AUXILIARIES
ANNUAL REPORT 2012
AU X I L I A R I E S T E A M Sue Hunt Executive Director sue.hunt@rch.org.au Debbie Shiell Community Development Manager debbie.shiell@rch.org.au Stephanie Zappala Bryant Communications Manager stephanie.zappalabryant@rch.org.au Sue Manson Auxiliaries Coordinator sue.manson@rch.org.au Lisa Addison Community Development Event Coordinator lisa.addison@rch.org.au Mima Seldon Publications Coordinator mima.seldon@rch.org.au Stacey Brown (up to April 2012) Communications Coordinator Ellie Pateras Donor Development Coordinator ellie.pateras@rch.org.au Laurel-Leigh Lawson Auxiliaries and Community Liaison laurel-leigh.lawson@rch.org.au Janelle Holden Auxiliaries Assistant janelle.holden@rch.org.au Pranav Kaushal Accounts Coordinator pranav.kaushal@rch.org.au
The awareness you create, and the people you inspire, are as important as the funds you raise. We are one team, working towards one goal – making sick kids better.
THE RCH AUXILIARY
EXECUTIVE PATRON OF AUXILIARIES
IMMEDIATE PAST PRESIDENT
Louise Gourlay OAM
Davina Johnson OAM
VICE PRESIDENT
Mrs Louise Gourlay joined The Royal Children’s Hospital in 1982 as a member of the Board of Management. Louise was President of Auxiliaries from 1985 until 1994 and was awarded a Life Governorship of The Royal Children’s Hospital in 1993. Mrs Gourlay received a Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM) for her work in the community in 1998. In 1998, when Dame Patricia McKinnon stepped down, Mrs Gourlay became President of the Auxiliaries and continues in the position of Patron to this present day.
Mrs Davina Johnson was appointed to The Royal Children’s Hospital Board of Management in 1991, and was a member of the Ronald McDonald House Board. Mrs Johnson took up the position of President of Auxiliaries in 1994 and continued in this role until 1999. Mrs Johnson was awarded a Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM) for her community work in 2011. Today, Mrs Johnson is a member of the Auxiliaries Executive and holds the significant advisory position of Immediate Past President.
Mrs Jan Spooner joined the Auxiliaries Executive in 2010 as a community representative. Mrs Spooner has a highly distinguished career and reputation in community fundraising as a Board Director and also at the grass roots level.
PRESIDENT OF AUXILIARIES
Robyn Anderson CasKids Auxiliary
Mrs Carole Lowen has been a member of the Auxiliaries Executive since 1998. Carole took over the role of President in 1999. Carole is now the longest serving President of Auxiliaries.
Mrs Robyn Anderson joined the Nunawading Auxiliary in 1971,which changed its name to CasKids when it decided to support the emergency department at the hospital. Mrs Anderson brings a wealth of experience in both fundraising and community liaison together with her corporate knowledge. Mrs Anderson was been a member of the Executive from 2006 to 2008, and returned in 2010 as Executive Secretary.
Carole Lowen
Mrs Lowen is also a member of The Royal Children’s Hospital Foundation Board of Directors.
VICE PRESIDENT
TH E ROYA L CHILDREN’S H O SP ITA L AUX IL IA R IES
Jan Spooner - Community Executive
Chrissie Boulter
Alison Orum
Doris Tatman
Ms Chrissie Boulter has been a member of LARCH since 2007, and was appointed to the Auxiliaries Executive in 2010. LARCH was founded in 1974 and provides funding for research into leukaemia as well as into family support.
Mrs Alison Orum has been a member of the Auxiliaries Executive for the past three years and a member of the Charli’s Angels Auxiliary for six years. Mrs Orum currently holds the position of President of Charli’s Angels Auxiliary which supports Oncology and Pain Management. Mrs Orum is also a Volunteer at The Royal Children’s Hospital.
Mrs Doris Tatman is currently serving a second appointment to the Auxiliaries Executive, having first been appointed in 2006 to 2008, and then again in 2010. Doris was originally a member of Waverley Auxiliary before branching out to start up the Do-Bees Auxiliary in 2006, supporting research undertaken by Developmental Medicine.
Pam Phillips
Gwen Bromley
Mrs Pam Phillips has been a member of the Auxiliaries Executive since 2010, as well as being a dedicated supporter of the Cancer in Kids Auxiliary for the past five years. Cancer in Kids Auxiliary, founded in 1980, raises funds for research into solid tumours.
Mrs Gwen Bromley has been a member of the Geelong Auxiliary for five years, and an Auxiliary Executive member for one year. Mrs Bromley is currently President of Geelong Auxiliary, which fundraises to support the purchase of equipment to meet the hospitals most pressing needs.
Rhonda Robins
Louise Hastie
Mrs Rhonda Robins has been a member of the Auxiliaries Executive for the past three years. Mrs Robins is a founding member and current President of Heart Throb Auxiliary, which was formed in 1994 to raise funds to provide support to children with chronic heart disease. Mrs Robins is the parent of a child who has been a patient at the hospital.
Mrs Louise Hastie has been a member of the Auxiliaries Executive for the past year and a member of Waverley Auxiliary for the past four years. Founded in 1967, Waverley Auxiliary fundraises to support Developmental Medicine.
LARCH
Irene Hubbard
PremBubs Auxiliary Mrs Irene Hubbard has been an Auxiliary member for thirty-two years. She was originally involved with the Nunawading Auxiliary. She is currently serving her second appointment to the Executive. Mrs Hubbard held position of Secretary for eight years and President on two occasions for a total of ten years. Mrs Hubbard set up PremBubs Auxiliary, which she operates with her husband, Tony Hubbard, and friends to support the Newborn Intensive Care Unit, in 2007.
Charli’s Angels Auxiliary
Cancer in Kids Auxiliary
Heart Throb Auxiliary
Do-Bees Auxiliary
Geelong Auxiliary
Waverley Auxiliary
5 ANNUAL REPORT 2012
FOREWORD In these rapidly changing times, fortunately, “some things stay the same”. Since the inception of the RCH Auxiliaries, ninety years ago, we have witnessed many shocking examples of man’s inhumanity to man; wars, international conflicts, persecution, ruthless dictatorships and natural disasters and now, extraordinary technological advances. However, the profound strength of human nature has prevailed, and we have had at this hospital, and still have, all those wonderful people who care about others - who provide endless love, help, time, money and friendship to our patients and their families. To offer gratitude for their loyalty and selflessness will never be adequate, but I know that all of you, and those who came before you, are happily fulfilled, and hope that the integrity of our organisation will continue for another ninety years.
Louise Gourlay OAM Patron of Auxiliaries.
TH E ROYA L CHILDREN’S H O SP ITA L AUX IL IA R IES
CONTENTS REPORTS FROM THE RCH AUXILIARIES From The Auxiliaries President From The Foundation’s Executive Director From The Auxiliaries Coordinator From The Good Friday Appeal From The Gift Shop 2012 Cuppa For Kids The Impact Across The Hospital Supporting Research Supporting Technology & Equipment Supporting Excellence Through The Wish List Supporting Leadership & Education Supporting Patients & Family Care How We Did It
6 9 10 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 30
STORIES FROM THE AUXILIARIES & OUR HOSPITAL - Past, Present & Future The Visionary - Mary Guthrie Ainsley Faust - Beyond Sight Auxiliary LARCH Auxiliary - Forging Ahead With Research Waverley Auxiliary - More Than One Mother Goose Geelong Auxiliary - Equipping The RCH OARA - A Glowing OARA Orthopaedics & The RCH Auxiliaries: A Look Back Through History Mary McGowan - The Abiding Presence Comforting The Kids At The RCH: Lisa Takacs - Dame Elisabeth Murdoch Scholarship
32 33 34 36 37 38 40 42 44
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS, AWARDS & RESULTS Madge Tate Award Commendation to Margaret Greenwood Long Service Awards Living Treasures The RCH Auxiliaries - Our Team The RCH Auxiliaries Vale 2012 Results
48 48 49 51 52 55 58
7 ANNUAL REPORT 2012
FROM THE AUXILIARIES
PRESIDENT Carole Lowen
President of Auxiliaries
It is with great pleasure and pride I write this Royal Children’s Hospital Auxiliaries 90th Annual Report. We have so much to acknowledge and celebrate. It is amazing to look back to 1922 when the Auxiliaries’ devotion and
It is always so heartening to know we are, in comparison, unique. It is clear throughout our 90 year history one of the greatest strengths, traditions and legacy has been fine example, leadership and mentoring of strong-minded and focused women, usually supported by like-minded men.
dedication to sick children started,
The hospital was started and run by women - wonderful women - since nappies and fruit, when children were 1870. The Auxiliaries were started in dying of diseases we rarely hear 1922 and the legacy has continued with great mentors. I pay particular tribute in of today. Today we support health conditions not even heard of in 1922. my time to Dame Elisabeth Murdoch AC DBE, the late Dame Patricia Mackinnon DBE, both former patrons of Auxiliaries, The fact that we still exist is quite Mrs. Grace Cuming OAM DSJ, Mrs. remarkable. The other great hospitals Louise Gourlay OAM our much loved of Melbourne have let their Auxiliaries Patron, Mrs. Davina Johnson OAM close and are now asking us how our immediate Past President, as well we can help them get started again. as our strong Auxiliaries Executive. All Toronto Sick Kids Hospital held a phone of these women have been constant, wise confidants to me, offering great interview last August to find out more guidance in times of need, and I about how ours is set up. I have visited thank them. two other great paediatric hospitals originally for provisions of bed linen,
of the world; Great Ormond Street in London and Boston Children’s Hospital. Both have an Auxiliary that runs events but not the 60+ self managed Auxiliaries of which we are so proud. Boston Children’s Hospital was very pleased to inform me that there is
I see us all as ‘custodians’ of a marvellous and spirited Auxiliaries organisation, fine-tuning it along the way to suit the changing times, always with the focus on supporting the hospital and our sick children.
I would like to acknowledge and thank wholeheartedly each and every present to visit Toronto Sick Kids in September Auxiliary member, and the members whilst on a private trip as one is always from the past 90 years, their families, hopeful to come back with more ideas. friends and supporters - as we know it nothing in the world like ours. I plan
TH E ROYA L CHILDREN’S H O SP ITA L AUX IL IA R IES
is always a family affair. To do what we do as volunteers, fitting it into our sometimes frantically busy lives, comes at a price to our families, but also with enormous pride in knowing we are making a difference to sick and very sick children. We know there is no better cause. Auxiliary members have the biggest hearts and have made the most enormous contribution to this hospital, raising more than $38 million since 1922.
Hallmark as the new Good Friday Appeal Director and look forward to working with her. It is so very special to be celebrating 90 years in our new magnificent hospital in its parkland setting. It is interesting to note that Ella Latham’s vision in the 1930’s was a hospital centred on children and their families, which wasn’t the case then, but certainly is today. This focus on patient and family centred care is demonstrated in many ways, but perhaps most obviously through the design of the patient rooms, which incorporates family accommodation. Many of you will have seen this on a tour of the new hospital, and I urge anyone who hasn’t, to make a visit.
I’d like to acknowledge the very special camaraderie and love there is for Auxiliaries and our sick children, and this very special Royal Children’s Hospital that is so beloved by all Victorians as proud custodians, as demonstrated in the amazing support of the Good Friday Appeal, which this Auxiliaries started out providing year raised a record $15.6 million. provisions and were organised in suburbs - now we have many large It is with a great sense of loss to us all target specific Auxiliaries. Each year that Christine Unsworth has retired as we work closely to assist The Royal Director of the Good Friday Appeal, Children’s Hospital to fund preventative after 16 years. Christine started at the and curative research and to attract RCH as the Auxiliaries and Volunteer Manager. Christine gave us ‘Cuppa for and develop the best medical talent to provide world class care and treatment. Kids’ and the ‘Little People’ logo that We have Auxiliaries supporting makes our recycle bags so recognizavarious forms of cancer, cystic ble, providing us with a strong brand fibrosis, oesophageal atresia, stroke, image. Recycle bags are everywhere haemophilia, retinoblastoma, pain now, but they started with us. We have sold over 1.5 million bags which management to name a few, as well as the departments of Cardiology, Orthomeans $1.5 million has been raised for the hospital from those bags alone, peadics, Educational Play Therapy, so thank you! This year our cheque for Music Therapy, Neonatal Medicine, Emergency, Developmental Medicine, Good Friday was $1,395,000. We the Children’s Bioethics Centre, Rheuare delighted to welcome Deborah
matology, Neurology, Endocrinology and Diabetes and many more. The Auxiliaries have survived a depression, wars, recessions, the technical and digital age, a GFC and, particularly, women remaining in the workforce with little or no extra time to give. It is quite amazing so many Auxiliaries have survived at all. We remember well, ten years ago, when we felt we were doomed, but we got our skates on and introduced our first merchandise, the tote bags. Our very talented coordinator, Sue Manson, put a lot of work into researching demographics, products and niche areas, before going ahead with LuvaBub and a range of exclusive RCH merchandise. The Auxiliaries, in this last decade, are greatly indebted to the vision and dedication of Sue Manson. Sue knows and loves the Auxiliaries and is a great resource to us all. We are so very fortunate Sue’s heart is in The Royal Children’s Hospital and are very grateful for her hard work, attention to detail and high standards. Sue even hand-knitted and wash-tested the LuvaBub prototypes before manufacture. With the many changes in our busy office, we would like to thank Larel-Leigh Lawson and Janelle Holden for keeping everything going under pressure, always with a smile. We are also indebted to Irene Hubbard
9 ANNUAL REPORT 2012
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<< for her enormous volunteer contribution. Irene gives us many long days and we thank her.
welcome Mr Peter Yates AM as new Chairman of the RCH Foundation.
