Financial assistance for people who spend their careers helping others is as crucial today as it was during World War 1, the chairwoman of the New Zealand Nurses’ Memorial Fund says.
Yesterday, about 100 nurses from throughout New Zealand attended the fund’s 100th annual meeting.
The fund, which provides financial assistance to present and retired nurses, was established to honour the 36 New Zealand nurses - among them Lorna Rattray, of Dunedin, and Mary Rae, of Raes Junction - who were killed in World War 1.
The nurses were on the hospital ship Marquette, which was torpedoed by a German U-boat on the way to the Dardanelles in 1915.
Ms Trevor said while nurses were paid far better today, some still needed help.
"We have 14 people who receive grants each year and four people who received allowances," Ms Trevor said.
"They get them for various reasons, but many of them are nurses who are still employed but can’t work for various reasons," she said.
She hoped more nurses would become aware of the fund because it was well supported by donations and bequests.
After the meeting, the nurses had lunch and then heard a talk by historian and author Ron Palenski.
Ms Trevor said she believed the fund would be celebrated again in another 100 years’ time.
