Otago Branch, N.Z.T.N.A.

Kai Tiaki : the journal of the nurses of New Zealand, Volume VIII, Issue 2, 1 April 1915, Page 110

Otago Branch, N.Z.T.N.A.

(Late Report)

Since last report much has happened m the nursing world ; the war and how to best meet its needs dominates this as all other section of the community. The result of the deputation to the Minister of Defence was seen on April Bth when 50 New Zealand nurses left on active service. Those leaving Dunedin were Ssiters Buckley, Calder, Moore, Wilkie, Dodds and Chalmer, and they were entertained by the Associa tion at the Savoy Restaurant one evening, when there was a very large gathering of members and friends to wish them farewell and present them with electric torches, a modern development of v The Lady with the Lamp." A torch was also sent to Nurse Ingram, who was for two years a member of our Council during her term of work at St. Helens Hospital. These nurses were also entertained by the Otago Women's Association, which does such good work at the Early Settlers' Hall m providing outfits for the recruits, and were also given cushions. Sister White and Nurses Brown, Verey and Turnbull left too for Sydney to join the Australian nursing contingent and were to leave on the Hospital ship " Kyarra," on April 13th for Brisbane. We are gratified that the N.Z.T.N.A. is to be allowed to share with the British and other colonial nurses m caring for the sick and wounded, although we are already well represented at the front from the beginning of the war by nurses who were already m England and volunteered at once. Three Dunedin trained nurses have lately gone to France with a party sent by the War Office, nurses Ruth Lindsay, Agnes MacMillan and M. Coneys. Dr. Marshall Macdonald, the President of our branch for several years, left recently for France, having volunteered for service there ; he was accompanied by Mrs. Macdonald, formerly Nurse Meurns, who is a member of the Australian T.N.A., and also of the N.Z.T.N.A., who hopes to be able to take an active part m the work there The day before they left Miss Thomson, of Stafford Hospital, enter ained the members of the Council at afternoon tea to give them an oppor unity of saying good-bye to Dr. and Mrs. Macdonald who were presented by the Council, on behalf of the branch, with

a very complete hypodermic case and nurse's wallet respectively. Dr. William Brown has been good enough to agree to our request to act as President and it has been arranged to have a social evening some time m May to enable all the members to meet him. There have been three Council meetings during the quarter, when accounts were passed for payment and several applications for membership were received. Mrs. Balfour, Miss Campbell, Sisters Rae and Nos worthy, have consented to fill the vacancies on the Council. A Bible circle has been formed for nurses and ex-nurses to meet m the Club-room on Friday evenings, except on one Friday m the month, when it will be held m the afternoon at 3 p.m., immediately before the Council meeting ; the entrance fee is sixpence, and all nurses are asked to join. It is hoped that nurses may be able to meet often during this winter at the Clubroom, as it affords an excellent opportunity for friendly intercourse. During December a collection was made among the private nurses, ex-nurses and those attached to the different private hospitals m Dunedin on behalf of the Motor Ambulance Fund, which resulted m the sum of £10, and m January different amounts were subscribed to the fund for assisting the Belgian doctors and pharmacists. It is with the greatest regret that we record the death of Mrs. Dunnett of Ottawa, Canada, who as Nurse Sutherland represented our Association at the IntcTnational Congress of Nurses at Cologne, and who as head of the Chalet Hospital for many years m Dunedin was so well known : the cause of her death was cerebral haemorrhage. One of her sisters was with her m Ottawa, the other is private nursing m Dunedin. Nurse Cardow, who has lately returned from Suva, and is private nursing from the Nurses' Home m Dunedin, is much pleased with the insight she has gained m tropical diseases and regrets she was not able to stay longer m such beautiful surroundings. Nurse McMullan left with Dr. and Mrs. Baird for England by the " Kaikoura." In the beginning of March, Dr. Barnett and family left for England ; the doctor intends going on active service at the front.