Nurses for Active Service

Kai Tiaki : the journal of the nurses of New Zealand, Volume VIII, Issue 3, 1 July 1915, Page 123

Nurses for Active Service

Thirty-one nurses for service abroad, left for Sydney, on the first stage of their journey to the front. Several of them stayed at the Nurses' Club, in Kensington Street, before leaving, and the club-rooms have been a hive of industry during the two days of preparation. Very short notice was given that the nurses would be required. Urgent wires were sent out on Tuesday afternoon to all parts of the Dominion, and some had to start that night, in order to reach Wellington in time to catch the steamer on Thursday. Fortunately the boat was delayed till the next day, thus affording a little extra time for preparation. The hurried departure necessitated much quick work, and a sewing bee of ready helpers, nurses and others, under Mrs. Jean Macdonald and Nurse Spurdle, worked with a will. Six sewing machines were lent, and the busy workers managed to get a great deal of work done, in all thirtyfour uniforms being made in the two days. The nurses are much indebted to the D.I.C. for the great help given them. Sewing machines have been lent them also for the trip, so that they will be able to make some of their uniforms on the way over. Yesterday morning the nurses reported to Miss Bicknell, acting-matron-in-chief, who briefly addressed them in her office at the Health. Department, and wished them God-speed. Expecting that the ship would sail as usual at 5 p.m., crowds thronged the wharf at that hour. If they had left then, the nurses and the Red Cross men Mould have had a magnificent farewell. Of the nurses it is unnecessary to say more than this : That they are a body of fine healthy young women physically fit for the arduous work ahead of them, and if appearances may be trusted, they are of the sort to maintain or even excel the highest traditions of their noble profession in this, the greatest service that any woman can render to the Empire now. Of course, they are not selected at hazard. They are among the best in New Zealand, and we New Zealanders like to think that " best in New Zealand " will nearly do for anywhere. The hospital staff also calls for superlatives. At the head, Lieutenant-Col-

onel M'Gavin is a surgeon who has, while yet young, achieved something like fame in this country. The other medical men are all doctors of high repute. The rank and file are, in physique, character, intelligence, and soldiery bearing, as good as my country need wish to be judged by. There has been competition at Trontham for this corps, and, very properly, the best men were chosen. The High Commands. The contingent will be under the command of Lieut. -Colonel M'Gavin, Chief Medical Officer of No. 1 Stationary Hospital until they arrive at their destination. At present it seems probable that if the nurses go to Egypt the hospital staff and the nurses will all leave the Moldavia together at the same port. Presumably the stationary hospital will go to Turkey, behind the New Zealand lines, whereas the nurses are to go to base hospitals in Egypt or Malta. Miss Cameron has been appointed matron of the nurses' contingent. She has been matron-in-charge of the St. Helens Hospital, Christchurch for five years, and previous to that was at the Cambridge Sanatorium for two years. Miss Cameron is Australian trained , having been a member of the staff of the Ovens District Hospital, Victoria. Farewell Ceremony. The nurses assembled in the dining-room of Bellamy's, yesterday afternoon to take tea, and to receive their badges of the New Zealand Army Nursing Service. The badages were presented by Mrs. Massey, assisted by Lady Kelburn and Mrs. Hall Thompson, two ladies whose husbands are now serving the Empire in ships of His Majesty's Navy. Afterwards Mrs. Luke, on behalf of the Wellington Branch, of the Lady Liverpool Committee, presented every nurse with a large box of chocolates. It happened that Mrs. Luke, being under the impression that there were only 30 instead of 31 nurses in the party, had procured only 30 boxes of chocolates, but she promised then and there to see that the nurse who had not received the intended gift would get her chocolates later. An hour or so later Mrs. Luke visited the ship and

