TRANSPORT OFFICER RESIGNS

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 86, Issue 55, 6 March 1942, Page 4

TRANSPORT OFFICER RESIGNS

ST. JOHN FREE AMBULANCE MR. I). E. GULLERY AC( EPFS AIK FORCE APPOINTMENT •Alter occupying the position of transport oliicer of the Wanganui SI. John r’rcD Ambulance ana secreiarv of the management committee since ■ on. Mr. I). E. Gullet\ iesigned from those positions, having accepted an appointment with the Royal New Zealand Air Fore?. His resignation was received with regret at a recent meeting of the management committee and applications for a successor ar? now being advertised in Wanganui. Wellington, and Auckland. Mr. Gullery's departure means that there has been a complete change in the staff of the ambulance since the war started. Two drivers, Messrs. 11. Daly and C. Dillon, resigned recently to undertake war work in Wellington and were succeeded by th° first women ambulance drivers in Wanganui, the two women now employed being Mrs. E. McLeay and Miss ' J. Duncan. Mrs. F. E. Williamson was also with the ambulance for a time. A member of St. John Ambulance Brigade in Wanganui for 18 years, Mr. Gullery has been district officer since 1925. He was the founder of St. John Free Ambulance in Wanganui and has been secretary and transport officer for seven years. He has trained many men and women in first aid work and hopes to continue this in his new appointment with the Air Force. The St. John Free Ambulance, which operates in the Wanganui Hospital Board district, was started with one motor vehicle and a staff of two. Throughout it has been assisted by auxiliary ambulance workers, and since the war this number has been substantially increased. Mr. Gullery being responsible for their training. In addition to three motor ambulance vehicles other auxiliary vehicles are on call for use in an emergency. Until recent years the Free Ambulance served Taihape Public Hospital from Wanganui, but an ambulance \ehicle has since been stationed there. Pvaetihi Public Hospital is still being served from Wanganui. During a recent epidemic of mumps and measles amonp soldiers the ambulance made long trips in the board’s district and also arranged for the transport of soldiers arriving by train at Wanganui, their handling being supervised by Mr. Gullerv. Mr. Gullerv has been nrominent in rowing in Wanganui. He was coxiswain of the New Zealand eight which jwent to the Olympic Games in Los Angeles.