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Kerrie Davies 0422 067 644

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Bart Bassett 0412 955 745

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BY KERRIE DAVIES

ILOST my beautiful mother to cancer six years ago. Although she was an absolute trooper throughout her journey, it was a challenging, and at times, harrowing experience. One thing that sticks in my mind is her optimistic outlook and her praise of the nurses and volunteers she came in to contact with. She liked being able to talk to them about things she didn’t feel comfortable sharing with family. I daresay they were the not-so-optimistic moments.

The Cancer Council Information Service volunteer is a crucial role, providing support and information to people affected by cancer and health professionals within Blacktown Hospital. This includes linking patients and carers to Cancer Council support services and resources.

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Main responsibilities include: • Informing and providing people within Blacktown Hospital of Cancer Council services and resources available to them. • Respecting the privacy and confidentiality of others • Treat all personal information acquired as confidential • Avoid giving medical advice, including alternative therapies • Wear the supplied uniform and identification badges • Enter deidentified data onto the provided tablet for each interaction • Complete stocktake of booklets and other materials within the treatment centre and ordering publications when needed • Taking part in evaluation surveys and representing CCNSW in collated surveys on an ad hoc basis.

Ideal volunteers will have: • Great communication and listening skills • Knowledge of, or ability to learn: The services provided by CCNSW and other organisations and Use of computers/tablets • Confidentiality • Ability to attend provided training and bi-monthly team meetings • Have a commitment to the cause of Cancer Council NSW Desirable: • Some previous experience with cancer, ie: have had cancer personally or involved with a family member/friends diagnosis.

If you are interested, please call Natalia on 9354 2009 or email natalia.arnas@ nswcc.org.au for more information. Please note there is a one-off compulsory training session which will be held in Parramatta (close to train station) on Thursday 20th July.

You can make a difference, helping people at the time they need it most. If this is you, call today!

52 years volunteering at Blacktown Hospital Saying goodbye and thank you to Gwen Tomlin

AFTER over half a century of volunteering and amidst the challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, Gwen, aged 93, has decided to bid farewell to her pink uniform and officially retire from her role as a Pink Lady at Blacktown Hospital.

Gwen Tomlin has selflessly served the hospital, its staff, and the communities of western Sydney for an impressive span of 52 years.

Gwen’s volunteering journey began in 1969 at Parramatta Hospital before she joined Blacktown Hospital in 1971.

During the early days, the Pink Ladies engaged in a range of tasks such as caring for adoptable infants, folding cloth nappies, washing patients’ hair, tending to flower vases, measuring salt for salt baths, and filling bottles of Betadine.

“Everyone has been really nice, welcoming and supportive to me and the Pink Ladies,” Gwen said.

“It was a pleasant job and that was the reason why I stayed for so long.”

Gwen devoted every Wednesday to her volunteer work at Blacktown Hospital, accompanied by her volunteer partner, Teddy Kubica, who would drive her to the hospital each week.

Together, as Pink Ladies, they would collect files from ward clerks and transport them to the medical records department. They were also responsible for restocking gloves and disinfectants in certain wards.

“I’ve always enjoyed helping people and have made lots of life-long friends along the way.”

As a cherished member of the Blacktown community, Gwen, a great-grandmother with three children, nine grandchildren, and 10 great-grandchildren, looks forwards to spending more quality time with her family.