THE MILESTONE of 110 years of the Australian Red Cross (ARC) is being celebrated by the Woolgoolga Branch with a birthday party on Tuesday 13 August at the Woolgoolga Seniors Centre from 2pm.

Thirty-three years of continuous local service by Woolgoolga Red Cross is also being recognised at the celebrations.

Preparations have begun and the Branch is calling out to any past members to get in touch and come along to the party.

“We’re wanting to let people know well in advance of the event so they can spread the word and we can reach as many past members and friends and invite them to come along,” long-time member and Patron of the Branch, Robyn Rooth, told News Of The Area.

The Australian Red Cross was established in 1914 as an immediate response to the beginning of the first World War. It has played a pivotal role in supporting Australians for 110 years.

Sharing snippets of the organisation’s history, Robyn said Red Cross Branches in Coffs Harbour and Woolgoolga were active in those early years, providing financial support and assistance such as knitting gloves and socks, making cakes and biscuits, rolling bandages, and growing crops.

“The Woolgoolga Branch was active during both the First and Second World War periods,” said Robyn.

“Some time ago I spoke to a lady who was a member back in the 1940s and she said that after the war ended, they decided they should put their new-found experience in organising and fundraising to good local use and they did things like setting up a school library and a local drama group.

“The current Branch was reformed in 1991 and has operated without interruption since.”

Robyn was one of the inaugural members, joining with her late husband John, along with Lilian Essex-Clark, who is still an active volunteer.

At the end of the Second World War the Red Cross looked at how they could best utilise the support and reputation that had grown during those years.

“Some of the roles taken on by volunteers then included long term assistance for returned service men dealing with the wounds and trauma of their service, provision of a blood service, training in first aid, tracing services to reconnect families displaced by war, the provision of milk for school children, and after-school tuition.

“It became clear that the Red Cross had a real and important role to play in assisting vulnerable Australians.

“Currently there are over one million Red Cross members, volunteers, partners, staff, donors, blood donors and supporters acting for humanity across the country,” she said.

The Woolgoolga Red Cross Branch has over 80 members and provides several services across the community, including the Hands On program at the retirement village, the monthly Friendship Afternoon Teas for seniors, hundreds of hand-knitted Trauma Teddies distributed across doctors, dentists and Coffs Harbour hospital, and the Emergency Services team which provides recovery and resilience services for the survivors of various disasters.

Everyone is invited to join in the celebration, attendance is free, and it would be helpful to reply to Margaret on murphm@bigpond.net.au by 1 August 2024.

By Andrea FERRARI