We congratulate Professor Christine Kilpatrick, CEO of The Royal Children’s We thank the Foundation’s Executive Hospital, for the smooth move to Director, Sue Hunt, Debbie Shiell and the new hospital and thank her for Lisa Addison for their guidance and help. We are delighted and grateful to attending many of our functions. The Stephanie Zappala Bryant for her efforts Queen’s visit and opening of the new hospital was very special, particularly with our communications, publications and website, which we have requested as she had opened the old hospital in 1963. for years. We are looking forward to at last getting our new hospital shop really humming along with the appointment of a new Retail Coordinator. May I take this opportunity to acknowledge and thank all our shop staff and volunteers in our preparations to move and set up in the new hospital. Our volunteers are always pleased to share in the profits. Our St. Patrick’s Day Market in the new foyer was a great success and we look forward to St. Andrew’s Market being equally successful. These fundraising days and our Gift Shop remind all who work or visit clinics or patients at The Royal Children’s Hospital, of our continued work and activities. Our thanks go to Mr. Tony Beddison AO, Chairman of The Royal Children’s Hospital Board. Our best wishes go to retiring RCH Foundation Board members, Mr Julian Clarke as Chairman, Mr Geoff Henke AO, and Dr Hugo Gold. We congratulate and
Congratulations to our new Living Treasures who continue to give us much joy and pleasure as they have been honoured for distinguished service to this hospital. I shall continue to remind them they are the jewels in The Royal Children’s Hospital treasure chest, each one displaying many facets of strength, depth, clarity and colour. It is always so good to attend the individual Auxiliaries AGM’s and functions to share the camaraderie and friendship and just what they are doing for this hospital. One is always reminded of our diversity which is our great strength and a reflection of our Australian society. It is the essence of the Auxiliaries that has sustained, and must always be appreciated, valued and nurtured - it is as relevant today as it was 90 years ago. Each and every person within the Auxiliaries, and their support networks, is very special to this hospital, both in keeping the face of
TH E ROYA L CHILDREN’S H O SP ITA L AUX IL IA R IES
The Royal Children’s Hospital out in the community as ambassadors, and for the money raised to support research and equipment. Your efforts give a great boost to the clinicians who work at the hospital, as well as a friendly face to the many patients’ families, both in the hospital and in the community. One can never put a dollar value on this important role, but I am sure it comes back in buckets of support at times like the Good Friday Appeal. As we look towards our next phase of planning for our 100th Birthday, it is vital we continue to be a “can do” and “upbeat” Auxiliaries organization to be proud of, as we have in the past. It must never be forgotten that we are volunteers giving our best – a rare and valued species. Thank you to each and every one of you in the Auxiliaries, for your valued friendship, your generosity of spirit and your commitment to The Royal Children’s Hospital. It is a great honour to lead you. I wish everyone love and happiness in our pursuits and quest to improve the health outcomes for children who are treated at The Royal Children’s Hospital, to walk taller knowing that you have made a differeence and celebrate the 90 years of distinguished service and tradition. You are my inspiration and I salute you.
FROM THE FOUNDATIONS
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR It gives me great pleasure to look back on another successful year for The Royal Children’s Hospital Auxiliaries. I am delighted to embark on the next landmark year with such an important part of our esteemed fundraising community. As you and I know, 90 years of operation is reason for celebration, and also an opportunity to build on your passion and excellent reputation to springboard into the future. The very last day of the recent financial year was a wonderful view to what lies ahead for Auxiliaries. The Made By Us Market, held on 30 June 2012 at Malvern, showcased the breadth and strength of your community fundraising, and was a clear demonstration of all that has made the Auxiliaries so successful over the past 90 years. Back in your founding suburb, Auxiliary members from across Victoria gathered side by side, embedded in the wider community and united by your common cause; the children. The Made By Us Market showcased beautifully all the aspects that are so compelling about Auxiliaries. Your creative talents, hard work, dedication, and above all, a willingness to put the needs of sick children and their families above your own. It was a joy and a privilege to walk around this event and feel
enveloped by warmth and kind heartedness. It was a brilliant way to kick off the Auxiliaries’ official 90th year celebrations. For the past two years, the team of staff in the Foundation who support Auxiliaries have been working with the Auxiliaries Executive to plan for the progressive future that we want to see. We all agree; we envision a continuing, strong future of growth and opportunity for Auxiliaries. We heard your requests and increased the level of support provided from the office so that you may continue to concentrate on raising much-needed funds for our hospital. I am very excited to be leading the team that support our Auxiliaries, a team that has increased over the past year. The team have exemplary skills across many areas that match the priorities for the Auxiliaries’ future - community development, event management, communications, marketing and publicity, finance and investments, administration, retail management, customer service and more. This places us in an ever-better position for continuous development.
improvements over the coming 12 months, and to open discussions with you about the future. Thank you for your continued commitment to the hospital, the young patients and their families. Your steadfast and substantial support is a torchlight to be held high, especially leading into this special year. Our commitment to you is to mirror your own dedication, and to provide the Auxiliaries with the same steadfast, substantial support that you have shown our most vulnerable children so unfailingly since 1922. Congratulations on the successful year that was 2011/2012, and on the commencement of this historic 90th year of community fundraising. Sue Hunt
Executive Director The Royal Children’s Hospital Foundation
Along with human resources, we are continuing to work towards improving the ease of access to tools and resources that Auxiliaries’ require to effectively and efficiently manage your fundraising. We look forward to introducing numerous ongoing
11 ANNUAL REPORT 2012
FROM THE AUXILIARIES
COORDINATOR Sue Manson
Auxiliaries Coordinator
It is just over ten years since I arrived as your Auxiliaries Coordinator in June 2002. Just in time for the 80th anniversary celebrations which Carole Lowen and Sally Watson had worked very hard on to ensure that everything was in place before hand, so that my first and most important job was to get to know you.
ease. Every year in June was a celebration for them and for me. The first of many formal occasions also came in June 2002. This was to attend the American Women’s Auxiliary Independence Day Ball. Before the year ended I had attended six other formal balls. It was quite a time for the Auxiliaries. I have now learned that “Ball Season” runs from May to November on any given year.
And may I say that it is a blessing and an honour to be your Coordinator, your advocate, representative, guide and friend.
And so it went on over the next twelve months; getting out to meet everyone on their own patch and hearing how you had gone about raising funds throughout the year.
So if you could please indulge my nostalgia, I would like to take a walk down memory lane… I had only been in the role for two months when Rose Pozzuto and I found ourselves as the Auxiliaries Office staff – for many years there had been three people to look after you. To Rose I say the most heartfelt thank you, you looked after me at every turn and on every level. You inherited someone who knew nothing about Auxiliaries and you taught me all the nuances of working at the Royal Children’s Hospital (RCH). No sooner had I arrived that I was off to my first Auxiliary Annual General Meeting for the Southern Rainbows Auxiliary, a wonderful friendly group who welcomed me and put me at
TH E ROYA L CHILDREN’S H O SP ITA L AUX IL IA R IES
One thing that became very obvious very quickly was that I was going to have to pace myself on the beautiful home baked afternoon tea’s – after all this does equate to about 60 per year. So, slowly, I got to know you all and you got to know me. It was only then that Carole Lowen and the Auxiliaries Executive were willing to embark on the development of new initiatives. Our first step was to increase acknowledgement and recognition of Auxiliary members. And the second was to create some small centrally organised merchandise opportunities. This is how Living Treasures Honorary Auxiliary came to be formed. Whilst the Madge Tate Service Award still remains the pinnacle acknowledge-
Everyone was always willing to role up their sleeves and be there - wherever they were needed.
ment, we had so many members who had given so much to their Auxiliary and the hospital over so many years it was important that this commitment was also honoured. I would like to take this opportunity to thank Dianne Humphreys, who was the Deputy President at the time when Living Treasures was launched, for her dedication to the organisation of the Living Treasure induction events.
extremely pleased by the success of these fundraisers. And while all this is going on in the Auxiliary Office, Auxiliaries were out in their communities organising a calendar events that ranged across every type of fundraiser possible. One of the last things that I was to experience in my first year was the Good Friday Appeal (GFA) and all that meant for the Auxiliaries. I soon realised that presenting the Auxiliary cheque at the end of the day was the easy bit.
With regard to the second initiative it was at this time that we increased the capacity for the stalls in the Front Entry Foyer. Whilst I have heard that at times The combined total for the Auxiliaries the stall area resembled a Moroccan cheque to be presented at the Bazaar, you lifted your income from 2003 Good Friday Appeal was stall sales by 100K that year. $1,321,995. We also distributed $733,264 for the purchase of Who can remember selling “Benny’s equipment, camps, research and care Lollies” in the foyer? That was our first and support programs. shot at merchandise, and gave us the confidence to branch out on our own One of things I love most about being with our branded product. part of the Auxiliaries Office team has always been the ability to operate We also introduced a second Market with a high sense of the Auxiliaries’ Day – Andy’s Market – to be held on values. Everyone was always willing St. Andrews Day 30 November each to role up their sleeves and be there year – just in time for Christmas sales. – wherever they were needed. I am extremely proud of this - it’s how it was We also tried our hand at running a Ticket Box Office through the Auxiliaries each year for Good Friday. Office for the opera fundraising The late Dorothy Knight, (Pankina performance of La Traviata at the Auxiliary), had created a wonderful Atheneum Theatre. Over time we activity to support the Good Friday ticketed two more opera’s Rigoletto Appeal with food for the volunteers and The Pearl Fishers. This was a big and tin shakers. As Dorothy’s health venture for Rose and I, so we were
declined and she was unable to pick up the donated food, Rose Pozzuto and her husband drove around each night in the lead up to the day picking up the supplies. This was how we were able to keep the famous “Sandwich Line” going. A production line like you have never seen - there were sandwiches being made, cake being sliced and wrapped, fruit salad being prepared, dozens of eggs being boiled and shelled and when all this was done (at the hospital) it had to be taken to Kids Day Out at Docklands via mobile cool-rooms and vans. I think I counted eight return trips one year. Despite her declining health, Dorothy insisted on being at Kids Day Out to help – after all this was her project. When Dorothy passed away, we officially named the volunteers kiosk on Good Friday – “Dot’s Spot”. Our Good Friday experience didn’t stop there, we now have Auxiliary members at Etihad Stadium every year from 8.00 am to 7.00 pm giving out the food. Over time, we have increased our presence on Good Friday. Several Auxiliaries shake tins, some operate stalls at suburban GFA events and others at the Etihad Stadium itself. Good Friday is a long day but we wouldn’t miss being part of the day. It makes everyone feel very proud
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<< to represent our amazing Royal Children’s Hospital. In 2003 we held, Young Friends Day, which was one of our early projects to help promote understanding of the Auxiliary concept to our young family members. Many of you had grandchildren and young neighbours and friends who watched your involvement from a distance, your sewing, baking and organising events without knowing what the true value was to the hospital and to the children being treated there. I cannot tell you how overwhelmed I was with the response from the doctors, nurses and Allied Health staff who all put their hands up to help us with this day. Our “Young Friends” ranged in age from seven-years-old to sixteen-yearsold. They sat quietly beside their host and listened intently. They asked some fabulous questions and went home knowing a lot more about why you do what you do.
we were ahead of our time, which
order for Atlantic Philanthropy to make
shows how progressive the Auxiliaries
the grant.
were and continue to be - never resting on our laurels. The need to
In 2004 we started receiving requests
keep advancing in time with the
for work experience placements, Duke
greater community is critical to survival
of Edinburgh Award placements and
in a world were there are tens of
Community Service Placements. It was
thousands of other charities, causes
because of these that we started taking
and not-for-profit organisations seeking
bookings from young people to come
membership and support.
along and do their placement and
Today we have a very sophisticated
these students were good, some were
site that is well maintained and serviced by the Communications Team at the RCH Foundation. The Auxiliaries have contributed to the international standing of the hospital on several occasions: In 2003, when the American philanthropist Chuck Feeney was considering making a substantial grant to the hospital through Atlantic Philanthropy to assist with the building of a new research building, one of the criteria for his donation was proof that The Royal Children’s Hospital had a long standing
In 2003 we launched our first version of the Auxiliaries website with the help of the Educational Resource Centre at the RCH. We put together a comprehensive site plan that still forms the basis for today’s much improved website for the Auxiliaries.
connection and relationship with its
Today the website is a major form of communication but back in 2003,
community. The hospital management were very proud to say to Mr. Feeney
learn about helping people. Some of great and others just fantastic like Ellie Pateras and Janelle Holden. The combined total for the Auxiliaries cheque to be presented at the 2004 Good Friday Appeal was $1,525,244. We also distributed $771,141 for the purchase of equipment, camps, research and care and support programs. 2005 was the year that changed how the Auxiliaries promoted itself to the world. Times were changing, the number one concern around the world had shifted from health issues to issues surrounding the survival of our planet. Everyone was touched by the grim predictions. The use of plastic
that the Auxiliaries have been raising
bags became one of the symbols of
funds via their local communities for
this angst, and by some ordained
over 80 years. As Cathy Alexander,
circumstance the Auxiliaries were
the then CEO tells us, this was one
there, ready to tackle the problem at a
of the pivotal demonstrations of
grassroots level in their own community
community connection required in
with the Auxiliaries reusable, light
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I can remember sending out orders for 36,000 Tote Bags...
weight, purposeful, functional Tote Bag.
equipment, camps, research and care and support programs.
The rapidness by which the Tote Bag made their way into all corners of Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, and the world (please see Tote Bags story in the 2006 Annual Report) is something that all fundraisers dream about. First we ordered 10,000 Tote Bags, they sold out in two months, so we ordered another 10,000, and then another. The Tote Bags were flying out the door, so we just bit the bullet and ordered 50,000 Tote Bags. And so it went on and on. I can remember sending out orders for 36,000 Tote Bags in June 2006.
In 2006, whilst travelling back from one of our trips to meet the South Western Auxiliary members, I said to Carole Lowen that we needed to create an opportunity for younger people to be involved with the Auxiliaries. We had enjoyed a high level of interest from schools who wanted to capitalise on the work placement experiences.
This leads me to another special person. I would like to thank Sandra Bonnici, (Roxburgh Park Auxiliary), who very generously offered to volunteer to help us with the bag orders because we couldn’t keep up with demand. Sandra offered to help us two days a week. By the end of the third week, when she had volunteered five days a week, we offered Sandra a job. Thank you Sandra you saved our sanity and our fledgling Tote Bag business.
The Young Set @ RCH concept was a campaign that was successful but demanding. I am sure that members were very excited by this initiative and the results achieved, however it was an extreme drain on our resources which became untenable as the Tote Bag business flourished and other new opportunities required investigation and eventual commitment.
The combined total for the Auxiliaries cheque to be presented at the 2005 Good Friday Appeal was $1,209,253. We also distributed $869,874 for the purchase of
The Young Set @ RCH was created with Ellie Pateras at the helm and ably assisted by Bree Regester, who had joined the Auxiliaries team around this time.
