LONG RECORD OF SERVICE

Timaru Herald, Volume CLVIII, Issue 23262, 25 July 1945, Page 3

LONG RECORD OF SERVICE

Red Cross Drivers Official Car Acquired There were only two uniformed members of the Red Cross transI port section when it was formed ■ in Timaru in 1911—they were Mrs A. I. Turnbull and Miss Jean liorI well, and they were the first Red ; Cross drivers to meet sick and wounded personnel arriving in Timaru by train. Early in 1942 a complete transport unit was formed, a detachment of 28 members with the late Miss Janet Brown as commandant. i There are at present 18 members and the mileage covered in an ordinary months activity is 860—this would be i doubled il a luriough train and a draft 1 of wounded servicemen were to arrive, i or if some special outing were arrangied lor convalescents. Each driver is on duty lor a week, when siie is on call at any hour ot tile day or night and, because m the Timaru detachment ' there are only five available tor full- ; time duty, the turn comes around every ’ live weexs. Those members who are j employed during the day are responi sibie lor the week-end calls. Own Cars Used i Uniforms are provided by the memi bers themselves, and until me purchase I of tile oflicial car recently members j also used their own cars. They will I still use their own cars when more l than one is required. Drivers must i have their first-aid certificates and i many ot them also hold the other Red | Cross certificates in home nursing, hygiene, etc. The majority ol tire mein1 bers have passed the examination conI ducted by the Automobile Engineers of I Australia, the papers for which are -set in Wellington. Tlie driver on duty for the week is on the road by 9 a.m., taking servicemen to the hospital lor treatment. She may then go a few miles out of town to bring a blind person in to attend a meeting of the Club for the Blind, or it may be the turn of a crippled girl to come to town. One afternoon a week she drives Red Cross visitors to the hospital, and there may be a train to meet. At the week-end perhaps a group of convalescent men have been invited to the country or may wish to attend the races or some other sports gathering. When the midnight trains were running the drivers on duty often had to be at the station, and there lias been many an urgent call to take a patient to Christchurch. With the larger car at their disposal drivers will be able to transport their wounded passengers in more comfort and will also be able to carry a wheel-chair when necessary. The purchase of the car was made possible by a bequest for £250 from the Garrick estate, and the first country trip for which it was used was to tlie home of Mr and Mrs M. C. Harper. Waitawa. I where a party of former prisoners of war was entertained.