Big commitment to boost Cooktown health services

A COOKTOWN health program supporting some of the community’s most vulnerable has received a massive donation commitment of $200,000 from a local RSL club.

The Cooktown Memorial RSL will donate $200,000 over two years to support Torres and Cape Hospital and Health Service’s Community Care Program (CCP) in Cooktown which provides essential aged care and disability services to those in need within the community.

Cooktown RSL treasurer Janne Stewart said the club chose a community group or cause to support each year.

“We had a chat to a local councillor who suggested the community care program would be a really good cause,” she said.

“They do great work for the people of Cooktown and it is really important for us to give back to the community.”

Torres and Cape HHS Cooktown CCP Coordinator Jasmine Sieverding said the group was delighted about the generous donation which would be used for several projects.

Projects include providing medical alert systems for clients in their own homes, building a community garden and commissioning a book being published by the RSL club about elderly members of the community.

“On behalf of both the Cooktown CCP and the entire health service, I thank the RSL for their donation which is going to improve the lives of people in our small community,” she said.