Following the disbandment of the Bairnsdale and District Past Trained Nurses and Associates group, Make-A-Wish East Gippsland members were grateful to be presented with a donation of $1309 as the group’s final funds were distributed recently.
Members of the past nurses and associates group were all nurses who trained at the Bairnsdale Hospital, together with other hospital-trained nurses who worked at the hospital in their careers. Formed around 57 years ago, its role was to raise funds for the hospital’s needs.
“Many years ago, the past nurses used to run the hospital ball and cabarets, and raise money for the hospital,” president, Cheryl Brooks, said.
“Back in our day we bought all sorts; plates for the matron, doilies for her, and a cover for something else.”
More significant items have been purchased by the group for the hospital over the years, a fully functioning hospital bed being one of its last purchases that will assist patients to recover at home with their loved ones with the support of the home-based nursing service.
“I’ve made a list and roughly, over the 57 years, we’ve given over $100,000 worth of items to the hospital,” Cheryl said.
Now, the saying ‘all good things must come to an end’ rings true for the past nurses.
“The Bower Birds now have the role of raising money for the hospital and are provided a list of specific items that need to be purchased,” Cheryl said.
“We’ve decided now is the time to pull up the roots and close everything off. We feel we’ve run our run.
“We’re all getting older, with health issues, grandkids, doctors’ appointments – it was time to wind things up.”
With funds still in the bank at closing, the group generously split their remaining monies between Rotary Centenary House Traralgon and Make-A-Wish Australia.
“We are so very grateful for this generous donation from the past nurses that will go a long way to seeing the very special wish of a sick child granted,” Make-A-Wish East Gippsland president, Bev Sinclair, said upon receiving the $1309 donation.
Make-A-Wish grants wishes that are carefully designed to be specific to the child, empowering them with hope and joy when they need it the most, complementing their medical treatments, and supporting their family through it all.
Wishes have a remarkable, uplifting, and positive impact on all involved, and that impact goes well beyond the wish itself.
“For almost 20 years the East Gippsland branch of Make-A-Wish Australia has been raising funds to make these wonderful wishes come true for children across the country,” Bev said.
“As well as raising funds, our volunteers play a large part in capturing the wishes of East Gippsland Wish children and it’s a truly great honour to be a part of a team that helps bring such joy in difficult times.”
“We thank the past nurses for their support of our local hospital over such a long period and now their support of Make-A-Wish and wish all their members happiness as they step back from their fundraising roles.”
IMAGE: Make-A-Wish East Gippsland Volunteer Branch members, Dave Williams, Brenda Pincott, Sue Wright, Tony Callaghan, Cass Williams, and president, Bev Sinclair, (centre front), gratefully accepted a cheque donation recently from Bairnsdale and District Past Trained Nurses and Associates’, Cheryl Brooks (president, front right), and Bette Ferguson (front left), following the Bairnsdale Hospital fundraising group’s recent disbandment. (PS)
