Last hoorah for hospital auxiliary group

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BY SAMANTHA ELLEY

Try as she might, Robyn Spruce, president of the Casino Hospital Auxiliary could not get volunteers to join the group that organises fund-raising for patient care at the local hospital.

“We ran the kiosk at Casino Hospital, organised the vending machines, hired out televisions at a very reduced rate for patients and raised funds through morning teas on special days,” said Robyn.

Whether it was Mother’s Day, St Patrick’s Day, Soup and Sweets or a general fund-raiser, the auxiliary would be raising money to provide equipment needed to make a patient’s stay at the hospital more comfortable.

“We would ask the (hospital) executive for their ‘wishlist’ each year to purchase what they needed,” said Robyn.

Items included electric beds, handheld pumps, a coffee machine for the kiosk, wheelchairs, trolleys and so much more.

Since Robyn has been president, from 2004, the auxiliary has easily provided nearly a quarter of a million dollars’ worth of equipment for the beneft of the patients at Casino Hospital.

And now it has all ended.

With their fnal meeting, the small group of older ladies celebrated their achievements.

“Through Covid things died down but our members were hanging on at the kiosk out of loyalty,” said Robyn.

“Our secretary Barbara (Thorley) was also kiosk supervisor and she worked nearly every day.

“She lives at Rappville and we gave her petrol money.”

The problem, however, was the lack of volunteers stepping up, according to Robyn.

“Our members are heading into their 90s now and they can’t do the fund-raising like we used to,” she said.

“The last morning tea we held was on St Patrick’s Day in 2019.

“I’ve been asking for volunteers for the last two years, with an ad in the paper, but people are working and don’t have the time to give.”

With the loss of the auxiliary Robyn said the NSW Health System will need to step up and fll the gap.

“We are not the only auxiliary stepping down,” said Robyn.

“You have to have active members who are happy to roll up their sleeves and give of their time.”

The frst auxiliary at Casino Hospital was organised in 1903 and while the committee waned during major events such as the Great War, and thrived through the Depression and Second World War, it somehow always found its feet.

Now, however, with the usual cohort of women, who would normally take up the reins of voluntary work, either working or caring for children and grand-children, it seems a 120 year old institution has seen its last days.

A garage sale of the equipment in the Casino Hospital kiosk will be held on 29th July, at the front of Casino Hospital, along with a sausage sizzle. All are welcome.

First and last executives of the Casino Hospital Auxiliary

1903

President – Gertrude Cope

Secretary – Alice Stewart Treasurer – Mary Fanning

2023

President – Robyn Spruce

Secretary – Barbara Thorley Treasurer – Deborah Jaynes

The motto of the United Hospitals Auxiliaries is ‘Let us hold high the lamp of service for the welfare of our hospitals’.

It is also available online for purchase through abbeys.com.au