By the end of 2006, the Auxiliaries were ready to roll out our next retail venture beyond our now famous Tote Bags - our LuvaBub baby range and our giftware range for children and ladies was an instant success. We now have access to the RCH Online Shop. The Auxiliaries are
selling our product at external expo’s and shopping centres and of course in our revamped stall space in the Front Entry Building. This is another winner because members have embraced these new centrally organised opportunities. The combined total for the Auxiliaries cheque to be presented at the 2006 Good Friday Appeal was $1,683,592. We also distributed $1,298,952 for the purchase of equipment, camps, research and care and support programs. In 2006 we were advised that the Auxiliaries Coordinator would now report to the RCH Foundation Business Manager, Stefan Hnativ. Stefan had been the Treasurer for all Auxiliary Trust Accounts with the RCH so he was well acquainted with the Auxiliaries concept. Given that the Auxiliaries is an extremely high generator of cash, Stefan gave us great guidance on all things to do with governance, compliance and risk, and for this I am extremely grateful. Whilst it seemed onerous sometimes, the Auxiliaries must always exceed expectations when it comes to anything finance related or regarding legislation, standards, policies and procedures. Stefan is a great supporter of the Auxiliaries and I know that he is a daily visitor and sometimes purchaser
15 ANNUAL REPORT 2012
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<< at the stalls. Stefan has also been a staunch advocate for the Auxiliaries when required. Thank you Stefan. In 2007 a young lady called Stacey Brown came to work for the Auxiliaries. Not yet twenty-one and just returning from overseas, Stacey was another lovely young face in the Auxiliaries Office. Over time Stacey would do her “apprenticeship” on the front reception desk, as we all did. I am sure that is why our team worked so well – because everyone had a time looking after our members at the coal face - looking after stall bookings, Tote Bags orders, phone calls, raffles, banking, mail and so much more. This is how we came to know your stories, your Auxiliaries and you, as individuals. Stacey showed us that she was very capable with graphic design – her destiny was set. High quality communications material was the one thing we were lacking. We bought Stacey an Apple Mac for graphic design which, by the way, followed her to her position within the RCH Foundation all those years on. Over the past 90 years the concept of the Auxiliaries has been embraced by many hospitals and institutions who sought the assistance of the community. Some will remember all the different reporting lines and locations within the hospital that the Auxiliaries office has occupied, so the news at the end of
2006 that a new hospital was about to be built was very exciting, after all we had only had one other “home” up until now, at Carlton.
equipment, camps, research and care and support programs. Laura Campbell was one of those young women. Laura came to us as a
We are coming up to 2007 and our Annual Reports are looking better each year. Much thought went into the theme and look and I would like to thank everyone who has contributed to the evolution of the Auxiliaries Annual Report. It is by no means a small task. Creating the “Celebrating 85 years” publication was a highlight amongst many. It was the planning that brought it altogether. Commencing in 2005, Peggy Mathison (Parkville Auxiliary) and Jan Regester, (Chip In Auxiliary) took on the task to research the archives and visit members so that a comprehensive history of the Auxiliaries could be put together for all time. We had the most amazing team working for the Auxiliaries - a close knit coterie. Both Carole Lowen and I were very proud that we had put together a support team for the Auxiliaries of young progressive women.
temp. In 2008. We liked her so much we asked her to stay. Laura started on the front desk, as did everyone, and quickly showed that she was extremely capable when it came to dealing with all things financial for the Auxiliaries. With the news that the Auxiliaries were going to have a stock inventory system installed to help with the management of the Tote Bags and other merchandise sales, orders and re-orders, Laura took on the installation and implementation of this project and did a fantastic job. Both Stefan and I were extremely impressed by Laura’s commitment to ironing out the “bugs”. Thank you Laura – this was another showcase of the Auxiliaries going forward with advance business management. In 2008 Carole Lowen decided that the Auxiliaries would be the one to honour the 75th anniversary of our Past Patron, Dame Elisabeth Murdoch AC DBE contribution and connection
The combined total for the Auxiliaries cheque to be presented at the 2007 Good Friday Appeal was $1,611,031. We also distributed $1,157,951 for the purchase of
TH E ROYA L CHILDREN’S H O SP ITA L AUX IL IA R IES
to The Royal Children’s Hospital. Ellie Pateras and Carole worked tirelessly on this event. The day was special, immaculately organised
In June 2009, the Auxiliaries sold our one millionth Tote Bag
and greatly appreciated by Dame
equipment, camps, research and care
Elisabeth and her family.
and support programs.
This prestigious event had been
In June 2009, the Auxiliaries sold our
a huge responsibility for Ellie and
One Millionth Tote Bag. The Auxiliaries
Auxiliaries and she showed her ability
had raised an additional $1 million
and maturity to manage such an event
over the four years since the campaign
that it was just 12 months on that Ellie
started. Whilst the Tote Bag sales
was at the helm organisation for the
have slowed from those halcyon days,
inaugural Dame Elisabeth Murdoch
they are still popular. Everyone wants
Annual Luncheon in support of the
the “Little People” design. It doesn’t
scholarship in Dame Elisabeth’s name
matter what colour the Tote Bag was,
to advance the standing of nursing at
the “Little People” design gave the
the RCH.
Auxiliaries presence in the community and a brand image that marketing
This scholarship, at a value of
gurus could only dream about.
$50,000, is the highest value scholarship available at the RCH,
Young Set @ RCH has now evolved
and we are so proud that it is an
into an event based fundraiser aimed
Auxiliaries initiative that provides the
at young adults. Once again, Ellie
funds via the luncheon.
was managing this concept with
In early 2009 we were particularly
some very able volunteers to bring
proud that the Auxiliaries had been
the very first “2012 – Beyond What
able to attract the Governor General,
We Know” cocktail party which was
Quentin Bryce, as the inaugural
held at the Eureka Tower. The event
guest speaker for the Dame Elisabeth
was an amazing success, everyone
Murdoch Annual Luncheon. Given
had a terrific time and the Young Set
that our event occurred just after the
was able to develop a substantial
Black Saturday Bushfires, we were
data base of young people. For the
very appreciative.
first time we felt that we had bridged that generational gap and would now
The combined total for the Auxiliaries
have the opportunity to foster these
cheque to be presented at the
new relationships.
2008 Good Friday Appeal was $1,760,236. We also distributed
When Rose retired in July 2009 it
$1,143,036 for the purchase of
was a sad time for me. As I said Rose
had looked after me, and all of us, for that matter. So it took me some time to replace Rose. They had to be a special person, and that is when we found Laurel-Leigh Lawson, whom we have all become very fond. What makes Laurel-Leigh so special is her care of you. She has helped me immensely with the pastoral care of the Auxiliary members. As the Auxiliaries are more fundraisers, the relationships that the members have within the hospital are long standing, and we value and treasure this connection. Thank you Laurel-Leigh. The Auxiliaries have been extremely well supported for all time by the RCH community, with stalls, raffles, market days, the Gift Shop and now the sale of the nurses scrubs. The Auxiliaries were awarded the sole contract to supply the nurses with the approved uniform – our bright coloured scrubs. This very profitable fundraiser has raised in excess of $130,000 and I would like to give thanks for this success to Laurel-Leigh, Janelle and Alperstein Designs. The combined total for the Auxiliaries cheque to be presented at the 2009 Good Friday Appeal was $1,680,234. We also distributed $899,434 for the purchase of
17 ANNUAL REPORT 2012
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<< equipment, camps, research and care and support programs. The one element of the Auxiliaries business that was not in my portfolio up until this point was the Gift Shop, which was the case until the end of 2009 when Helen Carroll, Gift Shop Manager, retired. Again the GFC was having a major impact on what people were prepared to spend. A lot of work was done to develop a strategy to manage this situation and I am pleased to say that while others in the retail sector were struggling, and despite our limited capacity for passing trade, thanks go to Marie, Julie, Lucy, Melisa and Kaitlyn for their commitment to that plan. It was a fairly stringent plan but they never waivered and I am as I am sure you are as the beneficiaries of the profit extremely appreciative and thankful to them. Of course our Gift Shop only has the reputation and patronage it enjoys because of the Auxiliary members. It is more than the fact that all the profit goes back to the hospital. It is you as people, your care and ever willingness to listen and become “hospital” friends to the many families who come into the Gift Shop. Many retail experts will tell you that we have the best people waiting to help our customers. Justice Betty King was our guest speaker at the second Dame Elisabeth
Murdoch Annual Luncheon in 2010. Justice King regaled us with many stories and facts from the beginning of her legal career to the present time and we were delighted that the woman that we admired most, Dame Elisabeth could be in attendance at each luncheon. Three nurses have now been awarded the Dame Elisabeth Murdoch Nursing Scholarship and all have made a significant contribution to the international standing of nursing at The Royal Children’s Hospital. The second Young Set @ RCH cocktail party in 2009 was equally successful, we were devastated when the GFC hit and many activities had to be reassessed in light of the financial situation. Sadly, it was not long after this that Ellie moved to the join the RCH Foundation team. The combined total for the Auxiliaries cheque to be presented at the 2010 Good Friday Appeal was $1,523,371. We also distributed $1,041,041 for the purchase of equipment, camps, research and care and support programs. No time to rest between May 2010 and the Annual General Meeting in August 2010, we decided to launch our first “Girls Day Out” in July 2010. Originally planned as a new membership event, the concept evolved into a training
TH E ROYA L CHILDREN’S H O SP ITA L AUX IL IA R IES
day for members. This day is now a calendar event for imparting updated information on all matters of topics that affect all the Auxiliaries. And like other major get-togethers it is a great time for catching up on news from other Auxiliaries. We knew we wanted to improve the Auxiliaries Newsletter both in content and look. And as we were searching, Bronwyn Hewitt, RCH Archivist, and member of Melbourne Sinfonia Auxiliary came forward with the title “Auxiliarated All Over”. I loved the name and more than that I loved that it has been named by an Auxiliary member. Like so many other things along the way your ownership of what represents you to the public is just fantastic. Cuppa for Kids was something that I had been determined to bring back to its former glory from the moment I knew about it. It was just too good an opportunity to connect with the greater community to be left languishing. Many thanks must go to all the Auxiliaries who kept Cuppa for Kids going within their own circle – otherwise it would have been completely gone and most likely irretrievable. To date, we have held two grand affairs to launch Cuppa for Kids each year. The first in the Grand Dining Room at the Windsor Hotel, and the
You cannot buy this level of commitment
second at Ripponlea Estate, both beautiful venues only open these days for private events and both were successful as a fundraiser. However, the best is yet to come for Cuppa for Kids. There was only one last thing to achieve from the 2008 – 2011 Auxiliaries Strategic Plan, and that was the Made By Us project. Like all new concepts, you have to be willing to take your time and let it evolve to be itself and slowly that is becoming the case. The culmination of this initiative arrived just a few weeks ago at the Malvern Town Hall with our Made By Us Market Day. With the aim to raise funds and awareness of the Auxiliaries concept, I have to say the day was a huge success. Many thanks for Lisa Addison, Event Coordinator and Stephanie Zappala Bryant, Communications Manager. We have had the most generous support from our friends at Alperstein Designs over the past seven years. I think even they were surprised by the success of the Tote Bag sales. Their support has helped us put together several gift ranges over the years, with many hours of pro bono work donated to help Auxiliaries take their products to the wider community. When it came to the merchandise range, we were always looking for new ideas and the best ideas always
come from the Auxiliary members. The next great idea came from Denise Mudie, (CasKids Auxiliary). This was to develop a Party Plan concept for the sale of the Auxiliaries merchandise. Once again, Peggy Mathison, (Parkville Auxiliary) stepped forward and together we pulled together a Party Plan model. With the help of Stacey Brown we created beautiful brochures and were all ready to go when the GFC hit. So our Party Plan concept sits on the shelf awaiting a launch when retail opportunities improve.
when we did a month long stall at the
As much as the Auxiliaries loves coming to the RCH to sell their goods, we also love going “external”. From the time I arrived we were already participating at the Melbourne International Flower and Garden Show. We expanded this type of activity over the years to include the Baby Expo but there have been many other examples of going “external” (please see the Auxiliaries Exhibited report in the 2006 Annual Report).
and of the Auxiliaries concept. It was
Many people participated and many people put in an extraordinary effort to ensure the success and vitality of these activities. I would like to thank Bill and Jenny Gordon and Ellie for taking responsibility for the 10 very cold night shifts at the Royal Melbourne Show. I would also like to thank and acknowledge Margaret Ash and Joan Courtney, Smiley Auxiliary for being the “go to girls” and the “re-stock girls”
Knox Shopping Centre. You cannot buy this level of commitment. All these tasks were beyond the call of duty and truly made a difference to the outcome of the events. Thank you. What about the “Pop Up Shop”? Didn’t that take us by surprise, the offer to set up in Melbourne Central was an amazing opportunity to showcase our talent, our product, our cause intense and it was fun and I cannot wait for the next opportunity to come along to be involved in such a high profile location. Alison Orum, Charli’s Angels Auxiliary has been championing the “Pop Up Shop” concept in Mt. Eliza with consistent success. Alison is about to open for the third time – this time with a Made By Us theme. The Auxiliaries are now more closely aligned with the RCH Foundation. The Auxiliaries have been administered by the RCH Foundation since Stefan Hnativ took up the role of Business Manager. Certainly things have changed and I would like to thank Sue Hunt, Executive Director, RCH Foundation for making every effort to learn and understand the Auxiliary
19 ANNUAL REPORT 2012
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<< concept and its machinations because Auxiliaries is unique. A kind welcome to the new people who form part of the Auxiliaries team within the RCH Foundation. They are, Debbie Shiell, Community Development Manager, Stephanie Zappala Bryant, Communications Manager, Lisa Addison, Events Coordinator and Pranav Kaushal, Accounts Coordinator and Mima Seldon, Publications Coordinator. The combined total for the Auxiliaries cheque to be presented at the 2011 Good Friday Appeal was $1,378,420. We also distributed $839,352 for the purchase of equipment, camps, research and care and support programs. Through all the daily ups and downs, ins and outs, dramas, tight deadlines, changes and new ideas,
where our memories will be forged for at least the next 50 years.
in 2007, as we celebrated our
Last year we were contacted by a person doing research on the Auxiliaries concept for Toronto Hospital for Sick Children – they too are one of the world’s leading paediatric hospitals. This person was quite taken-a-back by how strong and advanced our Auxiliary model is at the RCH – such that our concept posed more questions than confirmation of their existing model. Certainly on Carole’s visits to the other top paediatric hospitals our Auxiliaries are second to none.
I would also like to thank and
I would like to acknowledge and thank Carole Lowen for her steadfast support of the Auxiliaries and myself. Twelve years in the lead role of such a diverse organisation as the Auxiliaries is a huge undertaking and responsibility, which Carole has done with much grace and strength. You are to be applauded Carole.
goals, and your goals. Everyone who has worked in the Auxiliaries Office knows and appreciates the full extent of Irene’s commitment. We have now moved into the new RCH and we are all in awe of its design, but most importantly I think from the moment the children moved in, it really became our home, this is
acknowledge all the wonderful people who have taken up the role of Vice President over the past 10 years. Your thoughts, input and guidance has been invaluable to both Carole and myself and you have upheld your responsibilities as representatives and advocates of your fellow Auxiliary members to the highest. Thank you. I would like to acknowledge the dedication and commitment of Robyn Anderson, (CasKids Auxiliary). Robyn has taken on the role of Auxiliary Executive Committee Secretary above and beyond her own commitments as a Vice President and as Secretary to CasKids Auxiliary. The role of Executive Secretary is extremely demanding of thought and time, this role really is the back bone for any committee and Robyn’s expertise is
Irene Hubbard has been there to help each of us meet and achieve our
85th anniversary.
