COFFS Harbour Pink Ladies shone at the recent NSW North Eastern Region forum, winning both The Frances Gavel OAM Trophy for the most money raised net by a country auxiliary in 2020 and in 2021 and the prestigious Honor Bell award for the most money raised gross by a country auxiliary in 2020 and in 2021.

The forum, hosted in Nambucca Heads, celebrated and honoured the United Hospital Auxiliaries of NSW North Eastern Region for their service to public hospitals throughout the Mid North Coast.

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About 50 delegates from UHA and Pink Ladies branches at Coffs Harbour, Dorrigo, Bellingen, Bowraville, Macksville, Nambucca, Kempsey, Wauchope and Port Macquarie attended, having their collective and individual efforts honoured.

From Coffs, the region’s star volunteer and a Pink Lady of 40-plus years, Helen Mears, attended.

Helen spoke about her experience of being awarded NSW Senior Volunteer of the Year in 2021.

An inspiration to so many, Helen told News Of The Area, “I like looking after patients and staff and helping them out anyway I can.

“I also enjoy sewing for the babies, working in the gift shop, meeting new people and making new friends for life.

“The way the community can help is by giving their time up to volunteer and come join us at Coffs Harbour Health Campus volunteering.”

Special guests included Mid North Coast Local Health District Governing Board Chair Professor Heather Cavanagh, Member for Oxley Melinda Pavey, Nambucca Valley Mayor Rhonda Hoban and Macksville District Hospital Executive Officer/Director of Nursing Andrew Bailey.

Professor Cavanagh said the Health District was in awe of the volunteers.

“In the past financial year alone, you’ve devoted an enormous 42,956 hours to support our health facilities, our staff and patients – which is a remarkable effort, considering the impacts of COVID on volunteer services.

“You’ve gifted an astronomical $264,431 worth of medical equipment and patient comfort items that have made an incredible difference to our staff and services.

“And you’ve done all this with dignity, grace and tenacity.

“We thank you for sticking with us… through difficult days, weeks and months.

“And we want you to know we need you more than ever, and so do our patients.”

The North Eastern Regional Representative to the state executive of the UHA, Dee Hunter, was also present to deliver State President Tracey Wilkinson’s address and to make several special presentations, including two Life Membership awards to Bellingen’s Irene Chesterman and Wauchope’s Win Secombe.

By Andrea FERRARI