Private Effort for Our Soldiers

Kai Tiaki : the journal of the nurses of New Zealand, Volume VIII, Issue 4, 1 October 1915, Page 183

Private Effort for Our Soldiers

There are many m New Zealand who will be glad to hear of the departure of eight ladies for Sydney en route for Cairo, where they will form the staff of a Convalescent Home for New Zealand wounded soldiers, situated at Helouan, some distance from Cairo. These ladies are Sister Early (matron-in-charge), Nurses Kate Booth, and Hughes, and Misses Lena M'Laren, M'Donald, M'Donnell, Ruth Cameron, and another (Miss M'Donnell), who joins the party at Cairo. With them left also Sergt. Sleigh, who went through the Boer war m connection with the Red Cross, and will prove of valuable assistance m regard to the work which they will undertake m Egypt. These ladies are all paying their own expenses, passages and all, and they expect to be able to keep themselves for at least a year while attending to the needs of our convalescent soldiers. The home will be splendidly equipped, about £4,000 having been subscribed for that purpose, the syndicate that had matters m hand having been formed by residents of the Wairarapa, Wanganui, and Feilding districts. As a matter of fact, the Convalescent Home, although organised to a large extent by private effort, will be to some degree assisted by the Government, and yesterday the three nurses were sworn m as all tlie nurses who previously

left New Zealand were sworn m. Mr. Guy Williams, Mr. Hugh Morrison, Mr. M'Donald, of the Wairarapa, and Mr. James M'lntosh, of Wellington, have most materially assisted with the success o f the movement, Mr. M'lntosh acting as treasurer. Although equipped for a year, it is likely that should the war continue and the need for the work grow even more absolutely necessary than now that further efforts will be made to increase staff and hospital. The uniform is of fawn gaberdine, with panama hats swathed with grey veils, very servicable and trim looking. Miss McDonnell and Miss M'Donald will manage the home, While the others will form the nursing staff. My. James M'lntosh was presented with a handsome gold watch as a mark of the appreciation with which his whole-hearted enthusiasm for the movement has been regarded. Miss Duncan made the presentation. The staff had a very hearty sendoff, many friends and relatives of the nurses from Feilding, Wanganui, and the Wairarapa having come to Wellington to see them away, and to wish them Godspeed m their splendid voluntary efforts for the men who are giving up so much toy their country. The Convalescent Home staff joins the Arabia m Sydney for Egypt,