Auxiliarated All Over Spring 2013 Message from Robyn Anderson Dear Auxiliary members,
feedback from that day and believe those of you who attended had a lovely time. The ambiance of the Myer Mural Hall, the flowers (specially created by AEC
I have had the privilege of attending several Annual
member Rhonda Robins), the table settings with the
General Meetings of Auxiliaries since March of this year.
special gifts and the Annual Report all combined to
For your interest they were AWA (American Women’s
give a positive vibe to the room and the day. This was
Association), Wangaratta, Music Therapy, LARCH,
the last AGM to be held out of the hospital. In 2014 we
Parkville and Warrnambool. The thing that struck me
will be returning ‘home’ to the Ella Latham Theatre and
was that each and every one of you is focussed on the
a more formal meeting followed by guest speakers
same thing and that is supporting the sick kids, their
from the hospital.
families and the doctors at the Royal Children’s Hospital. I am humbled and amazed by all the stories which stem from each Auxiliary and how you operate and raise your funds. Until you are in my position, you are unaware of the really lovely people who form these Auxiliaries and the friendships which have evolved from the common bond they share. I would like to acknowledge the contribution of the members on the Auxiliaries Executive Committee. It is my pleasure to welcome Tiffany Lucas, the President of the AWA as a general Auxiliary member of this committee. This now makes the team complete. We thank Tiffany for agreeing to be on the Executive Committee and we look forward to working with her. We are intending to divide the Auxiliaries geographically so that each group has an AEC representative who is on hand to attend special events, AGMs or sadly, funerals of our beloved members. I will also attend many of these events. We hope by having the Executive Committee members more involved that we will support Auxiliaries who do not necessarily come into the hospital and therefore do not get acquainted with their supporters. I am keen to visit Auxiliaries who are struggling for any reason or who need help with administration or in any other way. We are here to help
I believe Auxiliaries are in a good space now. We have the specialised team at the Foundation office that is always helpful and supportive if we need advice, help with event planning or communications. In fact, we have never been in such a strong position with the staff on hand to assist us, so we are very grateful to Executive Director, Sue Hunt, for listening and hearing our requests for ongoing support. We are strongly supported by Craig Wright, Auxiliaries Coordinator, and the Auxiliary staff Amanda Caldwell and Caroline Duffield. Laurel Leigh is now on maternity leave and we eagerly await the news of the birth of her baby boy. It is a wonderful time of your life becoming a mother and many of us can relate to this wonderful experience. We are grateful to Laurel Leigh for her work as an Auxiliaries Assistant over the past four years and for her loyal support to Auxiliary members and the Auxiliaries Executive Committee. As we move towards our busiest time of the year please keep in mind why we do what we do. If you need any help, support or advice then contact Craig Wright or myself.
you not only to survive but to grow in confidence and
Thank you everyone for your fantastic fundraising, for
in membership.
your friendship and for your wealth of experience. We
As you know, our Annual General Meeting was held on Saturday 27 August. I have heard much positive
are a unique group of people who make a huge difference to the lives of many and you should all feel very proud. 1
I leave you with this little story -
THE HISTORY OF APRONS I don't think our kids know what an apron is. The principle use of Grandma's apron was to protect the dress underneath, because she only had a few, it was easier to wash aprons than dresses and they used less material, but along with that, it served as a potholder for removing hot pans from the oven. It was wonderful for drying children's tears, and on
From the garden, it carried all sorts of vegetables. After the peas had been shelled, it carried out the hulls. In the spring, the apron was used to bring in apples that had fallen from the trees. When unexpected company drove up the road, it was surprising how much furniture that old apron could dust in a matter of seconds. When dinner was ready, Grandma walked out onto the porch, waved her apron, and the men knew it was time
occasion, was even used for cleaning dirty ears.
to come in from the fields to dinner.
From the chicken coop, the apron was used for carrying
It will be a long time before someone invents
eggs, fussy chicks, and sometimes half-hatched eggs to
something that will; replace that 'old-time apron' that
be finished in the warming oven.
served so many purposes.
When company came, those aprons were ideal hiding
I think of this story when I see so many of us wearing
places for shy kids.
our aprons on stalls, at the Melbourne International
And when the weather was cold, Grandma wrapped it
Markets at the RCH.
around her arms. Those big old aprons wiped many a perspiring brow,
Flower and Garden Show, Paddy’s, Andy’s and Winter
Robyn Anderson President of Auxiliaries
bent over the hot wood stove. Chips and kindling wood were brought into the kitchen in that apron.
