The power of volunteers (October, 2007)
A warm welcome to all new volunteers who have joined the hospice this year. Volunteers have been involved in the Hospice since before it opened its doors in 1991, and a team of approximately 330 volunteers continue to play an integral and vital role in the hospice's operation today.
Volunteers carry out most of the domestic tasks in the inpatient unit, from laundry, cleaning and reception assistance to cooking patient meals at the weekends and assisting with fundraising events. Another dedicated group assists with the Day Stay programme each week, while at the hospice's retail shop in Ngata Street a large group of volunteers work hard to raise money to enable the hospice to continue to care for patients and their families.
Our hospice volunteers range in age from 14 to 88, and they come from all walks of life. We have librarians, bank managers, farmers, students, retired people, university professors, truck drivers, nurses and secondary students completing Duke of Edinburgh badges. Everyone has their own reason for being there. A number have lost family members or friends who have been cared for by the hospice.
Planning is well underway for the annual volunteers' end-of-year luncheon, which will be held on November 18th. This event is being held on a Sunday this year rather than the usual Wednesday, which will give our volunteers who work during the week the chance to attend. Invitations will be sent out shortly.
Each year at the Christmas function we honour the contribution of our longstanding volunteers with long service certificates. At last year's event the following people received certificates:
(5 years) Alton Batchelar, Dawn Childs, Barbara Day, Tina Dunstan, Karaline Francis, Jan Inwood, David Kinsella, Shirley Kinsella, Bev McRedmond, Pat Nairne, Lesley Nikora, Kaye Satherley, Alison Sawyer. (10 years) Dawn Barclay, Barbara Barnett, Nancy Batt, Carrol Chan, Betty Christiansen, Kathleen Cottyn, Wendy Cutfield, Evon de Roo, Hilary Duncan, Jeanette Gomes, Helen Hughes, Marie Jenkins, Judith Johnston, Barbara Jones, Joan Lissington, Judy Loo, Margaret Lynch, Diane Mitchell, Sue Morriss, Elaine O'Connor, Maree O'Donoghue, Annette Ragg, Kay Richards, Karen Russell, Tony Studholme, Robyn Thomas, Shirley Wells, Mae Wong, Stephen Wong. (15 years) Johan Bonnevie, Juliette Cosgriff, Eileen Curd, Andrea Dench, Ellen Gill, Pat Goodwin, Sue Hall, Eileen Hodgson, Angela Kelly, Pam Lamberton, Mary Maddock, Mary McKenna, Sue McOviney, Rona McOviney, Pat Nation, Yvonne Orpet, Val Rolfe, Val Smith, Jean Wallace, Barbara Walton, Marjorie Whiting.
Those receiving 15 year certificates have been supporting the hospice since it first opened in 1991 (in some cases even earlier), an outstanding record of community service. Thank you to all our marvellous volunteers - your support is greatly appreciated.
Rachel Forde
