Milestone year for Red Cross

It is a significant year for the commemoration of the Anzac troops at Gallipoli and an equally significant year for the New Zealand Red Cross.

It is 100 years since the Governor General Lord Liverpool arranged a meeting of what could best be described as ad-hoc Red Cross groups around the country who had got together after the start of WWI to raise money to gather together medical supplies and food for Kiwi troops overseas. The task was to "co-ordinate the patriotic duties of these groups".

That meeting took place on November 10, 1915, and out of it emerged the New Zealand Branch of the British Red Cross and during the rest of WWI and through WWII the Red Cross groups worked alongside the Order of St John as a joint council.

Red Cross were at the forefront during the 1918 influenza epidemic, the 1931 Hawke's Bay earthquake, WWII and the Tangiwai rail disaster.

It was after the 1931 earthquake that Red Cross became a society in its own right and in mid-1932 the New Zealand Red Cross Society was officially recognised by the Government.

One of the earliest Red Cross shops was set up in Napier in 1915, and given the significance of the 100 years, and the initial association with WWI, a series of commemorative events are now planned.

A display of some early items along with old photos has been set up in the Napier Red Cross service centre.

"It is quite a history and we will be commemorating that," Red Cross East Coast community service manager Debbie Cullen said.

The centennial is being celebrated as the "Century of Care".

A Red Cross shop was also set up in Hastings with volunteers selling second-hand clothing as well as baked goods to raise money for the organisation to carry out its humanitarian work.

That volunteer spirit continues today with Red Cross shops still operating in both cities as well as Havelock North and Onekawa.

During the year street banners will be put up in Napier and Hastings commemorating the 100 years and on May 9 the film In Love and War will be shown at the MTG Hawke's Bay.

An honours and awards ceremony will be staged in Central Hawke's Bay next week to recognise the efforts of many long-standing volunteers.

In September a fashion show will take place at the War Memorial Conference Centre on Marine Parade, featuring old Red Cross uniforms.

There will also be a major combined volunteer function for about 300 people in December.-The Red Cross helps groups with first aid training and is currently offering aid to cyclone-torn Vanuatu.