17 February 2009

Many, many thanks for all your help

Volunteers at Sutherland and St George Hospitals will celebrate NSW Health Volunteer Appreciation Day this month with Volunteers’ Service Award Ceremonies held at each site, followed by a luncheon.

A collective 1,450 years of service from 135 award recipients will be recognised at the dual ceremonies.
 
Peggy Roberts, from Miranda is one such volunteer.  She first offered her services at Sutherland Hospital 25 years ago because she wanted to help others.
 
"I always wanted to be a nurse and have an interest in caring for others," Mrs Roberts said.
 
Mrs Roberts helps out every Tuesday on the Oncology, Children’s and Aged Care Wards. 
 
"Volunteering gives me a great deal of satisfaction.  "I don’t get paid, but I do get paid a thousand times over in thanks and smiles.
 
"I love this Hospital and I love volunteering – it is a part of my life." she said.
 
Central Hospital Network General Manager Cath Whitehurst said that it was important to acknowledge the 900-strong volunteer force for their valuable contribution to both Sutherland and St George Hospitals. 
 
"We are fortunate to have dedicated, enthusiastic volunteers who devote thousands of unpaid hours to help us deliver health services in our Hospitals," Ms Whitehurst said.
 
"There is no doubt volunteers make a very real and enduring difference in the lives of patients, their families and staff," she said.
 
Volunteers work in many different areas of the Hospital including patient services, retail outlets, fundraising and other general duties.
 
Apart from the enormous contribution that volunteers make to patients, their families and staff, an incredible $400,000 was raised last year by volunteers working in the food and retail outlets at Sutherland Hospital.    
 
"These funds are used to purchase equipment and patient comforts in a vast range of services at Sutherland Hospital," Ms Whitehurst said.
 
"Volunteering has always been a strong, proud Australian tradition and it is wonderful to see the volunteering ethic alive and well in our Hospitals," she said.
For more information about becoming a volunteer, please call 9540 7251 or 9113 2726.
 
Media enquiries: South Eastern Sydney Illawarra Health
Media Officer Maxine Brennan 9113 2601, 0413 028 776