MARTINBOROUGH RED CROSS TURNS 80.

What a long Martinborough’s Red Cross has! Records show that  on February 10^th 1939, the Director-General of the NZ Red Cross, accompanied by Mr Skill, the mayor at the time, chaired a meeting with the aim of forming a Branch in town. All 40 residents at the meeting agreed; and on March 31^st , the first meeting took place in our ‘old’ Town Hall.

So … eighty years on, and the town still has an active (now) Group – part of the Wairarapa Branch. Activities have changed, of course; but the principles and aims of the NZ Red Cross and similar societies throughout the world remain the same. The local Group consists of a small ‘Committee’ plus over thirty members. 

Our presence is very much in evidence – Meals on Wheels, volunteer drivers who help people with travel to appointments, a small band of ‘knitters’, emergency equipment store, and of course the now legendary annual ‘Spring Party’. Plus more. Fundraising is an important aspect. Money donated goes to Branch funds and is used locally and also for NZ’s needs and special appeals.

Any time there’s an emergency, the Red Cross is there providing practical help and support. Often they’re the first on the scene!  Our local Group is participating in the NZ ANNUAL APPEAL; this year on Friday March 8^th. We’d love to see you parting with a donation, so look out for our table on the footpath on that day.

The Branch would be delighted to have some ‘new blood’ too. If you would like to join, even as a supporter, please get in touch. The Red Cross motto is ‘Always Needed, Always There’. It’s great to be part of this.

Maree Roy (Co-ordinator)

ph 3069319/0274329634

email maree’greenfrog@gmail.com  .