fulfilled her promise. The gifts were much appreciated, and Mr. Allen expressed his profound admiration for Mrs. Luke's indefatigable energy and unfailing thoughtfulness. Prime Minister's Good Wishes. The Prime Minister said he wished to thank the nurses on his own behalf and on behalf of the people of New Zealand for the patriotism and public spirit they had displayed in coming forward to offer their services to the Empire. Of course such patriotism was to be expected of New Zealand girls, girls of the same stock as the men of New Zealand who had made such a gallant fight on the Gallipoli Peninsula. He was sure the nurses would have plenty of opportunities of useful service where they were going, and he was equally sure that they would acquit themselves well. "I hope/' he concluded, "that you will all come back in good health to the country you are leaving to-day. Goodbye, and the very best of luck." (Applause). Generous Donations. The Hon. J. Allen, before he addressed the nurses, conveyed to them Lady Liverpool's message of farewell (referred to elsewhere), and also read a letter he had received from the Hon. C. J. Johnston. This letter, he said, contained two cheques, each for £500. One was from Miss Johnston, of Fitzherbert Terrace, and one was from Mr. and Mrs. C. J. Johnston. They stipulated that the money should be applied as follows : £100 in response to the Defence Minister's appeal for £1,000 already cabled to Egypt for comforts for the wounded. £450 for comforts for the wounded. £200 for the wounded in Egypt. £250 for the wounded in England. This announcement Mas received with the heartiest applause. Mr. Massey here stated that he had been asked within the last quarter of an hour to visit a function that afternoon, at which he was to receive a cheque for £250 from the Commercial Travellers' Club for the hospital ship. Mr. Allen, not to be outdone, made this announcement : " Just before I came down from my office I had a telephone message from the Salvation Army that they wished to present us with two motor ambulances.

1 have informed them that we have more motor ambulances, almost, than we know what to do with, and that they should apply the money to other purposes. I recommended comforts for the sick and wounded." A Word to the Nurses. Mr. Allen informed the nurses that he believed they were to go to Egypt or Malta. For the transport of the sick and wounded to the base hospitals, New Zealand was fitting out a hospital ship. It was the desire of His Excellency the Governor that the New Zealand ship should go away better fitted up than any other hospital ship in the world, and the Transport Board, who were working with Dr. Collins, had all the information at hand to enable them to carry out His Excellency's wish. On the ship would be ten nurses. Whether those would be taken from the 100 already announced as going he did not know. That would depend on what the Minister in Charge of Hospitals reported as to whether any more nurses could be spared from New Zealand or not. For, of course, our New Zealand hospitals would have to be carried on. Perhaps some of our women who had had nursing experience would return to the work, and a greater number of our young girls would volunteer for service in the hospitals. He would suggest to those not able to go to the front that this Mas a sacrifice they might make. Of the nurses in the contingent he said he was sure that they would uphold the honour of New Zealand. They were going to do the noble work of caring for the wounded. They would give to the sick and wounded all the tender care of which, they were capable, and if it should happen that they were called upon to nurse other wounded, the New Zealand girls would care for them with the same tenderness as for our own New Zealanders. The Brave Mothers. "If you could read the letters that I have had and the Prime Minister has had from the mothers of these wounded soldiers, from the mothers of some of the soldiers who have been killed," he said, "you would be proud of New Zealand, and proud to know that we have such bravehearted women in it. It makes me proud, it would make you proud, to think that we

have such people in our country. There are great days coming for New Zealand if we can keep that spirit alive." Mr. Allen's concluding words were of good Avishes. He hoped the nurses would be able to restore to life and health many of our men. He hoped they would have a rapid and a pleasant voyage, and that they would speedily get to the work for which they had offered. (Applause). Miss Cameron (the matron) thanked the Ministers for their kindly words of farewell, and Mrs. Luke and the Lady Liverpool Committee for their gifts. Parting Good Wtshes. Lieutenant-Colonel M'Gavin, who is in charge of the No. 1 Stationary Hospital, received the following communication from the Hon. James Allen (Minister of Defence) : ' His Excellency the Governor desires

me to convey to you the following mes sage upon your departure to-day : ' I cannot permit you and those who sail with you to leave these islands without conveying to you my best wishes for the success of the noble work which you have undertaken. New Zealand deeply appreciates the whole-heartedness of the response of personal service from your profession and those connected with it. — (Signed) Liverpool, Governor.' " The Hon. James Allen also sent the following message to the Matron-in-Chief of the No . 1 Nursing Contingent , Miss Cameron, from Her Excellency the Countess of Liverpool : — " On your departure from New Zealand I desire to send you every good wish for yourself and for the errand of mercy which you have undertaken. — (Signed) Annette Liverpool." — iC Evening Post."