By Callum Ludwig
Maroondah Hospital held a sad farewell on Monday 16 May, as the much-loved Auxiliary Kiosk was closed after 45 years of service.
By running the kiosk in the hospital foyer, selling gifts and goods and holding raffles, the volunteers at the kiosk raised about $5 million for upgrades at the hospital.
Auxiliary president Denise Curran said it’s been a great journey and it’s very sad that the kiosk will be closed.
“I started at the kiosk in 1999, I just wanted to come and help the community and have been there ever since, going from president to vice president and now president again,” she said.
“It’s just been so fulfilling, it’s just been great to see how we’ve improved the hospital by updating the equipment, so many good memories and so much achieved.”
Equipment bought for the hospital through kiosk fundraisers has ranged from big buys like a Navigator Wireless System for instantaneously sending crucial information to surgeons during procedures, to small quality-of-life purchases that just make a hospital visit a bit easy on all, like chairs for the pharmacy. Other purchases included trauma stretchers, a paediatric crash cart and various equipment and furniture.
Ms Curran said seeing the hospital continue to thrive will still be important to her and other kiosk volunteers.
“It’s our local hospital, I’ve been a patient here four times, and I’ve just been treated so well, they treated me like a queen and went out of their way to make sure I was comfortable,” she said.
“My children have been here and my grandchildren, I’ve really enjoyed myself here because the staff make you feel so welcome.”
The kiosk volunteers had one touching parting gift for the Maroondah Hospital, two tubs of handmade teddies and rugs for children who require care at the hospital and a cheque for $11,000. Volunteers were thanked at the farewell with certificates of recognition and awards for years of service.
Chief Executive at Eastern Health David Plunkett said the decades of commitment from the people who have worked through the auxiliary to provide service and care for patients has been extraordinary.
“I find it incredibly humbling to see people give so much of themselves, there’s nothing more precious than time and these people have given so much of theirs to patients and families who need that bit of extra support, that smiling face, that friendly, warm welcome,” he said.
“No one really wants to go the hospital if you can get away with not going, but where so much is given by our volunteers providing the little bit of icing on the cake to make that experience a really positive one and can do the things the staff, unfortunately, don’t have the time to.”
Eastern Health and Maroondah Hospital are still keen to grow their volunteer base and anyone interested can email volunteers@easternhealth.org.au or call the Volunteer Services Team at 9895 4658.