When you think of what has been achieved over the past 12 years, it is then that you realise the strength and character of Carole Lowen. The Auxiliaries have forged ahead. We have shown that we are an integral part and significant contributor to The Royal Children’s Hospital. Acknowledgement by the Chairman of the RCH Board, Tony Beddison AO awarded the Auxiliaries the Chairman’s Medal for Excellence
TH E ROYA L CHILDREN’S H O SP ITA L AUX IL IA R IES
second to none. Robyn has also taken on the role of advocate during these times of change, she also taken on the role of Executive representative at other Auxiliary events and she has also taken on the responsibility of communications for the Auxiliary Executive. I am sure that everyone who has been involved with the Auxiliary Executive over the years will agree that this committee functions at a very
We have now moved in to the new RCH...where our memories will be forged for the next 50 years
high level because of Robyn’s skills and care. To Doris Tatman, Do-Bees Auxiliary, we say many thanks for her keen eye and taking on the responsibility of proof reading the Auxiliaries’ Annual Report for many years to ensure we present the Auxiliaries to the highest possible standard. To Louise Gourlay OAM, Patron of Auxiliaries and Davina Johnson OAM I also give thanks, these ladies have been mentors of the highest calibre for Carole, the Executive and myself.
occasion. We were delighted to see Grace at our recent Made by Us Market Day. All of what you have just read has not been achieved without the support of you all. You probably don’t realise how integral you are to the hospital’s standing in the community. As ambassadors you are the best, as fundraisers you achieve so much and I thank you for believing in the Auxiliary vision and for believing in me.
In closing I would like to acknowledge the late Dame Patricia Mackinnon who was completely committed to the Auxiliaries from the time she came to the hospital as President, RCH Board, and then as President of the Auxiliaries and then Patron. Dame Patricia was one of the most gracious people you could ever have the privilege of meeting. She attended every major combined event for Auxiliary members, and without fail I would receive a thank you phone call the following day and a small note of thanks in the mail. This was just a lovely experience for all who worked on the events. I would also like to thank our beautiful Grace Cuming who is also a wonderful supporter of Auxiliaries over many years. The company of these beautiful women always added that something special to any Auxiliary
21 ANNUAL REPORT 2012
FROM THE
GOOD FRIDAY APPEAL Christine Unsworth
Executive Director Good Friday Appeal
Celebrating an amazing 90 year contribution to The Royal Children’s Hospital, members of the Auxiliaries have again demonstrated their ability to raise an extraordinary amount of money. As an integral part of the Good Friday Appeal, the Auxiliaries’ contribution in 2012 was an astounding $1,395,260.00, helping to achieve an all time Good Friday Appeal record total of $15,820,640. The involvement of Auxiliaries during the telethon on Good Friday is extremely important, providing the hospital and the Good Friday Appeal with the opportunity to publicly acknowledge their outstanding efforts. A strong band of committed people, The Royal Children’s Hospital Auxiliary network is the envy of many institutions and organisations. Giving freely of their time and their diverse talents to raise funds for the hospital, Auxiliary members continue to be ambassadors and advocates for the hospital, fitting perfectly with the philosophy of the Good Friday Appeal. A sense of community, volunteering and humility is clearly evident; patients, and the care provided by the hospital remaining the motivating force behind every fundraising activity undertaken, and everything that they have achieved. Throughout their ninety year history the RCH Auxiliaries have contributed
TH E ROYA L CHILDREN’S H O SP ITA L AUX IL IA R IES
towards the purchase of many items of medical equipment and the funding of many ground breaking research projects, and subsequently they have witnessed significant improvements in the health outcomes of many diseases and disorders. Every Auxiliary member should be proud of the advances in health care and research that have been made as a result of their contribution by their vibrant and robust network. An important but less tangible aspect of their involvement, one that continues to be made by Auxiliary members, is the ‘listening ear’. Over the years, thousands of anxious parents have attested to the value of Auxiliary members listening to their story, to their plight, and even to their fears, while purchasing something in the Auxiliaries Gift Shop. A non-judgemental, non-clinical, caring and compassionate person, who will simply listen, is often so valuable in such a foreign environment for many parents. The Good Friday Appeal applauds every member of The Royal Children’s Hospital Auxiliaries for their ongoing commitment, resilience, creativity, and their overwhelming passion in their support of The Royal Children’s Hospital. Long may it continue.
FROM THE
GIFT SHOP Sue Manson
The past twelve months have been a roller coaster ride for our wonderful Gift Shop and I would like to thank everyone who has been involved.
Auxiliaries Coordinator
Preparing ourselves for the move to the new hospital was a huge task, regarding both the stock-take, and the move itself. Then of course there was the unpacking and setting up. It has been a year of adapting to a new model of co-location with the Kids Health Info Shop. This new partnership
25% NET PROFIT TOTAL SALES
$355,947.22
COST OF SALES
$182,358.66
GROSS PROFIT
$173,588.56
OTHER REVENUE
$7,777.21
has been extremely beneficial to both businesses, as our respective customers have often patronized both businesses, helping this new relationship to blossom. I would also like to acknowledge all the wonderful help Marie, Melisa and I received from our Auxiliary members who were able to step into the gaps and back-fill the vacant shifts, as they arose. In particular, the ladies from Roxburgh Park Auxiliary, made themselves available above and
OTHER EXPENSES NET PROFIT CLOSING BALANCE
$92,364.66 $89,001.11 $92,897.93
beyond their own shifts at very short notice, time and time again. Much work was done in the previous year to put a strategy in place to lift the operating profit of the Gift Shop.
past three years, the GFC had a huge impact on the takings of the Gift Shop. The strategy included the following main points: • to reduce the amount of stock on hand to a level that serviced the sales but did not tie up funds • to seasonalise the amount available to spend on stock, so there were sufficient funds to purchase stock at peak times, i.e. Christmas, Easter, School Holidays etc. • to lower the price point of the majority of items to below $30 • to implement a stock profile that focused on toys that could be played with at the bedside, in outpatients, or were suitable as a reward gift. It is lovely to see the children and families returning to our new shop, for many have made long lasting hospital friendships with the auxiliary members. This is what makes our shop so special, it is a place where the only thing to happen is fun, amongst the myriad of toys and smiling faces of our dedicated auxiliary Gift Shop staff and members. Thank you, as always, you have done a marvellous job representing the Auxiliaries in the most positive, and caring way – the Auxiliary way.
Just like other retail businesses over the
23 ANNUAL REPORT 2012
2012
CUPPA FOR KIDS Sue Manson
Auxiliaries Coordinator
Created in 1994 by Christine Unsworth, the Auxiliaries Manager at the time, Cuppa for Kids was the Auxiliaries Office first opportunity OF creating a centrally organised fundraising activity. Today, Cuppa for Kids is enjoying a new lease of life – having afternoon tea is all the rage, not to mention everyone having fun making cup cakes. Cuppa for Kids contains the prime ingredients for a wonderful time with your friends and it’s a fabulous way to fundraise for the hospital. Whilst Cuppa for Kids has continued as a calendar event for our Auxiliaries since 1994, it is the renewed interest from the community that is giving this activity new success. It really is about promoting Cuppa for Kids where ever we can. It could be inviting new people to your Cuppa for Kids, which was the case with Luciana Masani, who very graciously offered to host a Cuppa for Kids at her family restaurant Mansani, in Carlton. Luciana had recently attended our Cuppa for Kids event at Ripponlea Estate and enjoyed herself so much that she decided to hold her own High Tea in support of The Royal Children’s Hospital. Luciana and her family put so much effort into making the day a truly enjoyable event for everyone who
TH E ROYA L CHILDREN’S H O SP ITA L AUX IL IA R IES
came along – the food was absolutely delicious, the ambience just delightful and the people extremely generous. The day was a great success. Thank you Luciana. It could be that people are inspired to hold a Cuppa for Kids after looking on the website for ways to become involved and help the hospital – such was the case for Kerry O’Connor. Kerry had recently moved into her new home and saw the opportunity to entertain many of her friends at a day time house warming, together with a Cuppa for Kids event to raise funds for the hospital. Kerry was extremely warm in her hospitality, her friends were very generous with their support and a great day was had by all. Everyone left feeling good knowing that they had played a part in making our amazing new hospital even better because of their participation and donations. There are many more stories just like Luciana’s and Kerry’s and we would like to acknowledge everyone who chose to spend a day with their friends raising funds for The Royal Children’s Hospital – thank you.
CLINICAL PROGRAMS $60,965
TREATMENT & CARE $169,541
RESEARCH $401,208
Developmental
THERAPEUTIC PROGRAMS $71,917
SCHOLARSHIPS $50,000 Nursing
Social Work
Oncology – Solid Tumour
Music Therapy
Medicine
Thoracic Medicine
Oncology – Leukaemia
Garden Therapy
Diabetes
Cystic Fibrosis
Cystic Fibrosis
Pain Management
Endocrinology
Oesophageal Atresia
Social Work
CAMPS $42,000 Cardiology Chips Program
Developmental Medicine Cardiology
For 90 years, thousands of members and supporters of the Auxiliaries have improved the lives of our sickest children. The advances in health care and research that have been made as a result of their contribution is immense. This work continues every year as the Auxiliaries work tirelessly to fund preventative and curative research, and attract and develop the best medical talent so that the RCH can provide world class care and treatment to our children.
WHO WE SUPPORTED IN 2011-12
THE IMPACT ACROSS THE HOSPITAL 25 ANNUAL REPORT 2012
SUPPORTING
RESEARCH With the support of the Auxiliaries’ contribution the RCH HAS the time and resources it needs to tackle the biggest health challenges. This includes seeking cures to diseases that threaten the lives of millions of children across the globe. Research takes place on-site at the specialist research arm of the RCH - the Murdoch Childrens Research Institute. This location enables the hospital to immediately and accurately employ the knowledge gained from research in a ‘bench-to-bedside’ capacity. It is because of the investment in research that cure rates for many illnesses have increased dramatically over the years, giving more children the opportunity to live a full and healthy life.
The following auxiliaries provide funding for research into preventative and curative treatments to achieve better quality health outcomes for our children and to advance the future care of children through research. Cancer In Kids Auxiliary Raises funds to support research into Solid Tumour Cancer Cystic Fibrosis Research Trust Auxiliary Raises funds to support fellowship research into providing greater wellbeing for children living with Cystic Fibrosis HAUX Raises funds to provide for research into a cure for Haemophilia LARCH Raises funds to provide research to advance the treatment and cure rate of children with Leukaemia OARA Funds the development of a data base on Oesophageal Atresia children in Australia, which in turn contributes to a world wide data base for the collation of information on this condition
TH E ROYA L CHILDREN’S H O SP ITA L AUX IL IA R IES
SUPPORTING
TECHNOLOGY & EQUIPMENT The Auxiliaries support the purchase of life-changing and life-saving equipment used in clinical care and surgical procedures across many departments. Progressive equipment and technology helps the hospital enhance the quality of health care provided to all patients. For our patients, access to the most advanced technology provides a myriad of benefits, and can improve the patient experience. Advanced technology and equipment give RCH staff invaluable assistance and a more accurate picture of the patientâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s health issues. Access to more detailed medical information can even prevent the need for surgery in some cases, or, when it is necessary, increase the chances of success.
ABC Auxiliary Funding for the purchase of equipment for Gastroenterology Beyond Sight Auxiliary Funding for the purchase of ophthalmology equipment specifically for the treatment of Retinoblastoma Caring Friends of CF Auxiliary Funding for the purchase of equipment for the treatment of children with Cystic Fibrosis CasKids Auxiliary Funding for the purchase of equipment for the Emergency Department Dorothy Waters Auxiliary Funding for the purchase of equipment for Endocrinology Parkville Auxiliary Funding for the purchase of equipment for the Occupational Therapy Unit PremBubs Auxiliary Funding for the purchase of equipment for the Newborn Intensive Care Unit Roxburgh Park Auxiliary Funding for the purchase of equipment for the Intensive Care Unit Templestowe Auxiliary Funding for the purchase of equipment for the Platypus Ward Willy Seagulls Auxiliary Funding for the purchase of equipment for the Intensive Care Unit
27 ANNUAL REPORT 2012
SUPPORTING
EXCELLENCE THROUGH THE WISH LIST The following Auxiliaries play an important role in ensuring the RCH has the ability to acquire the latest technology and equipment.
Absent Friends Auxiliary
These groups provide funds for ‘Wish List’ items, which enables the hospital to respond swiftly to immediate needs, to plan ahead for continuous improvement, and ensure the best possible care is available for our young patients.
Caroline Auxiliary
American Women’s Auxiliary Bones & Co Auxiliary Broadmeadows Auxiliary Courage for Kids Young Set CPR Auxiliary Footscray Yarraville Juniors Auxiliary Geelong Auxiliary Heart to Heart Auxiliary Knox Sherbrooke Auxiliary Kooyong Lawn Tennis Club Auxiliary Pankina Auxiliary Pursuit of Happiness Auxiliary Smiley Auxiliary Southern Rainbows Auxiliary South Western Auxiliary St. Kilda Auxiliary The Archers Auxiliary Wangaratta Auxiliary Young Set @ RCH
TH E ROYA L CHILDREN’S H O SP ITA L AUX IL IA R IES
SUPPORTING
LEADERSHIP & EDUCATION As Australia's leading childrenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s hospital, The Royal Children's Hospital utilises support from these Auxiliaries to help attract the best medical minds, to provide leadership in education and knowledge transfer, and to ensure our practice is both excellent and leading-edge. Providing funding for academic leadership, scholarship and the fostering of academic excellence has immediate impacts. Excellent education programs attract bright trainees and the best clinicians from around Australia and internationally, while also improving retention of staff and the standard of clinical care at RCH for our young patients. Auxiliaries have long recognised the importance of leadership and many provide funding to the RCH for this purpose.
