First Aid on Rangitoto Island.
When
the Trust started restoring Bach 38 as our headquarters
and museum, part of our responsibilities under OSH is to
have a first aid kit appropriate for what we are doing.
We had through generous donations built up a suitable first
aid kit which was one was stolen. Its replacement is not
nearly as comprehensive and we are slowly building it up.
Recently Allan Godsall took a party of U3A visitors around
the island and one of them fell over doing major damage
to his limbs in the form of gashes/grazes. The first aid
kit was put to good use and a very nice letter was received
from the people thanking us for Allan's prompt care and
a donation towards our costs.
Right- Formerly the 'honey house'.
Rangitoto Island can be an inhospitable and inaccessible
place and before the advent of rescue helicopters and fast
boats, dealing with accidents was problematical. With the
influx of holidaymakers to baches and weekend tourists St
Johns First Aid stations were built and manned by volunteers
at both Rangitoto Wharf and Islington Bay.
Below
are a few reminiscences from the Burton family who were
some of those volunteers.
Right - St John station - original
part.
I remember when the last First Aid station at Rangitoto
wharf opened, on the 12th March 1961. It was a grand occasion
with bunting flying and dignitaries present.
The story continues: Billy Mills, a cottage owner
who lived on the Island, had attended the First Aid incidents
at the wharf up until this time. Bill, and his wife, May,
lived in a converted tram opposite the turn off (from the
main road) to the Islington Bay coastal track
I remember one time when I was going down to Rangitoto
on one of the good old blue boats, the weather was not too
good and I, not being a good sailor, was becoming more and
more green about the gills. Bill Mills was aboard, but what
First Aid did he give me? "What's the matter Dawn,
all you need is a great big piece of greasy pork".
I could have thrown him overboard instead of the contents
of my stomach.
But
I digress. - The First Aid station. It was decided that
the First Aid station was not large enough for family members
of the brigade to come down for the holidays or a weekend,
so the honey house was moved from a "section next door"
to be alongside the old station, but not too close. The
two were joined to form 3 rooms. One for First Aid, one
for the bedroom and the middle one became the kitchen. A
very cosy little cottage.
Right - St John kitchen
The First Aid station was manned by the Epsom Ambulance
division, or in my case, "womaned" by me when
I was on the Island.
The Devonport Domain Board, who were at this time caretakers
of the Island, paid for the alterations. First Aid equipment
and furnishings for the rest of the station was supplied
by the St John Ambulance Association from funds entrusted
to it by Mr Alf Watson on behalf of the former Residents
Association with donations of furniture by the locals.
In
a letter to all residents from the Rangitoto Welfare and
Improvement Society, they said "
. we would like
to thank all those good people who have assisted with donations
of money or materials, and also to those who gave so much
time in making the alterations to the building. Not forgetting
also those who provided tea and refreshments each weekend".
Things have not changed have they?
Right - Putting the two buildings together
The opening of the Ambulance station was,
as I said before, a grand affair. A guard of honour, consisting
of three members of the Epsom Division - Laurie Carlyon,
Gordon Wilson and Bruce Tooley and one member of the Onehunga
Nursing Division, me, met the launch Iona as it berthed
at Rangitoto wharf. St John Ambulance staff and Boy Scouts
(Des Bentley was also a Scout Master) filled the boat.
The
two buildings were actually 'prison huts' from the prison
camp on Rangitoto Island and were put to good use in the
typical recycled Rangitoto fashion. You can see the distinctive
centre door with its lintel and side windows in the photo
below. There are only are few buildings left on Rangitoto
Island from the prison era
Right - The finished station
Dedicated and opened by the Reverend Lawley Brown, Port
Chaplain, with speeches by the then Mayor of Auckland Sir
Dove Myer Robinson, Des Bentley; Division Superintendent,
District Superintendents (the top dogs) Mr Noble and Mrs
Hall, the new rooms were open for inspection.
I don't remember any of the cases that I had to attend
but I do know that they were many and varied, mainly minor.
If the casebook was still in existence it would probably
jog my memory but it is not to be.
Dawn
might not remember any of the cases but this photograph
is of one of the activities she undertook as a St Johns
Ambulance volunteer.
Islington Bay also had a St John Ambulance station and
an article about it was in City Scene last year and reproduced
below.
Right - Messer's Jack Sullivan, Laurie
Carlyon and Reg Burton outside the First Aid Station.
With the advent of the Hauraki Maritime Parks Board, both
ambulance stations were pulled down and the equipment removed.
The Trust has some photos and stories from that time but
would always welcome more.
In a future newsletter we will write about the prison camp
and would welcome any photos or memories from that time.
Right
- Laurie Carlyon is sitting watching, Dawn Burton demonstrating
the CPR technique of the time and Anne Sullivan is the patient.
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