The 70th birthday celebration of the Maniototo-Wedderburn branch of Red Cross at the weekend was a bittersweet occasion as it was closing due to a decline in the number of active members.
Red Cross Otago area manager Karen Clements, of Dunedin, said: "On one hand it's a celebration of the hard work and I admire all the work done by these volunteers, but it's bittersweet as well, because we're no longer continuing as a branch and it's sad to see that ending."
Southern region chairman Ralph La Salle, of Christchurch, said 70 years was a milestone and the organisation had been fortunate to have "vital people" supporting the work of Red Cross in the district.
Red Cross would still have a presence in the Maniototo and the members would continue their involvement as a group rather than as an official branch of the organisation.
