V.A.D.
The girls of the Voluntary Aid Detachment are easily recognised in their navy blue coats with a Red Cross Badge on the arm. There are two detachments in Brisbane, with a full complement of 24 girls in each, the detachments being under the supervision of Commandants and Quartermasters. Each girl qualifies for her position, and must hold first aid and home nursing certificates, and produce them within six months of joining. V.A.D. girls have taken up their work with a determination. Not only do they receive a certain amount of training in the civil hospitals, but they are drilled by a sergeant once a week during the major part of the year, and they work under discipline at regular stated times. Their most notable work in Brisbane is the buffet at the Kangaroo Point Hospital, where morning tea, afternoon tea and supper is provided for convalescent soldiers at a nominal cost, the idea being to supply small extras apart from the rations allowed by the military authorities. This branch of their work has been highly successful. The small kitchen is the centre of V.A.D. cooks and waitresses both day and night, while the restaurant between the recreation hall and the kitchen is always full of returned convalescent soldiers. A few months ago a number of soldiers approached the V.A.D. authorities, and said that they thought the charges at the buffet were too small. They felt it savoured of charity, but the V.A.D. would not hear of raising the prices, and in proof of the absence of charity, explained that in the first nine months they had made a profit of £150. As is well known, two of the girls went home to England last year to assist in the military hospitals, but one of the girls (Miss Lydia Grant) became ill while on duty and died on April 1st of this year. Two girls were recently accepted for duty in the Stanthorpe Military Hospital, and have now taken up their duties as cook and wardsmaid, while another member of the detachment has been appointed to the position of cook in a military hospital in Egypt. A V.A.D. girl must be prepared to work hard, and it speaks well for the Brisbane girls that there are so many enthusiasts attached to the movement.