BEADS Auxiliary Raises funds to provide funds for the Rheumatology Unit
Parkville Auxiliary Raises funds to support the Psychology Unit
Brimbank ToRCH Auxiliary Raises funds to support a fellowship position within the Neuroscience Unit
Pelican Auxiliary Helps advance nursing at the RCH by raising funds to assist with post graduate education
Caulfield Auxiliary Raises funds to support a fellowship position with Endocrinology Dame Elisabeth Murdoch Nursing Scholarship Raises funds to provide for the advancement of nursing at the RCH through an annual nursing scholarship Do-Bees Auxiliary Raises funds for the Developmental Medicine Unit to provide a position to assist children with Prader-Willi Syndrome
Special Kids EBC Auxiliary Raises funds for the Developmental Medicine Unit Trailblazers Auxiliary Raises funds for the Developmental Medicine Unit to provide a position to assist children with Prader-Willi Syndrome Waverley Auxiliary Raises funds for the Developmental Medicine Unit to provide for a position to conduct the Mother Goose Program
League of Former Trainees Auxiliary Raises funds to provide for the advancement of nursing at the RCH by providing a nursing scholarship Inverloch Diabetic Unit Auxiliary Raises funds to support Endocrinology with the provision of a Complications Screening Nurse
29 ANNUAL REPORT 2012
SUPPORTING
PATIENT & FAMILY CARE Auxiliaries are often born from personal experience with the hospital itself - so many Auxiliaries have a special connection allowing support for children and families that might ease the difficulty of a long term illness or health problem. There are many different facets to this area of care and support, and they are all devoted to care not only for the child, but for the whole family, and to ensure that the child and family can live as normal-a-life as possible, while receiving medical treatment. The following Auxiliaries help with the care of the children and their families by providing opportunity for growth and independence through camps, therapy programs and other initiatives.
Caring Friends of CF Auxiliary Provides funds to support the families of children with Cystic Fibrosis with meal vouchers whilst they are inpatients Charli’s Angels Auxiliary Raises funds for the provision of pain management and distraction therapy Children’s Flyer Fund Auxiliary Raises funds to support Tasmanian families to allow siblings to visit their brother or sister who is being treated at the hospital Chip In Auxiliary Raises funds for the Chronic Illness Support Program which supports children who will live the rest of their lives with a chronic illness by providing a camp experience and the funding of the quarterly newsletter Comfort for Kids Auxiliary Raises funds for the provision of pain management and distraction therapy Creative Sparks Auxiliary Raises funds for the provision of art therapy for the adolescent ward Dirty Hands Happy Hearts Auxiliary Raises funds for the Garden Therapy Program for children being treated at the hospital and for their siblings Donating Diva’s Young Set Raises funds for the Garden Therapy Program for the children being treated at the hospital
TH E ROYA L CHILDREN’S H O SP ITA L AUX IL IA R IES
Ezy Breathing Auxiliary Raises funds for children with a tracheostomy Heart Throb Auxiliary Raises funds for the Cardiac Camp so that children living with a chronic heart condition
Strokidz Auxiliary Raises funds to support the families of children dealing with the effects of stroke Viva Young Members Raises funds for the provision of pain management and distraction therapy
Hidden Treasures Auxiliary Raises funds for the support of girls living with Turner Syndrome
Wrapped In Love Auxiliary Makes and distributes quilts to patients in the hospital
Let The Children Play Auxiliary Raises funds for the provision of play therapy across the hospital
Yellow Ribbon Kids Auxiliary Raises funds to support the families of children awaiting liver transplant by providing meal vouchers whilst the child is an inpatient
Melbourne Sinfonia Auxiliary Raises funds to support the Music Therapy Progam Music Therapy Auxiliary Raises funds to support the Music Therapy Program Neo Nate Mates Auxiliary Raises funds to support the families of children receiving treatment in the Newborn Intensive Care Unit OARA Raises funds to support the families of children with Oesophageal Atresia in the Newborn Intensive Care Unit Pelican Auxiliary Raises funds to support the provision of art therapy for the adolescent unit
31 ANNUAL REPORT 2012
AUXILIARIES 2012
HOW WE DID IT EVENTS 4 Balls 1 Fun Run 2 Tennis Days 4 Art Shows 1 Dog Show 1 Golf Day 3 Fashion Parades
3 Trivia Nights 1 Shopping Tour 5 Card Days 2 Dinners 10 Luncheons 15 Movie Nights 4 Concerts
MERCHANDISE 20 Merchandise Stalls 1 Pop Up Shop 1 Baby Expo
1 Garden Show 1 Kids Day Out 50,000 Tote Bags
SCRUBS 1203 Nurses Scrubs
TRADITIONAL ACTIVITIES 450 Stalls 48 Raffles 1 Paddy’s Market 1 Andy’s Market
GIFT SHOP 3,808 Hours Worked in the Gift Shop
TH E ROYA L CHILDREN’S H O SP ITA L AUX IL IA R IES
20 Cuppa for Kids 1 Made By Us Market 1 Wood Day Weekend 1 Swimathon 3 Christmas Markets
STORIES FROM THE
AUXILIARIES & OUR HOSPITAL; PAST PRESENT & FUTURE
33 ANNUAL REPORT 2012
THE VISIONARY
MARY GUTHRIE The Royal Children’s Hospital Auxiliaries have a unique and iconic heritage. Much has been achieved by their members over the past 90 years, since their inception and the days of Miss Mary Guthrie. Mary Guthrie was one of the fundamental cogs of the RCH for the first three decades of the 20th century. The daughter of a grazier, Mary was born in 1860 in East Melbourne. Her grandmother had been transported to Australia for horse stealing at the age of thirteen and went on to become the most successful business woman of early New South Wales. Mary inherited her grandmother’s business acumen and was honorary treasurer of the hospital from 1908 to 1930. During this time she was dedicated to the protection and improvement of the hospital’s financial position. On the 26th February 1920, Mary suggested that a Ladies Work Association should be formed “for the purpose of supplying articles for this hospital.” She asked each of her fellow committee members to invite five or six ladies to form groups in their communities. Committee members from Kew, Essendon, Toorak, Black Rock, St Kilda and Malvern volunteered to call meetings to start auxiliaries and
these meetings were held in July and August 1922. Forty members attended the first meeting at Malvern which was addressed by senior hospital staff, demonstrating the importance placed on the success of the auxiliaries. The most urgent need stated at that meeting was for “flannelette nightgowns and red flannel jackets”. The second meeting was attended by 33 subscribers and it was then decided to hold a big meeting in the town hall. By the end of August the section had already made 63 nightgowns, 186 bibs, 15 dressing jackets, 20 knitted singlets, 72 flannel vests and six woollen jackets. Miss Guthrie visited several local schools including Lauriston and Toorak College on behalf of the auxiliary soliciting help. The committee of management established a central council to co-ordinate the activities of the auxiliaries, with Mary Guthrie as the first president. By the time the auxiliaries presented their first annual report in July 1923, sections had also been established in Beaumaris, Fitzroy, and Hawthorn. The main activity of the auxiliaries was making articles such as bandages, nightgowns, bed jackets, pillowcases and sheets, but they also gave donations of eggs, soap, sugar, medicine bottles, toys
TH E ROYA L CHILDREN’S H O SP ITA L AUX IL IA R IES
and books. The report calculated the saving to the hospital in the first year of the auxiliaries was £1914 6s 7d which, according to the Reserve Bank of Australia, would equate to $136,474.22 today. Mary Guthrie’s careful management kept the hospital’s finances in good shape through difficult years of the First World War and the Depression, but her forty years of devotion to the hospital are best remembered by the continuing strength of The Royal Children’s Hospital’s Auxiliaries.
BEYOND LIMITS
AINSLEY FAUST BEYOND SIGHT AUXILIARY
Ainsley Faust is A working mother of four - including twins. She holds down a full-time job and is also President of Beyond Sight Auxiliary.
suggested we did a dinner/dance to raise the funds.” “We had invited nearly five hundred people, but the week before the luncheon I took a phone call from an
Her journey began when her son Lochie was four months old. As a parent she knew that something wasn’t right: “He had a bit of a lazy eye but he also had the ‘white eye reflex’, where we would take a photo and he had one red eye, one white eye. I took my camera to be fixed! But by the time he was eight months old, it was very prominent. Lochie was diagnosed with a retinoblastoma – a tumour of early childhood affecting the retina in the eye. About one in seventeen thousand babies a year are born with it.“
elderly lady. She said she wanted to donate the money for the Retcam - I couldn’t talk! I couldn’t accept her money knowing that we had invited all of these people, so instead she made up the difference.” In early 2012, Beyond Sight held a Swimathon, where 120 swimmers
young children, what would you say to them? “Go for it! It opens your eyes to a lot of generosity that you don’t see in every day life. It’s certainly made me a better person. I have made some really good friends in here - it would be wonderful too to see some younger Auxiliary members. People may not have as many hours in the day but the needs are even greater than they were in our parents/grandparents generation. Just go for it, you won’t regret it”.
covered over 696 kms over 24 hours to raise funds. The money raised - approximately $15,000 - will be used to fund an interactive website and educational DVD for newly diagnosed families: Ainsley says “Often, the first questions
Ainsley set up Beyond Sight Auxiliary along with other parents whose children had been diagnosed with retinoblastoma. The first thing they did was try to raise $175,000 in order to purchase a ‘Retcam’ – a retinal digital camera for the Opthalmology Department. (At that stage there was only one in the whole of Australia).
parents ask are: ‘are they going to be
“We were all working parents, so we set about trying to work out how to raise the most amount of money with the least amount of work. We sat down with the Auxiliary office who
will be used to report on overseas
picked on? What are they going to look like? Are they going to be able to drive?’ This DVD tries to put parents’ minds at rest in some way - these are normal kids.” The next thing on Beyond Sight’s wish list is a state of the art laptop which findings regarding retinoblastoma kids. If there was someone thinking about joining an Auxiliary, possibly with
35 ANNUAL REPORT 2012
LARCH AUXILIARY
FORGING AHEAD WITH RESEARCH LARCH supports the Haematology/Oncology Department by raising funds for research and offering support to staff and families.
centre that provides a high level of
Cancer is becoming even more complex as time goes on and more information comes to light. There is a need to develop sub-specialisation of paediatric cancer services to keep pace with the increasing complexity of modern children’s cancer care. This requires greater organisation and specialised care. So in order to address this challenge, LARCH has recently funded a Project Manager for the Children’s Cancer Centre (CCC) at The Royal Children’s Hospital. Claudia McCarthy is President of LARCH:
Last year, an Infectious Diseases Fellow
“The Project Manager position coincided with the movement to the new hospital. Part of their work is to create streams based in disease types or tumour groups and be much more focused on each stream, so the department is effective as it possibly can be.”
Fellow appointment was incredibly
The role was offered to Leonie Harrison who says: “The Project Manager position comes on board during a period of exciting change for the Children’s Cancer Centre. One of my main roles will be to assist the CCC to develop its strategic plan to outline the way forward and lay the foundation for a
TH E ROYA L CHILDREN’S H O SP ITA L AUX IL IA R IES
quality, safety, expertise and the very latest in quality cancer treatment for the children in its care.”
spent a year in the Children’s Cancer Centre and assisted them with a better understanding of infectious diseases. A by-product of this resulted in a credit card sized information card that meant the CCC kids could be identified if they were admitted to any emergency department across the state. The card entitles them to be fast tracked through the system. Claudia McCarthy added “Hearing the result of the Infectious Diseases positive for us – infection is such a critical part of the care of children with cancer. My own daughter suffered one of her worst experiences through infection and this is exactly why we are here; to improve the outcome for children with cancer. “You like to feel as though you are improving things. As a parent, you see your own child go through it and you witness all of the challenges – all you want is for it to go away. You have an understanding of the suffering that children go through. It’s little steps, and it makes us all feel involved and that we’re heading towards the eventual
goal of making sure every child with cancer is cured.” Other research projects funded by LARCH in the last financial year include the RCH Dieticians Nutrition Service Model for patients of the Children’s Cancer Centre. This study has already resulted in the development of dietary information programs for all newly diagnosed patients. Other studies have shown that optimum nutrition can assist with the effectiveness of treatment for childhood cancer. It is the hope of the researchers that their findings will result in the continued funding of dietetic advice being more readily available to all children who receive treatment for childhood cancer.
amazing fundraisers and donors - The Lotus Dinner, run by Lynne Marchesani and the Lotus Dinner committee raised $102,000 for LARCH. LARCH also received donations from the proceeds of sales at the Yering Station gallery and the Yering Station Sculpture Exhibition, the annual LARCH trivia night which is being held on the 27th October and the Run for LARCH as part of the Age ‘Run Melbourne’ which took place on the 15th July.
LARCH have also recently committed funds to a physiotherapy study looking at the occurrence and treatment of peripheral neuropathy, one of the side effects of Vincristine, a drug commonly used to treat leukaemia in children. Finally, LARCH’s Samaritan Fund continues to be used by Social Work for patients and families to cover the cost of expenses incurred by frequent and lengthy hospital admissions. Constant use of this fund demonstrates a genuine need that is not covered by other organisations. Funds have been achieved this year through the hard work and dedication of members of LARCH and their
37 ANNUAL REPORT 2012
WAVERLEY AUXILIARY
MORE THAN ONE MOTHER GOOSE In 1967 a group of Mothers in the Waverley area, whose children had attended The Royal Children’s Hospital, received a letter from the Auxiliaries of the Hospital inviting them to a meeting to discuss starting an Auxiliary.
expressive language – this was
very successful concert put on by the
presented at a conference in Brisbane.
Melbourne Singers, with guest artists.
Michele Spreckley is Manager of Uncle Bob’s Child Development
So what does being a member of
Centre, who run the Mother Goose
Waverley Auxiliary mean to those who
Program:
are involved?
Since its inception, Waverley Auxiliary
“Waverley Auxiliary is very important
Beth tells us:
has supported the Developmental
to us - they have financed us from the
Medicine, and it was through this
beginning and every year they come
department that they were introduced
“Knowing that we are making a
back and tell us they are doing it
difference to children - particularly
again, which is wonderful.”
those who are treated under the
to the Mother Goose Program. This amazing program aims to provide coping and bonding tools for disad-
Department of Developmental “Their support means we have the best
Medicine - is so important to us. We
suffering from post-natal depression.
people to work on this program – they
have found over the years that we
enable the best human resources,
have had a lot of personal contact
The program, which is aural and
rather than equipment. We support
requires no reading skills, has been
with members of the department which
these mums out in the community – we
funded by Waverley Auxiliary since
has been great, and gives you a first
teach families nursery rhymes and
hand look at what they are doing and
story-telling because these families
achieving. The social side of things is
are more isolated from their extended
another wonderful part of it.”
vantaged families, including mothers
it started in 2004. This year, the Auxiliary raised $15,000 to pay for two staff members to run the program, which is offered, free-of-charge,
families. It is extremely useful in that
through Maternal and Child Health
it is open to the whole community,
Centres in Flemington, Brunswick and
including vulnerable families who may
Ascot Vale.
have children with additional needs.”
The Mother Goose program helps
Some highlights of Waverley
parents in understanding their child’s additional needs. Recently, a three-year evaluation
Auxiliary’s last twelve months include the annual Spring Fashion Parade which was once again very
proved that the program is achieving
successful, with over 200 guests in
great results and that the children
attendance. The Football Raffle raised
involved have gained skills in
over $11,000 and there was a
TH E ROYA L CHILDREN’S H O SP ITA L AUX IL IA R IES
Over the past eight years, Waverley Auxiliary has raised a total of $90,000 in support of the Mother Goose program, and since 1967 they have raised a grand total of $492,105.
