The Q Robin School at Wauchope, was officially opened by the Hon. C.B. Cutler, ED, MLA. Mr Cutler, as Minister for Education, was welcomed to the area by Joe Andrews, president of the Hastings Shire. He was supported in his welcome by Mr Cowan, MLA.

Reverend Ross Lay, Methodist Minister in Wauchope for several years, and one of the keenest supporters of the school, gave a brief history of the school and thanked all those who had supported it.

The school was begun by the Quota ladies in 1966, and was held in the Rotary Club youth centre in Bain Park. By late 1966 there were five children attending the school, a golden number which entitled a subsidy from the government to support a teacher.

At the end of the second term 1969, the attendance was 11, another golden number with another subsidy for a teacher. Miss Rhonda Lois came from Balmain, and is now running the school with Mrs Beryl Klumpp.

In August 1968, an appeal was launched in the community to build a new school. The school is responsible for the district within a 25 mile radius and includes Wauchope, Hastings Shire, Port Macquarie and Camden Haven. A total of $7500 was raised and the government assisted with a grant of $12,000. The school was built by D. Olsen and Son.

John Saville, president of the Sub-normal Children's Association and chairman of the afternoon's proceedings invited Mr Cutler to officially open the school. Mr. Cutler said it was a privilege to open the building. He was assisted in unveiling the plaque by Rodney Cramp from Port Macquarie, the school's youngest pupil. Afternoon tea was provided by the Ladies Auxiliary.

Pink Ladies

The Pink Ladies have successfully completed their first week of voluntary duty at the Hastings District Hospital, and all agreed that it had been an enjoyable and rewarding experience. Each day, the two Pink Ladies on duty took a trolley containing talcum powder, tissues, tooth brushes and toothpaste, toilet rolls, matches, writing paper, sweets etc. to each ward, so that patients could purchase, on the spot, any article they might be wanting. This service has been very popular.

Other duties carried out by the Pink Ladies during the week have included the distribution of mail and daily papers; the arranging of flowers; helping with the Blood Bank; feeding of elderly and child patients; shampooing and setting hair; shaving elderly patients unable to shave themselves, and writing letters. These little tasks together with a cheery word to help while-away the hours have been much appreciated by the patients.