WAIHI RED CROSS

Waihi Daily Telegraph, Volume XXXI, Issue 8838, 30 October 1942, Page 2

WAIHI RED CROSS

STRONG AND ACTIVE BODY REVIEW OF WORK DONE TWO SUCCESSFUL YEARS The Waihi sub-centre of the Red Cross Society is now entering on its third year, and with a membership of cfter 180,. work is proceeding apace. Hundreds ,of garments have been sent direct to Britain and 400 quilts have been made to date. The local hospital has been supplied with these, 30 have been set aside for the C.C.S. when an emergency arises and 100 will be kept at the; Red Cross depot. A fully stocked emergency cupboard for local use when needed is in readiness and a plentiful supply of hospital equipment, wool gauze, swabs, bowls, women’s and children’s night-gowns, men’s pyjamas and baby clothes is on hand. A' sub-branch attached to the Waihi sub-centre has been formed at Thames and is doing very valuable work. Next of Kin of Prisoners of War A most enjoyable and largely attended gathering of the next of kin of prisoners of war was held last Wednesday in the Red Cross Rooms, 'Haszard Street. These afternoons are held' each quarter when the parcels are due to be sent and each next of kin is given a gift to enclose in their parcels.' On Wednesday an order for £2 worth of clothing was given to each of the next of kin to be included in their parcels as a Christmas gift from the Waihi Red Cross. There are thirty prisoners of war from Waihi. Sick and Wounded

Every soldier returning to Waihi or Waihi Beach has been met and, together with their relatives, given transport to their homes, while those soldiers living at a distance have been provided with . refreshments. Gifts of underclothing, socks, etc., have been made to each man Other Activities

A Red Cross shop has been opened and many willing helpers are assisting. Five hundred dressings have b£en supplied to the Home Guard, members of which have also been supplied with supper, and a large parcel of dressings, food, covers, bandages and handkerchiefs is being despatched for Christmas to the No. 1 General Hospital, Helwan, Egypt, where so many of our Waihi boys have received such excellent treatmlent while patients there.

Letters of appreciation have been received from Major W. H. Stainton, Miss Crawford and the Thames Hospital Board. With the possibility in the future of a great number of sick and wounded being drafted to local hospitals, a fund is gradually being built up to aid these patients by supplying them with pyjamas, cigarettes, ■ fruit and materials for occupational therapy, writing materials and other comforts. V.A. Detachment A fully equipped V.A. detachment has been fopmed and is how completing its second year of training. Members have given valuable voluntary help when called upon at the hospital, while five of them attended an all-day series of lectures at Hamilton (from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m.) on air raid precautions and gas and chemical warfare, questions being set and the answers marked in Auckland, all passing.

The sub-centre was visited by Mr A. E. Gibbons, president of the Waikato centre, Mrs Graham, centre commandant, and Miss Menzies, centre advisory director, and certificates were presented to each V.A. by Mrs Graham, who congratulated the members on their good results.. One member, Miss J. Cullen, has been appointed to the military hospital at Rotorua, The classes have been well attended and the detachment’s room is- fully equipped with beds, dressings, splints, and bedding and thanks ai-e due to the trained nurses who have assisted with the classes and examinations.