GEELONG AUXILIARY
EQUIPPING THE RCH Geelong Auxiliary was founded in 1976 and has supported a variety of different areas in the hospital over the past three decades, including the Short Stay Unit and Neurology.
contribute to cardiovascular disease in later life.
Funds raised by the Auxiliary have just purchased a Vascular Endoscopy with the money they have raised over the past three years. Their purchase before that was for transport trollies.
“The funds have been used to purchase a portable echocardiography and vascular ultrasound system. We have used the equipment in a number of studies to assess both heart and blood vessel function. Perhaps of particular relevance is the assessment of children in the Barwon Infant Study. The Heart Research Group at the Murdoch Childrens Research Institute have been collaborating with Dr Peter Vuillermin, the lead researcher in this study. The study will add to our knowledge of the early childhood factors influencing the development of cardiovascular disease.”
Gwen Bromley is president of Geelong Auxiliary: “We have an extremely dedicated and passionate team - we like to buy equipment for the hospital so that we can see something for the money raised.” This year, Geelong has chosen to donate $116, 587 to the Cardiology department for a Portable Echocardiography and Vascular Ultrasound machine. This machine will be used in a study of children who were born prematurely and have now reached adulthood. As there is much data to support the profound effect of in utero, perinatal and also early development on later cardiovascular health, this area of medicine is extremely important. The ability to examine young and at risk children will greatly increase understanding of the factors which
Associate Professor Michael Cheung is the Director of the Department of Cardiology at the RCH:
Fundraising events over the last twelve months have included a Cuppa for Kids high tea, a very successful movie night, monthly craft stalls in the foyer of The Royal Children’s Hospital, and an annual Christmas raffle. All funds raised by Geelong Auxiliary are used to acquire the latest technology and equipment on the hospital’s wish list.
39 ANNUAL REPORT 2012
OARA
A GLOWING OARA Laura Overdyk and Olivia Giudice are two young mums with a big mission. Laura is a teacher and has two children of six and four years old. Liv is an internal audit manager and has three children under the age of four. They are also President and Secretary, respectively, of OARA – the Oesophageal Atresia Research Auxiliary. Both have daughters with the condition and both have lived the nightmare-ish journey of parenting a sick child. Babies with Oesophageal Atresia (OA) are born with their oesophagus (foodpipe) disconnected from the stomach – the foodpipe ends in a blind pouch. Quite often the baby may also suffer from a tracheo-oesophageal Fistula (TOF), where a section of the baby’s trachea (windpipe) is abnormally connected to the oesophagus as well. There are often additional complications on top of this including defects to the spine, heart, kidneys and other organs. If a baby has at least three of these, they have VATER Syndrome. Liv first knew that there was something wrong with her daughter, Madeleine, just a couple of hours after she was born – Liv and her husband had no idea that anything was wrong up until this point as everything looked normal at the twenty week scan. Maddy had
TH E ROYA L CHILDREN’S H O SP ITA L AUX IL IA R IES
surgery the following day and was lucky that her upper pouch was close to her stomach, so the surgeons were able to close the gap in a straight forward manner. However, that ‘gap’ is often bigger than in Maddy’s case, and in those cases the medical team has to wait for the oesophagus to grow so they can operate at a later stage. During this time period, the child needs to be tube fed and sometimes is sedated – this is what happened to Laura’s daughter, Kaytie who is now six years old. Sometimes the gap can be so large that oesophageal replacement methods need to be used. In 2010, Laura attended the first ever International Oesophageal Atresia Conference in France: In terms of genetic factors, they have discovered a variety of genes that could be associated with OA but they are also associated with other conditions such as Downs syndrome. It is a condition that has only been survived in the last 50 to 60 years. Liv adds: “One in 3500 babies are born with this condition world-wide which makes OA a relatively rare condition. It is important for OARA to continue forging and maintaining international relationships to be able to share and
participate in important, world-wide research.”
undertake further research as there is still so much we need to know.
Apart from supporting research, OARA provides family and patient support for children with TOF and/or OA. The Auxiliary raises funds but also creates support initiatives themselves - like funding specialist TOF and OA nurses who provide a link from new parents to OARA. They also provide parent packs, including vouchers for equipment hire and information pamphlets outlining the condition. They organize play groups and hold an annual morning tea – this is all part of the support package.
So what does the Auxiliary mean to them?
Laura says: “When the group formed, thirty-two years ago, the question was “why did this happen?” and they needed that question answered, so a lot of money went into research. The result was many research projects that OARA has contributed funds to, one of which was conducted by Mr Spencer Beasley at the RCH, which is still a highly regarded paper across the world. “The Nate Myers database was also created which details all initial patient admissions and treatment and is the biggest in the world for this condition. Papers using data from this database are published and available world-wide. We are still looking for people, however, who are willing to
Liv says: “Parents of today continue to be very busy people and so the time that we do spend volunteering is valuable time. We get to have a real say in what happens at OARA. “We are all volunteers, so it’s nice to know that the effort we are going to is really making a difference. When your child is born with something like OA, you are always thinking, why? What was the cause? It will be a life long question for me.” OARA is the only support group in Australia for families dealing with TOF/OA and another way of moving forward for them is by looking at adults with the condition. They are currently working towards improving the transition from child and teenage care to adult monitoring and care as the condition is a lifelong journey, made somewhat more bearable perhaps by the existence and dedication of the volunteers at OARA.
41 ANNUAL REPORT 2012
ORTHOPAEDICS & THE RCH AUXILIARIES
A LOOK BACK THROUGH HISTORY Few departments have seen greater changes over the last century than orthopaedic surgery, and its work at The Royal Children’s Hospital (RCH) has been supported throughout the years by the hard work and dedication of the Auxiliaries. In the first half of the 20th century, the main purpose of orthopaedic surgery had been treatment of acquired crippling diseases such as polio, but by the 1960’s these had been largely eliminated by immunization and antibiotics. This led to predictions that there would be less need for orthopaedic surgery, but the orthopaedic department of the RCH led the way in defining a new role for paediatric orthopaedics in the treatment of congenital deformities and disabilities, notably spina bifida, cerebral palsy, and congenital dislocation of the hip. During the 1930s, Lady Ella Latham maintained the hospital’s concern for the care and treatment of crippled children as well as the after-care of patients, with the essence of her thinking being summarised in the question she frequently asked: “What happens to the children when they leave the hospital?” In 1935 she founded the Victorian Society for Crippled Children. Soon after, she developed a model rehabilitation centre in the grounds
TH E ROYA L CHILDREN’S H O SP ITA L AUX IL IA R IES
of the orthopaedic section of the Children’s Hospital. In 1934, the Orthopaedians Younger Set was formed to provide funds for this new area of medical assistance – ‘younger sets’ consisted at the time of ‘unmarried, younger women’ who would eventually graduate to which ever Auxiliary they were linked to. This ‘younger set’ contributed to the funds required to build a residential home called the Craft Unit. This unit provided care for adolescent patients who had completed orthopaedic treatment at the hospital and were subsequently released to the unit to be provided with further education, social and personal skills and apprenticeship training. (Until 1974, the Auxiliaries were obliged to place all the funds they raised into one general fund. However, up until this point, the Orthopaedians Younger Set was the one exception to this rule.) Poliomyelitis, or polio, was first reported in Australia in the late nineteenth century. Within a few years, the disease was endemic in the Australian community. There were bigger killers and more common ailments, but the prospects of paralysis and permanent disability were especially terrifying. Major epidemics occurred in the 1930s, 40s and 50s; about 70,000 people were
affected in all and many of these were children. A vaccine for polio reached Australia in 1956 but in 1947, when polio was still creating havoc with young lives, two very important Auxiliaries were created; the Orthopaedic Section Parent’s Association and the Railway Employees Orthopaedic Hospital Auxiliary. The latter was formed by Jake Attrill, whose daughter contracted polio during the 1939 epidemic. Jake moved his family to Melbourne for Betty’s treatment and started working at the Railway’s workshop at Newport. He very quickly engaged his co-workers to form an Auxiliary – five thousand railway employees, including the Commissioner of Railways, gave a percentage of their pay packet weekly or fortnightly. In 1982 Jake Attrill was awarded an MBE for his services to disabled children. In 1970 the Orthopaedic Research Unit commenced – this unit is now part of Developmental Medicine and looks after children with conditions beyond the original orthopaedic focus. In 1961 the Staff Auxiliary, comprising of administration staff from the hospital, formed to raise funds for the rapidly developing treatment profile that the new RCH would offer when it opened its doors. Many Auxiliary members, throughout the years, gave their time to go and visit the Frankston/Mt.
Eliza Orthopaedic Hospitals to read to the children and provide them with friendship as their families could only visit spasmodically. The Mount Eliza Orthopaedic Hospital closed as a children’s hospital in 1972. In the mid-nineties, Professor Kerr Graham was recruited from the UK to be Professor of Orthopaedic Surgery at the University of Melbourne and was responsible for establishing the Hugh Williamson Gait Laboratory at the RCH. The laboratory enabled the tracking and assessment of a child’s walking ability via video camera digitalisation. The gait laboratory was the first in Australia specifically for children and has become one of the most important recent developments in orthopaedics at the RCH.
throughout the 1990’s and 2000’s and the Bones and Co Auxiliary also support orthopaedic treatment at the RCH.
Professor Graham’s seminal paper on the use of botulinum toxin (botox) for patients with cerebral palsy was published in 1994 - this intervention is now considered a standard treatment option for this condition in most of the developed world. Today, the following Auxiliaries continue the work started all those years ago, to assist children requiring orthopaedic treatment: Do-Bees Auxiliary Trailblazers Auxiliary Waverley Auxiliary The Ultimate Challenge Auxiliary supported Developmental Medicine
43 ANNUAL REPORT 2012
MARY MCGOWAN
THE ABIDING PRESENCE Mary McGowan has the ability to envelop you in a cosy bubble when you are talking to her – she exudes warmth and security. This is something that may have been acquired through her experience of working with children with cancer, but you sense that this is an implicit part of her character. Considering everything she has seen in her time at The Royal Children’s Hospital, you would forgive her for being somewhat ‘detached’, but this is not the case here. Mary is devoted to ‘her kids’; the many brave children fighting cancer. The Children’s Cancer Centre (CCC) Community Liaison Officer has worked at the hospital for 33 years, initially as a nurse in the CCC. Mary helps families at their time of need, often above and beyond the call of duty. She spends hundreds of unpaid hours raising funds for her programs by working closely with Auxiliaries like CIKA and LARCH, as well as fundraising groups like My Room. Mary grew up in Mohill, Ireland - she was the fourth of ten children and quickly displayed the McGowan spirit possessed by the rest of the clan. But Mary wanted more than her small village could provide, so, after finishing a nursing course in Dublin specialising in paediatrics, she travelled to Australia by herself, telling
her family It would be a short working visit - two years at most. Thirty-three years later, she is still here, and no one can remember a time when her stable presence has not been felt on the cancer ward at the RCH. Mary has seen enough pain and suffering to last several lifetimes, but no matter what happens in the centre, she is always there, to offer support to staff and families alike. So what are the greatest changes that Mary has witnessed? “When I started here the cure rate was 35% and now it is 75% - 80% which can be put down to research, new protocols and new ancillary support – psycho social support, emotional support or financial support to help families – we could not do it without them. “From a nursing point of view, central lines have made a huge difference, and an anti-nausea drug called, Ondansetron. “In the early days the doctors and researchers needed seed funding to start their research and that is where the Auxiliaries came in – they have been absolutely vital. “When I first started here, LARCH existed but CIKA did not. LARCH have a petty cash fund overseen by the social workers – for the family
TH E ROYA L CHILDREN’S H O SP ITA L AUX IL IA R IES
who might have been really struggling this month and had to pay their gas bill. That is just an amazing thing to do. It isn’t a small thing, it isn’t – I see the emotion in their faces. Even if their pride is standing in the way of accepting it, but there are ways around that! “LARCH members also worked with McDonald’s head office and the RCH Executive on developing Ronald McDonald house, Parkville, which has made an incredible difference to families.“ Mary still provides unending support to the Auxiliaries by attending meetings and helping them to organise some of their functions. Mary won the Chairman’s Medal (formerly President’s) in 1993, the Victorian White Flame award in 1998 - in recognition of people and all they do for children and was also awarded the Victorian Pride of Australia award in 2004. In spite of the recognition of the continuing dedication, commitment and support that Mary has given to the RCH, an ever present humility and gratitude continues to exude from her when she remarks with absolute sincerity: “I’ve had a sensational life”. She insists she is one of many helping sick children, and is “a bit embarrassed” to be singled out. “It’s to
give something back to society,” she said. “You don’t do these things alone
motivates us, she inspires us and she is one extraordinary woman.”
-- you couldn’t do it without the support
Claudia McCarthy is president of
of great people around you.” Families
LARCH
are so drawn to Mary, most stay in touch long after leaving the hospital.
fundraising; who we are doing it
“Mary has been an intricate part of CIKA since its inception in 1980. In the 15 years that I have been involved with CIKA, Mary has been there for us, organising volunteers and product for our annual Ball and supporting us in other fundraising activities. She will always offer herself to be in attendance to help and ensure smooth running of the event. Mary has vast experience with many groups within RCH and therefore her expertise is second to none. If you need a contact, just ask Mary. She has dedicated her life to the RCH, specifically childhood cancer and we value and appreciate her knowledge, help and friendship. She has been an inspiration to the CIKA members and we can always rely on her even when she has been unwell. We thank you Mary with all our hearts.”
for and why it needs to be done,
Bernie Dawson, CIKA
Linda Pizzari lost her son Mark in 1991: “We still continue to have contact with Mary as she is very much a part of our family and always will be because we know that her special work and dedication with all the families is very real.” And there are many more: “Mary is an incredibly dedicated and passionate advocate for the improved care of children with cancer. Her honest and good-humored approach, her intent on getting things right and remembering the true goal of
are never forgotten. Seeing Mary in action at fundraising events is awe inspiring. She becomes the source of all information, the one person who always keeps on top of what needs to be done and when. Mary attends almost all LARCH meetings and her advice on every topic is invaluable. Mary is the essential link between the CCC and the wider community. She
“Mary has been an amazing person in many ways and someone whom I love dearly. Mary was around at the RCH when my son was diagnosed with Leukemia in 1985. Over the 5 years during treatment she was always there and always told you the truth. Since then I have known Mary as an incredibly important person to LARCH. She has the answers and ideas when
we need them and comes to most of our meetings. She is this same person to so many people and drives us all to help make the children’s lives better. She is an incredible asset to the CCC and to RCH and I feel totally honoured to know her and consider her one of the best people in my life. She has had her own challenges over the years but never complains or gives up. Mary is truly a person we can all look up to and only hope to emulate.” Chrissie Boulter, LARCH “She always supports us, above and beyond the call of duty – not just with LARCH but with anything to do the CCC. Her expertise, sense of humour, compassion, empathy, knowledge, contacts …. She is amazing and wonderful.” Emma Bridgeman, LARCH Asked how Mary does it, she says: “I only do what I do because I have great friends and work place colleagues to support me, and not forgetting the great Auxiliary members who are sensational supports and friends to me.”
