member B.P. Lethbridge that a simplified system of camps for malnourished children would improve child health. She and Lethbridge had a wager as to the success of such a scheme, and Gunn set about using her persuasive powers in gaining the necessary equipment to open a camp. In November 1919, 55 children arrived at Turakina to spend three weeks under the supervision of Gunn and a small group of school nurses and teacher trainees. Gunn continued to personally organise and run camps throughout the 1920s, at Turakina and later at Awapuni, Palmerston North. Her last camp was held at Awapuni Racecourse in 1930. Camps were organised on a military-like schedule, creating an atmosphere that was somewhere between an open-air hospital and a scout camp. Other voluntary health camps started up, and in 1936, a National Federation of Health Camps was inaugurated, with permanent, year-round facilities and substantial government subsidies, some of these coming through the sale of health stamps, postage stamps with a set charity premium which went towards the running of the camps. Between 1937 and 1940, Gunn served as director of the Health Department's Division of School Hygiene, succeeding Ada Gertrude Paterson. She retired from the Division of School Hygiene on 31 March 1940. After retiring from the post she continued to be interested and to work in the fields of child health and paediatrics. Gunn was appointed a Member of the Order of the British Empire in the 1951 King's Birthday Honours for her work in child health. Gunn died at Ranui rest home in Wellington on 26 October 1963. References External links Original Army Personnel File of Elizabeth Gunn. 1937 film of Michael Joseph Savage discussing New Zealand Heath Camps. New Zealand women medical doctors New Zealand paediatricians 1879 births 1963 deaths People from Dunedin in health professions University of Otago alumni Alumni of the University of Edinburgh New Zealand Army personnel People educated at Otago Girls' High School People educated at Timaru Girls' High School New Zealand Members of the Order of the British Empire New Zealand women in World War I