Wauchope RSL Club has hosted its annual thank-you luncheon for volunteers, with proceeds from the social event destined to help the Wauchope Hospital Volunteers purchase much-needed equipment for the community’s public hospital.
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The luncheon attracted about 70 special guests – all of whom volunteer in various capacities for the Wauchope community.
Also attending the luncheon was the North Eastern Regional Representative for the United Hospital Auxiliaries of NSW, Dee Hunter, Wauchope District Memorial Hospital Executive Officer/Director of Nursing Ann Bodill and Palliative Care Clinical Nurse Educator Susanne Pritchard.
A contingent of Port Macquarie Pink Ladies also attended in support of their Wauchope colleagues.
President Win Secombe thanked the RSL Club for its ongoing support, and extended her gratitude to the volunteers and to the broader community for their generosity, not only in support of the volunteers’ monthly stall at the IGA supermarket in Wauchope, but for their time, hard work and compassion.
Her sentiments were echoed by the hospital’s Executive Officer/Director of Nursing who added that the support made a big difference to patients.
“Over the past six years, Wauchope Hospital has changed quite a bit,” Ms Bodill said.
“We have just installed a state-of-the-art patient call system in addition to other improvements, such as the Palliative Care Unit, the Urgent Care Centre, a refurbishment of our operating theatres, a new roof and new external lighting.
“Our Rehabilitation Unit has also just been refurbished and looks fantastic.
“About $7 million has been spent on capital work projects at Wauchope Hospital in recent years, which is wonderful, but when it comes to patient comfort items, we really depend on you to provide the special things that make our patients’ stay more comfortable.
“The equipment and other items that you give make a big difference to our patients. You do an absolutely marvellous job and we are so very grateful.”
Ms Pritchard also thanked the volunteers, describing the recent gift of recliner chairs to the Palliative Care Unit as a “godsend” for patients and their loved ones.
The recliners were an initiative of Hastings Co-op, funded in part by a determined raffle ticket selling campaign by the Hospital Volunteers.
“The handmade bags, beautiful quilts and the hand-sewn doves, which hang over the door when patients and their families need privacy, are a beautiful gesture and greatly appreciated,” Ms Pritchard said.