45 ANNUAL REPORT 2012
COMFORTING KIDS AT THE RCH
LISA TAKACS
DAME ELISABETH MURDOCH SCHOLARSHIP
The Dame Elisabeth Murdoch Nursing Development Scholarship offers a unique opportunity for an outstanding Royal Children’s Hospital (RCH) nurse to further develop their career, while helping the RCH achieve its vision of being a “great children’s hospital”. The scholarship funds a period of time spent abroad exploring new ways of developing practice and may also include some kind of study program as well. Lisa Takacs was chosen as the recipient of the Dame Elizabeth Murdoch Scholarship in 2010. Born in Canada, Lisa graduated with a Diploma in Nursing and worked as a Clinical Nurse at the Hospital for Sick Children in Toronto until 2000 when Lisa combined her passion for travels and moved to London, England. Here she worked for Great Ormond Street Hospital in the Cardiac Intensive Care Unit, and in 2003, perusing a dream of learning to surf, she moved to Melbourne and started her employment at The Royal Children’s Hospital in the Paediatric Intensive Care Program. Why did you apply for the scholarship? Lisa Takacs: “We started our procedural pain management program, Comfort Kids, seven
years ago off the back of a pain review done in 2000. There was an outstanding number of comments made about the distress, anxiety and pain associated with procedures and tests for the child. Staff members were also finding it difficult. So a procedural pain steering committee was put together to create some concepts and ideas about how to try and improve the overall experience of being in hospital, and I was employed as a project officer. “The program was launched starting with an improved sedation program and access to distraction products, such as interactive books, stress balls and other toys. Now, we have about 85 treatment rooms in the hospital and they all have distraction boxes which are restocked by the Comfort Kids program. It’s a great improvement. “At the same time as the RCH was undertaking Comfort Kids, there were programs and similar concepts being developed in the USA and Canada regarding procedural pain management - but no others in Australia - so we wanted to see if we were heading in the right direction, internationally. We needed to exchange ideas, swap feedback and then bring everything back to the RCH and implement the world’s best practice. “In Chicago, I attended a ‘Child Life Conference’, specifically focused
TH E ROYA L CHILDREN’S H O SP ITA L AUX IL IA R IES
on the hospitalized child and how programs and tools were developed to help children and families navigate in a stressful environment. We saw a huge spotlight on a group of pain management specialists from Ann Arbor, Michigan, who developed a program called the ‘Poke Plan’, focusing on blood work and IV. “We heard everything they had developed including the challenges and benefits of setting up this hospital wide program. I subsequently followed them back to their hospital in Michigan to observe their program and witness what worked and what didn’t. We also shared some of our Comfort Kids concepts including the presentation of the family and adolescent survey data; it was a rewarding and reciprocal process. “I then travelled onwards to Minneapolis and attended the ’Paediatric Sedation Course’ which is currently only available in the USA. This particular course is highly sought after and gives participants skills that our patients really benefit from here at the RCH. I was one of four nurses who gained a spot on that and became formally credentialed on behalf of the RCH. This course used a combination of theoretical sessions and simulation-based training. This model of learning allowed me insight into where we can take our own RCH
Procedural Sedation Program and education of staff in the future.
local pain relief and the use of sucrose to minimize distress, pain and anxiety.
“The simulation centre that is currently being developed at RCH will have great value in what we are trying to do. You can theoretically teach what might happen in a sedation event e.g. such as managing a side effect; however, in a simulation centre using a “dummy” you can cause a side effect to happen, allowing the staff to use problem based thinking to triage, assess and react to a particular sedation event.
What we have learned from my travels overseas has been, and will continue to be, integrated into the program. We also now benefit from a more extensive international network where we can bounce ideas off each other. These are important networks that will provide the platform for future research and knowledge sharing.
It is hugely beneficial for staff to use simulation opportunities in a safe and supportive environment. The simulation program enables people to critique methods, to watch processes closely and to ask the important questions. As you can imagine, these are scenarios that you cannot replicate while working with actual patients. So what happened upon your return to the RCH? “We put our findings into planning and practice. Firstly, we will be able to integrate a simulation based sedation training program in the future. “Secondly, we validated that RCH is leading the way in terms of introducing hospital wide concepts such as distraction box program, topical and
so it reflects a commitment to nursing development and research. “The ongoing training and development of an individual nurse has an impact for greater good in the hospital.” It also has knock on effects - some of the nurses who apply for the scholarship are in positions where they educate, teach and interface with the community.
Our aim is to empower our staff at the RCH to give the best possible care and to always minimise pain and distress, where possible, before, during and after any child’s experience here. Research shows that a child will often say; ‘yes, that was distressing and hard, but that nurse made it better because he or she helped me engage in a book or prepared me for what was happening’. This is what we are after. We are trying to help patients manage anxiety, fears and some of their discomfort. How does the DEM Scholarship help the RCH staff, patients and the community? “This is an exceptionally rare scholarship. People during my travels were so impressed by the scholarship being offered to nursing. I think centres, like the RCH, are much more progressive through the Auxiliaries setting up this scholarship and in doing
47 ANNUAL REPORT 2012
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ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS AWARDS & RESULTS
49 ANNUAL REPORT 2012
MADGE TATE
SERVICE AWARD Established in 1994, the Madge Tate Service Award is named after the late Madge Tate who was a member of Croydon Auxiliary from 1932 until her passing in 1992. The award is a means of recognising dedicated and extraordinary service to the Auxiliaries. For many of those years, Mrs Tate served as either President or Secretary of the Croydon Auxiliary, overcoming obstacles of distance, family commitments and, at times, ill health, to make an outstanding sixty year contribution to The Royal Children’s Hospital as a volunteer fundraiser. Congratulations to Margaret Greenwood, Heart to Heart Auxiliary and Cancer In Kids Auxiliary, who is the 2011 recipient.
COMMENDATION TO
MARGARET GREENWOOD Margaret has been a member of the Heart to Heart Auxiliary for the past nineteen years and has also taken up supporting the Cancer in Kids Auxiliary for the past five years. She is affectionately known as the ‘Jam Lady’ - or maybe you know her as ‘Lady Marmalade’! An enormous amount of effort goes on behind the scenes in Margaret and Geoff’s household - all in the name of creating the delicious jams and chutneys for which she is famous. Her work making a wide range of preserves to sell at fundraising stalls has inspired many people to get on
board as part of the process and over the years, Margaret has gathered a network of suppliers and supporters. Some supply fruit and vegetables for her, some obtain preserving jars and others donate fabric for her labelling - all with a view to keeping the cost of production to an absolute minimum.
tempting chutneys have raised over
On any given day, but especially at the end of summer during peak fruit and vegetable harvest time, Margaret and Geoff’s garage becomes a hive of activity. Donations are accepted from far and wide, jars are scrubbed and sterilised, fruit sorted and cooked, and bottled up for sale at many different fundraising stalls.
of supporters and donors who all
Margaret’s delectable jams and
TH E ROYA L CHILDREN’S H O SP ITA L AUX IL IA R IES
$100,000 for the hospital over the past nineteen years – an incredible achievement. Along with the impressive amount of funds raised, Margaret is also very proud and grateful for the support of her husband and family, and her wonderful team work together so effectively. As they say, many hands make light work and many team members making small contributions can create great results, and this is how it works with Margaret, Geoff and their group of supporters.
LONG SERVICE AWARDS 2012 45 YEARS
30 YEARS
25 YEARS
Mrs Marj Evans Waverley Auxiliary
Mr Graham Blight LARCH
Mrs Ann Rathbone LARCH
Mrs Marion Crawford Wangaratta Auxiliary
Mrs Betty Lane American Women’s Auxiliary
Mrs June Box LARCH
Mr Doug Rathbone LARCH
Mrs Thelma Adair Wangaratta Auxiliary
Mr Bernie Dunn LARCH
Ms Helen Moon Waverley Auxiliary
Ms Wendy O’Meara Wangaratta Auxiliary
Mrs Dot Dunn LARCH
Mrs Lee Purkiss Waverley Auxiliary
Mrs Ann Sanderson Wangaratta Auxiliary
Ms Robyn Riseley CasKids Auxiliary
Ms Cheryl Kline LARCH
Ms Margaret Hand South Western Auxiliary
Mrs Pat Stolp Geelong Auxiliary
Ms Dorothy Timmerman Waverley Auxiliary
Mrs Sadie Richie LARCH
Ms Judy Conn South Western Auxiliary
20 YEARS
Mr Keith Thomas LARCH
Ms Mary McGowan Cancer In Kids Auxiliary
Mrs Hazel Thomas LARCH
Ms Leanne Bartlett South Western Auxiliary
Ms Betty West LARCH
Mrs Mary Ellen Deveson American Women’s Auxiliary
Ms Elizabeth Wilson Waverley Auxiliary
40 YEARS
Ms Barbara Bourke South Western Auxiliary Mrs Phyll Hill Geelong Auxiliary
35 YEARS Mr Rob Gosbell LARCH Mrs Bev Gosbell LARCH Mrs Margot Lord LARCH Mr Graeme Love LARCH Mrs Barbara Love LARCH Mrs Carol Blight LARCH
Ms Mary Hyland South Western Auxiliary Mrs Dorothy Boyle Geelong Auxiliary Mrs Mary Ann Payne American Women’s Auxiliary
Mrs Faye Love Cancer In Kids Auxiliary Ms June Campbell Broadmeadows Auxiliary Ms Christine McRae LARCH Mrs Marie Baulch LARCH
Mrs Elizabeth (Betty) Kropack Auxiliary Women’s Auxiliary
Mr David Webb Cancer In Kids Auxiliary
Mr John Hooper LARCH
Ms Gael Holliday Heart to Heart Auxiliary
Mrs Phyl Hooper LARCH
Ms Noel Smith Heart to Heart Auxiliary
Mrs Janice Memery Broadmeadows Auxiliary
51 ANNUAL REPORT 2012
15 YEARS Mrs Julie Casilli Cancer In Kids Auxiliary Mr Sam Casilli Cancer In Kids Auxiliary Mrs Bernie Dawson Cancer In Kids Auxiliary Mr Jim Dawson Cancer In Kids Auxiliary Mr Marcus Williams Heart Throb Auxiliary Ms Marie Di Falco Heart Throb Auxiliary Mrs Denise Daday American Women’s Auxiliary Ms Joan Davies Geelong Auxiliary Ms Una Mullen Geelong Auxiliary Ms Amanda Williams Heart Throb Auxiliary Ms Lauren Tabone Broadmeadows Auxiliary
10 YEARS Mrs Sandra Lehrer Cancer In Kids Auxiliary Mr Steve Lehrer Cancer In Kids Auxiliary
Mr Michael Love Cancer In Kids Auxiliary
Ms Dorothy Gow Footscray/Yarraville
Mrs Lynne Marchesani LARCH
Mr Mario Lopreiato LARCH
Ms Bev Wilson Geelong Auxiliary
Mr Felich Savaad LARCH
Ms Claudia McCarthy LARCH
Ms Dulcie Cedaro Heart to Heart Auxiliary
Mr Jamie Seeger LARCH
Mrs Fay Seamons Caulfield Auxiliary
Ms Sharon Hyne Music Therapy Auxiliary
Mrs Rose Stolarek LARCH
Ms Veronika Raabe Caulfield Auxiliary
Mrs Heather Bindon Music Therapy Auxiliary
Ms Gael Anderson LARCH
Mrs Margery Schreppel Waverley Auxiliary
Ms Ann Clark South Western Auxiliary
Ms Christine Boulter LARCH
Ms Judy Shanahan South Western Auxiliary
Ms Jenny Wade Geelong Auxiliary
Mrs Emma Bridgeman LARCH
Mrs Sue Taplin Cancer In Kids Auxiliary Mr Ted Taplin Cancer In Kids Auxiliary Ms Isabel Foote Wangaratta Auxiliary Ms Joy Watson South Western Auxiliary Mr Les Grigg Broadmeadows Auxiliary Ms Julie Hamson LARCH Mrs Ellen Webb Cancer In Kids Auxiliary
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5 YEARS
Mrs Paula Lienert LARCH
Mrs Colleen Clift Cancer In Kids Auxiliary
Mrs Merrole Ryall Waverley Auxiliary
Mr David Clift Cancer In Kids Auxiliary
Ms Trish Thomas Courage for Kids Young Set
Mr Andrew Duyvestyn Cancer In Kids Auxiliary
Mrs Cynthia Hawkins American Women’s Auxiliary
Mrs Christine Duyvestyn Cancer In Kids Auxiliary Mrs Tina Marantelli LARCH Mr Adrian Marchesani LARCH
Ms Gwen Bromley Geelong Auxiliary Mrs Kaye Tankand Heart Throb Auxiliary Mr Ray Robins Heart Throb Auxiliary
