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| From the front
page of the Quesnel Cariboo Observer. Gertrude and another volunteer
award blood donors with pins. |
The Quesnel Hospital Auxiliary was formed in 1910
to assist the growing community in financing a much-needed hospital.
Gertrude has worked along with other dedicated Auxiliary volunteers
for many years, and was the organization's president in 1965. Fundraising
activities have included craft and yard sales, pound drives, blood
donor clinics, dances, and working at the Auxiliary store at the
hospital. The Auxiliary members were creative with their fundraising
- they sold sandwiches at the intermission of Gone With the Wind
when it came out in 1939, because the film is just under four hours
long.
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| Gertrude and Marg
Allison at an Auxiliary function, 1995. |
Grace Steele, also a long-time member of the Auxiliary,
reminisced recently about dances put on by the organization. She
said that people used to come all the way from Cache Creek to join
the fun. Mrs. Steele said that Gertrude was always great to work
with: "She's very cooperative, very pleasant, willing to do
anything. She is a good sport, and will always do whatever is asked.
She has good suggestions and a wonderful sense of humour."
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| Nurse Linda Arnold
impersonating Matron Gertrude Watt standing up to head of the
Hospital Auxiliary in a skit. |
In 1997, Gertrude took on the task of selling Dr.
Eldon Lee's book, Scalpels and Buggywhips: Medical Pioneers of
Central BC, in Quesnel. Five dollars from the sale of each copy
went to the hospital, and over $2000 was raised.
Gertrude is a founding member of Quesnel's Royal
Purple, founded over 50 years ago. The Royal Purple is a charitable
organization that focuses primarily on children. Years ago, Victoria
Day was a sports day for Quesnel children. The Royal Purple had
a parade, held a concession, and in the early evening put on a children's
dance. In recent years, Gertrude has also worked on the Quesnel
and District Antique Machinery Park committee.
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| Emmy Unger and
Gertrude work the tables at an Auxiliary yard sale at Gertrude's
house. |
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