later gave an address to representatives of Sub-centres, when those present were guests at afternoon tea of the executive of the Timaru Centre. In the course of her remarks Miss Tennent stressed the need-in hospitals in time of emergency of help in kitchens and in linen room management., “These duties,” said Miss Tennent. “can be carried out in hospitals only by members of the societies of the Red Cross and of the Order of St. John.” Women who were willing to undertake this training in hospital (40 hours) would be welcoinea by *he Timaru Red Cross Society. These trainees would wear the Red Cross uniform and would hold the same status as other members of the V.A. detachment.

Regarding the relationship between the Red Cross and the W.W.S.A., M.ss Tennent stated that under the Geneva Convention the Red Cross was permitted to work only for sick and wounded in war and disaster, and consequently in an emergency, the province of the Red Cross would be everything pertaining to sick and wounded, so it behoved members to prepare themselves for duty in wards, and in kitchens of hospitals as well, as training in the care of linen.

Continuing, Miss Tennent said that a scheme of training in hospitals had been drawn up by the National Voluntary Aid Council, of which the speaker was a member, at the Instigation of the Director of Health, with the object of having a large body of V.A.’s trained for service in civil and emergency hospitals in times of need. On Aotea Quay, Wellington, a clearing hospital for soldiers returning by hospital ships would be staffed by , registered nurses and Voluntary "ids. The Dietary Department and messrooms would be under the control of Mrs Marshall Macdonald and Voluntary Aids. The lounge had been equipped by the Red Cross, with wireless, games and literature. At Rotorua, the Government was building a hospital with accommodation for soldiers reouiring special treatment. This, too, would be staffed by sisters and Voluntary Aids. In the evening. Miss Tennent inspected the Voluntary Aid Detachment in the Bay Hall and complimented members not onlv on their appearance and deportment, but also on the high standard of efficiency displayed in their work. Miss Tennent will leave for Dunedin this morning.