LIVING TREASURES No organisation is quite like The Royal Children’s Hospital Auxiliaries – their unique heritage transcends not only Victoria, but the entire country. Much has been achieved by its members over the past 90 years. Who could have know that from humble beginnings in 1922, the Auxiliaries would have flourished through wars, multiple governments, bush fires, floods, the swinging sixties, the turn of a new century and all that our changing society has witnessed? Every generation, from our founding members onwards, has contributed to the success of our beloved children’s hospital. The hospital would not be what it is today without the Auxiliary members’ dedication, and their unfailing tradition of giving. We are extremely proud to honour our ‘Living Treasures’. These are Auxiliary members who have devoted themselves to our common goal, and made an exceptional contribution. The Living Treasures are the embodiment of the highly respected and valued institution that the Auxiliaries are today, and their presence ensures that our future is bright. The Auxiliaries are a very precious jewel in the crown of The Royal Children’s Hospital, Melbourne. We are extremely proud to announce the following Auxiliary members, who are to be inducted as our newest Living Treasures in 2011/2012. LIVING TREASURES inductees for 2012 Brenda Aisbett Roxburgh Park Auxiliary Aggie Coyle Southern Rainbows Auxiliary Marjery Schreppel Waverley Auxiliary Maria De Poi Heart to Heart Auxiliary Dawn Bredin Waverley Auxiliary Marion Crawford Wangaratta Auxiliary Tony Hubbard PremBubs Auxiliary Glenice Gardner Roxburgh Park Auxiliary Raelene Trotter Templestowe Auxiliary Joan Layet Kooyong Lawn Tennis Club Auxiliary Caroline Hill Kooyong Lawn Tennis Club Auxiliary Glenda Fraser Templestowe Auxiliary
HAPPY ANNIVERSARY To our Auxiliaries celebrating milestone years, we congratulate and thank you for your continued dedication to the patients, families and staff of The Royal Children’s Hospital. 90 YEARS St. Kilda Auxiliary 80 YEARS Caulfield Auxiliary 45 YEARS Broadmeadows Auxiliary CasKids Auxiliary Pankina Auxiliary Southern Rainbows Auxiliary Waverley Auxiliary 35 YEARS Knox Sherbrooke Auxiliary Wangaratta Auxiliary
53 ANNUAL REPORT 2012
THE RCH AUXILIARIES
OUR TEAM ABC Auxiliary Founded: 1998 Convenor: Jenny Perry Absent Friends Auxiliary Founded: 2010 President: Lyn Lewis Secretary: John Lewis Treasurer: Pam Aitken American Founded: President: Secretary: Treasurer:
Women’s Auxiliary 1931 Anne Marie Johnston Annie Do Cindy Hawkins
BEADS Auxiliary Founded: 2012 President: Jasmine Lai Secretary: Gayle Cusick Treasurer: Giuliana Strafonda Beyond Sight Auxiliary Founded: 2001 Convenor: Ainsley Faust Bones & Co. Auxiliary Founded: 2001 Convenor: Helen Kilpatrick Brimbank Founded: President: Secretary: Treasurer:
ToRCH Auxiliary 2003 Justin Moore Briar Sinclair Cameron Petricevic
Broadmeadows Auxiliary Founded: 1967 President: Janice Memery Secretary: June Campbell Treasurer: Dani Tabone
Cancer In Kids Auxiliary Founded: 1980 President: Sandra Lehrer Secretary: Bernie Dawson Treasurer: Steve Halligan Caring Friends of CF Auxiliary Founded: 2006 President: Julie Dance Treasurer: Daryl Gunn Caroline Auxiliary Founded: 1951 Convenor: Ecila Engler CasKids Auxiliary Founded: 1967 President: Bev Baltissen Secretary: Robyn Anderson Treasurer: Denise Mudie Caulfield Auxiliary Founded: 1932 President: Pat Piper Secretary: Barbara McIntyre Treasurer: Jillian Drysdale Charli’s Angels Auxiliary Founded: 2004 President: Alison Orum Secretary: Alison Orum Treasurer: Sue Hawking Chip In Auxiliary Founded: 2003 President: Jess O’Dowd Secretary: Jenny Balnaves Treasurer: Jess O’Dowd
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Courage for Kids Young Set Founded: 2006 Convenor: Michelle Olinder CPR Auxiliary Founded: 2000 President: Annette Dibattista Secretary: Carole Bosward Treasurer: Lou Bosward Creative Sparks Auxiliary Founded: 2011 President: Robyn Sherer Secretary: Jamie Sherer Treasurer: Chalice de Kock Cystic Fibrosis Research Trust Auxiliary Founded: 1999 President: Peter Hader Secretary: Silvia Pozzuto Treasurer: Leo Vargiu Dirty Hands Happy Hearts Auxiliary Founded: 2003 Convenor: Julie Robinson Donating Founded: President: Secretary: Treasurer:
Diva’s Young Set 2007 Judith Robinson Olivia Glazner Claire Robinson
Do-Bees Auxiliary Founded: 2006 President: Doris Tatman Secretary: Beryl Reeves Treasurer: Peter Tatman
Dorothy Waters Auxiliary Founded: 2004 President: Jill Mellon Robertson Ezy Breathing Auxiliary Founded: 2006 President: Emma Mercer Secretary: Heather Leudi Footscray Yarraville Juniors Auxiliary Founded: 1960 President: Shirley Jenkins Secretary: Margaret Plowright Treasurer: Margaret McPherson Geelong Auxiliary Founded: 1976 President: Gwen Bromley Secretary: Jan Wapling Treasurer: Thais McCallum HAUX Founded: 2001 Convenor: Liz Bishop Heart to Heart Auxiliary Founded: 1989 President: Phyl Brown Louisa Edmonds Secretary: Val Wright Treasurer: Mary Richardson Heart Throb Auxiliary Founded: 1994 President: Rhonda Robins Secretary: Jenny Gordon Treasurer: Bernadette Trombetta
Hidden Treasures Auxiliary Founded: 2005 President: Marie Karamesinis Secretary: Margie Hill Treasurer: Alison Fairbank
Let The Children Play Auxiliary Founded: 1995 President: Rosalie Panasewycz Secretary: Natasha Tocknell Treasurer: Bohdan Panasewycz
Inverloch Diabetic Unit Auxiliary Founded: 2000 President: Kerrie Beauglehall
Melbourne Sinfonia Auxiliary Founded: 2004 President: David Halstead Secretary: Bronwyn Hewitt Treasurer: Tony Alexander
Knox Sherbrooke Auxiliary Founded: 1977 President: Gaye Forster Secretary: Lesley Goodall Treasurer: Lyn Elshaw Kooyong Lawn Tennis Club Auxiliary Founded: 1938 President: Marie Devereux Secretary: Caroline Hill Treasurer: Carmel Quinn LARCH Founded: President: Secretary: Treasurer:
1974 Claudia McCarthy Emma Bridgeman Christine McRae
League of Former Trainees Auxiliary Founded: 2003 President: Lyn Skinner Secretary: Sally Mazrahi Treasurer: Rose Siecris
Music Therapy Auxiliary Founded: 1993 President: Barbara Dun Secretary: Adele Gaudion Treasurer: Ron Gaudion Neo Nate Founded: President: Treasurer:
Mates Auxiliary 2005 Judy Aussems Jane Stumpf
Oesophageal Atresia Research Auxiliary Founded: 1980 President: Laura Overdyk Secretary: Olivia Guidice Treasurer: Greg Overdyk Pankina Auxiliary Founded: 1967 President: Doreen West Secretary: Margot Ferguson Treasurer: Margot Ferguson Parkville Auxiliary Founded: 1946 President: Bev Noonan Secretary: Jill Harrison Treasurer: Marilyn McInnes
55 ANNUAL REPORT 2012
>>
THE RCH AUXILIARIES
OUR TEAM CONTINUED >> PremBubs Auxiliary Founded: 2006 Convenors: Irene Hubbard Tony Hubbard Steve Hubbard Pursuit of Happiness Auxiliary Founded: 2011 President: Leanne Marshall Secretary: Joanne Sheldrick Treasurer: Kylie Short Roxburgh Founded: President: Secretary: Treasurer:
Park Auxiliary 2004 Brenda Aisbett Glenice Gardner Wendy Hancock
Smiley Auxiliary Founded: 2005 Convenors: Margaret Ash Joan Courtney South Western Auxiliary Founded: 1953 President: Margaret Hand Secretary: Judy Conn Treasurer: Leanne Bartlett Southern Rainbows Auxiliary Founded: 1967 Convenor: Aggie Coyle Special Kids EBC Auxiliary Founded: 2012 President: Lisa Rogers
St. Kilda Auxiliary Founded: 1922 Convenor: Mavis Pope Strokidz Auxiliary Founded: 2006 President: Darren Kohne Secretary: Susie DiPalma Treasurer: Darren Kohne Templestowe Auxiliary Founded: 1939 President: Anne Peter Budge Secretary: Betty King Treasurer: Raelene Trotter The Archers Auxiliary Founded: 2004 President: Dianne Humphreys Trailblazers Auxiliary Founded: 2005 President: Anne McGeary Treasurer: Gloria Strang Viva Young Members Founded: 2000 President: Alex Lowen Secretary: Jaime Broersen Treasurer: Waverley Founded: President: Secretary: Treasurer:
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Auxiliary 1967 Kath Walker Marjery Schreppel Beth Trebilcock
Wangaratta Auxiliary Founded: 1977 President: Joan Armstrong Secretary: Dawn Anderson Treasurer: Pat Griffin Wrapped In Love Auxiliary Founded: 2004 President: Marie Lee Secretary: Ros Brown Yellow Ribbon Kids Auxiliary Founded: 2001 President: Jacqui Callil Treasurer: Nick Callil Young Set @ RCH Founded: 2006 President: Nicole Haddon
THE RCH AUXILIARIES
VALE
Our auxiliaries were saddened by the passing of a number of valued members during the year. Our deepest sympathies are extended to their family and friends.
Dorothy Blackie
(Templestowe)
Sue Reeve
(Geelong)
Sheila Wilkinson
(Geelong)
Mr Hans Colla
(LARCH)
Betty Bengtsson
(Heart to Heart)
Irene Allen
(AWA)
Tursa Vance
(Roxburgh Park)
Betty Lewis
(Auxiliaries President 1978 - 1982)
Florrie Heldson
(Pankina)
Gwen Smith
(Pankina)
Val Thomas
(Broadmeadows)
Glenys Bell
(Geelong)
Loris King
(Ivanhoe)
Mary Hyland
(South Western)
Mary Goodenough
(AWA)
57 ANNUAL REPORT 2012
THE RCH AUXILIARY
2012 RESULTS ABC Auxiliary
$991.85
Absent Friends Auxiliary
$5,874.25
American Women’s Auxiliary
$4,254.95
Archers Auxiliary
$1,724.78
Beyond Sight Auxiliary
$1,312.20
Bones & Co Auxiliary
$51.82
Brimbank Torch Auxiliary
$10,235.08
Broadmeadows Auxiliary
$8,239.60
Cancer In Kids Auxiliary
$203,426.40
Caring Friends of CF Auxiliary $24,015.87 Caroline Auxiliary
$17,922.57
CasKids Auxiliary
$20,444.85
Caulfield Auxiliary Charli’s Angels Auxiliary
$2,861.96 $10,070.88
Children’s Flyer Fund Auxiliary
$1,261.06
Chip In Auxiliary
$2,991.91
Christmas Cards
$10,874.02
Comfort for Kids Auxiliary Courage 4 Kids Young Set
$483.98 $1,290.98
CPR Auxiliary $5,613.00 Creative Sparks Auxiliary Cuppa for Kids Cystic Fibrosis Research Trust Auxiliary Dirty Hands Happy Hearts Auxiliary
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$700.00 $14,965.53 $175,434.98 $977.98
THE RCH AUXILIARY
2012 RESULTS Do-Bees Auxiliary
$16,565.40
Donating Divas Young Set
$618.71
Dorothy Waters Auxiliary
$541.75
Ezy Breathing Auxiliary
$1,890.38
Footscray Yarraville Juniors Auxiliary
$4,942.75
Full o Beans Auxiliary $169.45 Geelong Auxiliary
$25,345.76
HAUX $2,068.92 Heart Throb Auxiliary
$27,790.86
Heart to Heart Auxiliary
$32,156.37
Hidden Treasures Auxiliary
$1,038.08
Inverloch Auxiliary
$45,730.84
Knox Sherbrooke Auxiliary
$16,687.10
Kooyong Lawn Tennis Club Auxiliary
$20,825.54
LARCH $133,292.81 League of Former Trainees Auxiliary $279.70 Let The Children Play Auxiliary
$12,185.06
Melbourne Sinfonia Auxiliary
$201.83
Mumâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Kids Auxiliary
$582.15
Music Therapy Auxiliary NeoNate Mates Auxiliary
$17,460.13 $5,351.08
OARA $3,254.73 Opera Buffs Auxiliary Pankina Auxiliary
$133,644.30 $27,369.94
>> 59 ANNUAL REPORT 2012
THE RCH AUXILIARY
2012 RESULTS >> Parkville Auxiliary
$12,082.61
Pelican Auxiliary $1,341.73 Phillip Island Auxiliary Prem Bubs Auxiliary Roxburgh Park Auxiliary
$150.00 $41, 616.00 $22,187.99
Scrubs $47,376.25 Smiley Auxiliary
$16,610.39
South Western Auxiliary
$26,942.33
Southern Rainbows Auxiliary
$3,070.49
St. Kilda Auxiliary
$8,480.42
Strokidz Auxiliary
$7,169.54
Templestowe Auxiliary
$45,391.95
Trailblazers Auxiliary
$24,481.76
Viva Young Members
$5,726.52
Wangaratta Auxiliary
$7,000.00
Waverley Auxiliary
$35,054.04
Willy Seagulls Auxiliary
$3,765.23
Yellow Ribbon Kids Auxiliary
$3,944.55
Young Set Auxiliary
Thank you for a wonderful year of fundraising.
TH E ROYA L CHILDRENâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S H O SP ITA L AUX IL IA R IES
$700.00
61 ANNUAL REPORT 2012
AU X I L I A R I E S T E A M Sue Hunt Executive Director sue.hunt@rch.org.au Debbie Shiell Community Development Manager debbie.shiell@rch.org.au Stephanie Zappala Bryant Communications Manager stephanie.zappalabryant@rch.org.au Sue Manson Auxiliaries Coordinator sue.manson@rch.org.au Lisa Addison Community Development Event Coordinator lisa.addison@rch.org.au Mima Seldon Publications Coordinator mima.seldon@rch.org.au Stacey Brown (up to April 2012) Communications Coordinator Ellie Pateras Donor Development Coordinator ellie.pateras@rch.org.au Laurel-Leigh Lawson Auxiliaries and Community Liaison laurel-leigh.lawson@rch.org.au Janelle Holden Auxiliaries Assistant janelle.holden@rch.org.au Pranav Kaushal Accounts Coordinator pranav.kaushal@rch.org.au
TH E ROYA L CHILDRENâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S H O SP ITA L AUX IL IA R IES
TH E ROYA L C HI L D R E Nâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S HOS P I TA L F OUND AT I ON 50 Flemington Road Parkville Vic 3052 03 9345 5037 rchfoundation.org.au/auxiliaries auxiliaries.office@rch.org.au Connect with our community of Auxiliary members, donors, patients and families online. Our newsletter, facebook, twitter and blog give you relevant updates, inspiring stories and news about health, research and events. Subscribe to our newsletter at: rchfoundation.org.au Join the conversation on twitter: @rch_foundation Read our blog: rchfoundation.tumblr.com Connect with us on Facebook: facebook.com/royalchildrenshospitalfoundation
Words: Sue Manson, Mima Seldon, Stephanie Zappala Bryant Design: Patrick Baker, Egg Creative Proofing: Doris Tatman
T HE ROYA L CHI LD RE N ’S HOS P ITAL AU XIL I ARIE S
rchfoundation.org.au/auxiliaries ANNUAL RE P O RT 201 2