Volunteers at the heart of health care

Whether it’s fundraising for the latest piece of medical equipment or holding social events at the Barooga Bowls Club, the auxiliary’s volunteers are almost always busy.

Marlene Edwards decided to get involved with the auxiliary following an auspicious encounter while holidaying in South Australia.

“In the first place, I was in Coober Pedy and was sitting out the front of the caravan. And this lady came along and started talking to me. It turned out that she also came from Barooga, and she was on the ladies auxiliary,” Marlene said.

“I’d not long finished work, and so I said to her, ‘When I go home, I’ll inquire.’ So that’s what happened. And I’ve been coming along ever since.”

The main aim of the group is to raise money for patients and equipment at the Cobram Hospital and Irvin House.

Some of the projects to which they have contributed funds include supplying the Cobram Hospital with bariatric vinyl chairs and a rowing machine.

Their main modes of raising funds is through raffles, jam and cake sales, and events held across the year.

“When we have those functions, it enables the older people to come out. And we’re fortunate because Barooga Bowls Club allows us to use their premises, so that’s really good,” said Val, the president of the group.

The group’s efforts have had a significant impact on provision of resources to NCN Health’s patients and residents for over 75 years, according to chief executive Mark Ashcroft.

“Their contributions are too many to count, but there are many examples of where they have provided equipment such as furniture in Irvin House, Moira Palliative Care and the Medical Clinic. They have donated equipment to the Rehabilitation Centre and acute areas and contributed to the purchase of many clinical resources,” Mr Ashcroft said.

“Their contribution is not only through the donation of resources and time, but they actively foster a sense of community within our health service and encourage stronger ties between NCN Health and the community through activities, events and fundraising efforts. We profoundly appreciate their efforts.”

The ladies with the auxiliary aren’t the only ones to put their time and effort back into the community.

Alongside fellow volunteer Kerryl Roberts, Lyn Thatcher volunteers once a week at the NCN Health’s Irvin House.

She also volunteers with Soroptimist International Cobram-Barooga and at the Barooga Botanical Gardens once a week.

She’s spent the past eight years volunteering, first in the hospital’s acute ward and now, for the past two years, in the aged-care facility.

Her presence is a treasured fixture in the hearts of the House’s residents, who receive an injection of delight when Lyn, alongside co-volunteer Kerryl Roberts, leads an assortment of activities each Wednesday.

The pair provides everything from nail polishing to bingo and footy tipping for the residents.

“Volunteering is very rewarding because, all right, you don’t get paid, but you get paid in a different way. Because when you walk in, the residents greet you. And that’s rewarding to me,” Lyn said.

“I’ll go until I drop.”

To gain permission to do things like help feed the residents and prepare activities, Lyn took it upon herself to take several courses.

Lyn has completed courses on things like how to feed the elderly and how to push them in a wheelchair.

“It sounds simple, but when you’ve got an elderly patient who has got any dentures or anything, we’ve got to be really careful,” she said.

“Even if you just hold their hand, you can see them spark up. There’s some very sick people here too, and honestly, I wasn’t sure how I was going to handle that because they do pass away. But I’ve been okay with that because here they get looked after so well, in their meals, they’re clean, they get medical help, and the nursing staff here are just wonderful.”