Farewells to the Nursing Contingent

Kai Tiaki : the journal of the nurses of New Zealand, Volume VIII, Issue 2, 1 April 1915, Page 63

Farewells to the Nursing Contingent

The Trained Nurses' Association, Canterbury Branch, gave a farewell party to their nurses who are about to leave New Zealand for the scene of war. The guests of honour were Miss Bertha Nurse, Sister Wilson, Sister Inglis, Misses Harris, Livesey, and Fanning, all of whom are being sent by the Government, and Nurses Dobson and Bilton, Sister Benjamin (Matron of the Sanatorium), Nurse Downer, who are also going to England. A large number of the members of the Trained Nurses' Association were present, among them being Mr. Julius and Mrs. George Rhodes. A letter was read from Messrs. Stringer & Bridge, who, besides sending their good wishes, chose the occasion for enclosing a cheque for £3 towards the Nurses' Benevolent Fund. Mrs. Leslie Crooke, m a very nice letter, expressed her sincere wishes for the safe return of the nurses. In a very able speech Miss Thurston, President of the Association, heartily welcomed Nurses Wilson and Nurse, who had only that morning returned from Samoa. Farewells, said Miss Thurston, were the order of the day, and New Zealand was now divided into two parties, those who were going, and those who were staying at home. We could not but admire those who had volunteered for the great work they were going to, to nurse sick and wounded soldiers, and those men who were so nobly laying down their lives for us all. Present circumstances bade some stay who would fain go, but they, too, deserved a word of praise, as the e very-day routine duty must be done, and the woman who did that faithfully could not do more. Miss Thurston believed

she was right in saying that this was the first time our Empire had called on the nursing profession for aid. To those who had answered the call she tendered heartfelt congratulations. She would also remind them of the great responsibility given to them to uphold the honour and ideals of the nursing profession of New Zealand, the members of which had had to work hard to attain those ideals. Miss Thurston believed that those who were going were the right sort, and one and all wished them the great success that good and faithful work ever brought. On behalf of the Association, she bade them au revoir, a happy voyage, plenty of work, and a safe return. The rooms of the Cadena Cafe were tastefully decorated for the occasion, and a delightful musical programme was arranged, under the direction of Dr. Crooke, who contributed the O23ening item, a beautiful com position by Chaminade. Other contributors were Mrs. Holley, Miss Stella Murray, Drs. Foster and Pairman. * $ * * # The Otago nurses who are going to the front were entertained at a farewell function on Friday, March 26th, by the Dunedin Branch of the Nurses' Association. The affair, which was most successful, took place in the Savoy Tea Rooms, and Dr. W. Marshall Macdonald, President of the Dunedin Association, presented Nurses Buckley, Calder, Dobbs, Foote, Moore, and Wilkie with electric torches. Nurse Chalmer received a gift of books from the Dunedin nurses who served in South Africa, and an (Continued on page 65)