The Central Gippsland Health Auxiliary recently raised more than $12,000 for much needed equipment.
With the support from the community, the majority of the money was raised during its Easter and Mother’s Day raffles, and gift wrapping services provided at special times like Mother’s Day and Christmas.
This is no mean feat for a small group of nine members all over the age of 80 years.
Member, Athol Jones, is calling on anyone interested in being part of the CGH Auxiliary to attend its next meeting.
“My wife, Elva, won a raffle by the Auxiliary 30 years ago,” Athol said. “She wanted to give back and has been a member now for 30 years.” Twenty of those years have been spent as President.
“We just don’t raise as much money as we’d like to because of our age,” Athol said. “We just can’t walk the streets or man donation points for too long now. We would really welcome some new members to help lift the load and support their local health service. Lives literally depend on us.”
CGH provides the Auxiliary with a wish list of items and members get to work. For its most recent donation, CGH purchased;
- One bladder scanner ($10,710)
- Two baby scales ($1,322.60)
Of the total amount raised, $1000 was donated by Terry Phefley in memory of his wife, Anne, who was a long standing member of the Auxiliary and a former nurse at Wilson Lodge (then Evelyn Wilson Nursing Home).
The CGH Auxiliary meets on the second Wednesday of every month. The next meeting will be held at 10.30am on Wednesday 8 November in the Boardroom at Sale Hospital.
“Anyone interested in giving us a helping hand is most welcome. You can be involved as much as you like; from volunteering on special occasions to supporting our office bearers,” Athol said. “Don’t let this amazing service stop running!”
Photo caption: Members of the CGH Auxiliary Elva Doolan-Jones (President), Verna Pilgrim, Terry Phefley (seated), Margaret Shirreffs, Olive Collins (Secretary), Athol Jones (Treasurer), Dale Leckie, Margaret Flint, Shirley Hillbrich celebrating their fundraising efforts with Mandy Pusmucans (CGH Director of Nursing) and Lisa Watson (CGH Nurse Unit Manager Medical Ward).
ENDS
For more information contact Tracy VanderZalm of Wordwise Communications on 0447 491 345.