Hospital Auxiliary tops $2 million in donations

ACT Health Minister, Katy Gallagher MLA, today acknowledged the outstanding efforts of the Canberra Hospital Auxiliary in reaching a major milestone of more than $2 million dollars in donations to the Hospital.

The Minister presented a plaque to the Auxiliary in recognition of this significant achievement.

“The Auxiliary has played a very important role in the Hospital over a period of more than three decades, donating medical equipment and items for the comfort of the patients, as well as assisting staff members with scholarships, grants and funds to pay conference expenses,” Ms Gallagher said.

“There will always be new pieces of equipment that can enhance the level of care and services provided by the hospital. It is with the assistance of our volunteers that such equipment can be purchased for the benefit of our patients, and we thank the Auxiliary for their contribution,” she said.

“Volunteers are the backbone of the community and the Canberra Hospital Auxiliary members work very hard to raise these funds.”

Currently there are more than 120 members of the Auxiliary providing services to the Hospital, including the Auxiliary shop, trolley services to the wards, a patient & staff library, guides for patients and visitors, and a museum.

The Auxiliary was established at the Hospital from the day it commenced operating in 1973 and took just over 25 years to raise $1 million to donate to the Hospital. It has taken only 10 years to raise the second million dollars and the Auxiliary is well on the way to its third million following the tabling of the financial statements at this year’s Annual General Meeting.

“Congratulations to all the Auxiliary members past and present for their dedication to the Hospital and more broadly to the health of our community,” Ms Gallagher said.

10 December 2009