Pages tagged with: health

The School of Radiant Living was a movement active in New Zealand from the late 1930s until the late 1980s. Founder Dr Herbert Sutcliffe taught a holistic philosophy of physical, psychological and spiritual health.

In the early 21st century anxiety over the danger of avian influenza virus H5N1 revived memories of New Zealand's worst disease outbreak, the lethal influenza pandemic of 1918.

By the late 1940s all New Zealand children had a medical examination on entering school, and were seen by a nurse at standards two and six. These examinations helped identify those who were not 'thriving' in their home environment.

Rest time in the boys' dormitory, Otaki Health Camp, c. 1945

Biography of the founder of the School of Radiant Living in New Zealand

An influenza medicine depot in Christchurch for poor people

The dining room of the Otaki Health Camp in the 1940s

The teachings of Radiant Living were complex and involved holistic psychological, physical and spiritual health.

A boy receiving dental care at Te Kaha School, Opotiki Alexander Turnbull Library
John Dobree Pascoe Collection (PAColl-0783)
Reference: 1/4-001117; F
Further information and copies of this image may be obtained from the Library through its 'Timeframes' website, http://timeframes.

'On yonder hill you will pitch your tent' prophesied the daughter of Golden Dawn founder Robert Felkin to Herbert Sutcliffe, as she pointed towards Te Mata Peak.

Havelock North has long been a centre of 'alternative thought' or liberal theology in New Zealand.

Linton schoolboys delivering the school milk c. 1941

Radiant Living emerged from the American-based philosophical movement New Thought, which gained popularity in the late 19th century

School children enjoying their daily apple

One of the first New Zealand schools of Radiant Living was established in Auckland. Its secretary was Gertrude Hillary who reported progress early in 1939. Her son, Edmund, was an early student

To obtain physical fitness, it is of vital importance that the right mental attitude should accompany the food diet to enable the emotions, nerves and glands to co-operate with the healing processes of the body.

Colour, beauty, exquisite artistry find joyous expression in the Art of Salad Making. The homemaker who serves salads so deliciously and artistically tempting that the family cannot resist is thereby blessing all with the glorious gift of health.

More than 14,000 New Zealanders were wounded between June and December 1917 in Belgium, and medical staff, orderlies, chaplains and stretcher-bearers worked round the clock to tend them.

Men from the malarial control unit spray a pool in the Pacific

Wounded men are evacuated from Anzac Cove by boat

The Auckland School of Radiant Living was founded in 1938, and this was one of the first of these schools established in New Zealand. Everyone in the Hillary family was a member.

These images show New Zealand soldiers being cared for at an Advanced Dressing Station, wounded being brought in by stretcher-bearers and an ambulance being loaded at a casualty clearing station.

Tending to the wounded on or near the battlefield was a huge job, and one that was done under the most difficult conditions.

Two soldiers grab an the early morning shave in the New Zealand support lines in 1918.

A woman describes the importance of the work of nurses and of the Red Cross in training them.

As adults fell to influenza, children were called upon to help with deliveries and other chores.

Many children were made orphans by the pandemic. For others it was just an extended holiday from school.

One man tells of the terrible situations his family faced during the pandemic.

The effects of influenza sent some people 'raving mad'.

All sorts of remedies were tried to cure victims of the pandemic. Many were of little use.

The sound of ambulances carrying the dead and dying was constant during the worst of the pandemic.

Those suffering from influenza had little interest in celebrating the end of the First World War.

When victims of influenza died, their bodies turned black as if they had the plague.

In what looks more like a cowshed than a medical facility, Christchurch citizens line up in an inhalation chamber for a dose of zinc sulphate. Like many supposed cures for the flu, it probably did more harm than good.

In July 1915, during the Gallipoli campaign, Ettie Rout set up the New Zealand Volunteer Sisterhood and invited women between the ages of 30 and 50 to go to Egypt to care for New Zealand soldiers.

A Red Cross marked out at 7 General Hospital

There were more than 9000 beds for wounded and ill American servicemen in New Zealand. One of the largest hospitals was the naval base hospital at Silverstream

Members of the New Zealand 5th Field Ambulance attending to German paratrooper

Eleanor Roosevelt chats with the wounded at the hospital at Silverstream