St Boniface School of Nursing - Estole Fideles Yearbook (St Boniface, Manitoba Canada)

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CLASS OF 1944 32

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Id- ItiJe Qo- HofUf 2 a 1 U4. R ememLefi? Play, fun, diversion—we’ve had it all— from parties and gatherings among our¬ selves, to entertaining the Graduating class and sponsoring a Silver Tea. This tea was our contribution to the School Fund. In fact, it was we, the Second Year Students, to whom it was given the honor and responsibilities of making the Social debut of the Student Nurses of S. B. H. Heretofore our entertaining had been con¬ fined to ourselves only. With this honor entrusted to us and by the enthusiasm and co-operation of the girls we surpassed our modest aim. Acting as hostesses to the Graduating class is a tradition handed down to us. There are two occasions upon which this custom prevails: one is a party, treat, or entertainment which both Graduates and Second Year Students attend—with the latter as escorts to the Guests of Honor. This year we all attended the Winter Ice Carnival. The second traditional event i s the entertaining of the Graduates—and the whole school—at a breakfast held in the Nurses’ Residence. Our class parties were small and our gatherings modest, with no special color or spectacular occurrence, but they dotted the year with small frivolities in direct contrast to our daily tasks. The last year has marked the last lap to some, it has been the building up to the Grande Finale of Graduation. May we Bluebands say farewell to our Seniors who have helped and guided us as com¬ panions and teachers. It is your turn to take and hold the Lamp of Service, the service to humanity for which these past three years you have been studying and striving. Good luck to you and may you enjoy success and happiness in your role as “Nurse”. The Second Year Nurses, By C. KINSEY. Feb. 7th, 1941: That very eventful day— it was Friday and the sun was shining. A class of girls—enthusiastic, excited, be¬ wildered, entering a new phase of their lives—that of student nurses in the St. Boniface Hospital. We all know from experience the thoughts that ran through our minds, the sensation of entering the dining room for that first supper!—the impression of so many uniforms whose wearers seemed so collected and at home. We envied you older nurses. Then gradu¬ ally unnoticed, even by ourselves, we too fell into the routine of institutional life. June 3rd, 1941: Sitting in the parlour across from Sister Clermont’s office. Each waiting our turn—“One has gone in”— “There— she’s coming out—she has it—a cap.” To us this meant the world, for now we were accepted—officially—as stu¬ dent nurses—no longer probationers. July 6th, 1941: The celebration of receiv¬ ing our caps—a party—picnic form at Shady Beach—dining, dancing, swimming, rowing—the last ship—and Miss Swaine and Miss Troendle frantically fighting mosquitoes and worriedly watching the river for sight of their escaped wards. It was a memorable evening—more deeply impressed by the mosquitoes, whose im¬ pression rankled for a week. Feb. 4th, 1941: Our congratulatory party for the September members of our class on receiving their caps—whom we initiated with due ceremony in our recreation hall. Feb. lltli, 1942: We are growing older and once more we are gathered in the parlour. This time we are to receive our blue bands, indicating one year’s training —one year nearer our goal. And at this point we would like to both thank and congratulate the graduating class of 1942. . . . Thank them for helping us through our crucial moments during our proba¬ tionary term—for helping us to adjust ourselves to ward duty and our new life— to congratulate you on becoming graduate nurses—and we wish each and everyone of you every success possible. The First Year Nurses, By G. HUTCHISON. 31

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Ou Mi4A4e4. Ut S uUU “We stayed in New York a week and had a marvellous time sight-seeing. On Saturday, November 22, we left on the S. S. Kawsar, an Egyptian boat of about 12,000 tons. The captain was Welsh, one of the officers Hungarian and the rest Egyptian; one doctor was Welsh and the other Jewish. The dining room stewards were Hindu, the room stewards Egyptian, the stewardesses Greek. The passengers were of every nationality—talk about the League of Nations! “We made two stops, the first at Trini¬ dad. Were we ever thrilled to see some green after our diet of blue sky and blue water! We didn’t expect to be allowed to go ashore, but it was arranged for us to be taken around in groups. The island is very tropical and everyone seems to go about very slowly and leisurely. The women walk around with immense bas¬ kets on their heads. Everywhere there seemed to be little carts pulled by don¬ keys. The buildings were so open—no glass in any of the windows. There were lovely rock gardens, and so many trees and flowers! We saw banana trees and coconut palms. We enjoyed our stay at Trinidad, B. W. I., very much. “Our other stop was Pernambuco. The houses here seemed much more substan¬ tial than those in Trinidad, but in some of the poorer sections we would see six to eight houses together. It seemed as though one very narrow house was built, and then others, still narrower, were built onto that. The roofs were all a different height and each house was painted a dif¬ ferent color—it was positively weird! However the residential section was beau¬ tiful. At Olinda, a Dutch town five miles from Pernambuco, we visited two beautiful churches with marvellous paintings on the walls and ceilings. We found it all very interesting. “We had a very nice Christmas on board ship and landed in Capetown, the next day.” Springfield Military Hospital, Durban, South Africa. “We were met at the dock by women drivers and taken to Seahurst Military Hospital in St. James—a suburb about twenty miles from where we docked. The hospital faces on to the Indian Ocean. On our way to the hospital we stopped at the Cecil Rhodes Memorial and from here had a remarkable view of the country¬ side. We could see Table Mountain and The Lion. When the clouds hang low on Table Mountain it looks like a white table¬ cloth on the mountain. “The highways here are beautiful. “They have dual language in South Africa—all signs are written in English and Africaanse which is apparently a combination of English, Dutch, German, French, and native. “We went to the Alexandria Club—a nurses’ club of which we are honorary members—and then a Miss Gilchrist, who has a nursing home, took us for a lovely drive and then to a country club for tea. The people here are so friendly and seem even more hospitable than Manitobans, if that is possible. “On New Year’s Day we left for Durban the trip taking three days and two nights. We saw ruins of old Boer War forts along the way. Also, just before we reached Durban, we saw some beautiful scenery— The valley of the thousand hills, I think.” “At present we are stationed at Zonder- water Military Hospital. The climate hers is much like our own—rain, thunder storms, and quite hot during the day. The land is very sandy. The people have quite a different sense of humor in comparison to ours, but I think we will like South Africa very much.” |t Editor’s Note—The above is a summary of Miss Wastle’s letters describing their trip to South Africa. « ♦ ♦ St. Boniface Graduates serving with the Nursing Sisters in South Africa; Margaret Wastle, Oak Bluff, Man. Grace Govenlock, Whitewood, Sask. Eileen Morton, Lauder, Man. Agnes Maloney, Manitou, Man. Margaret Muir, Elphinstone, Man. Jean Wheeler, Sedley, Sask. 33