special ceremony at Waterloo House.

Some of the recipients included four year old Santino Dill, who was born with a rare syndrome which affects one in every 60,000 children and is characterised by delayed cognitive development.

Santino's speech therapy needs are being funded to the tune of $5,000 this year by the charity because the services are not available at the private nursery school he attends, and he cannot get into a government pre-school.

League president Verna Smith said donations like Santino's were among the most rewarding aspects of her role. "His parents have made tremendous sacrifices to make sure he has things most of us take for granted,'' she said. "Why not give him the best chance we can? That's what I like doing.'' Another beneficiary was Keith Simmons, who received an $8,000 wheelchair.

But the "lion's share'' of the cash is being spent on a labour and delivery bed for the Hospital which costs $26,500. And the St. John Ambulance Brigade is getting $20,000 worth of emergency medical equipment.

"The nicest presents one gets in life are those that come out of the blue,'' said Colin Curtis, president of the St. John Ambulance Brigade in accepting the check.

Mr. Curtis told the gathering that due to increased demand for their services, the St. John Ambulance Brigade had been operating at a slight deficit.

The $70,000 was raised through various means last year including a raffle and tea party at Paget Rectory.