Contents Message from Robyn Anderson.................................................................................................................................................................................1 Auxiliaries Annual General Meeting .........................................................................................................................................................................3 Waverley Auxiliary Annual Footy Raffle ..................................................................................................................................................................4 New Auxiliaries ..................................................................................................................................................................................................................4 Dame Elisabeth Murdoch Lunch 2014 .....................................................................................................................................................................4 Thank you from Carole Lowen Dates for your diary
2
Auxiliaries Annual General Meeting On 27 July The Royal Children’s Hospital Auxiliaries held their 2013 AGM in the Myer Mural Hall. Being a venue that is absolutely stunning and perfect for an event of this nature, attendees were charmed by Janet Borg performing on her Harp. Following a formal Welcome to Country the President’s Report was given by President Robyn Anderson which was followed by both the Patrons Report and also a tribute to Carole Lowen by Louise Gourlay OAM. Ms Lowen then gave the Past Presidents final report.
Noonan, gave a vote of thanks to Ms Brown and all Auxiliary members. Bill Gordon of the AEC introduced the guest speaker, Lisa Vale, from the Occupational Therapy Department (OT) who spoke on her area of expertise and the incredible staff who support her and the patients within the OT team. Ruth Murray, from the AEC, thanked Ms Vale for her presentation. Craig Wright Auxiliaries Coordinator
During this time all were enjoying the attendee’s gifts of a boxed coffee cup, a book mark, a handmade rose, an RCH tote bag – plus the inclusion of an Auxiliaries Annual Report. Peter Yates, The Royal Children’s Hospital Foundation Chairman, presented his report followed by the Executive Directors Report, delivered by Sue Hunt. Kerrie Beauglehall of the Inverloch Auxiliary presented Craig Wright, Auxiliaries Coordinator, with a cheque for $50,000 from the Inverloch Ball which was held earlier in the year. The cheque presentation was then followed by Mr Wright presenting the Auxiliary Coordinators report. A highlight of the presentation was the Madge Tate Service Award for 2013. Phyl Brown was recognised with the highest award that can be given by the Auxiliaries for her efforts in the following areas:
Foundation and Committee member of Heart to Heart Auxiliary for 26 years
President of Heart to Heart Auxiliary for 17 years
Organising bus tours, raffles, stalls
Broadmeadows Expo
Sales of RCH Christmas cards
Theatre lunches
Cuppa for Kids
Member of the Living Treasures
Team Award Achievement for the Splints Department
Ms Brown has also been a member of the RCH Volunteer program for 34 years. Members of Ms Brown’s family attended the Auxiliary AGM to share the day with her. Deputy President, Bev 3
Waverley Auxiliary Annual Footy Raffle With the football season over for another year so is the Annual Waverley Auxiliary Football raffle. The Waverley football raffle made $10,000 this year, selling over 10,000 tickets for the highly prized
was held at St Joseph’s School in Hawthorn with an inaugural meeting being held shortly afterwards. This new Auxiliary has started off with 22 new members joining our overall numbers. All of whom are young parents and we are hopeful that the above mentioned newly formed Auxiliaries will be the start of many new Auxiliaries to come for the future.
footballs.
Dame Elisabeth Murdoch Lunch 2014
The raffle has now been going for over 15 years. It was
The Dame Elisabeth Murdoch Lunch Committee for
previously run by the Ultimate Challenge Auxiliary with
2014 has been formed and has met several times. The
the baton handed over to the Waverley Auxiliary in
next meeting is Tuesday 19th November. Jan Spooner
recent years. Kath Walker and Beth Trebilcock start
DGSJ has kindly offered to assist us once again and has
work in January sourcing the signed footballs to be
been appointed as the Chair of the Committee for the
ready for the raffle. The hospital is a buzz in July with
lunch in 2014.
patients, families and staff buying up big in the hope of winning a signed football from their favourite football team.
Ms Spooner is at present organising a guest speaker and that will be announced shortly. The lunch will occur late March 2014. The Dame Elisabeth Murdoch Lunch is the main fundraiser for the Dame Elisabeth Murdoch Nursing Scholarship for the RCH. This scholarship is the highest value scholarship awarded by the hospital and is made available annually to an RCH nurse who has given their own time to either research or development of a new modality of care. The scholarship allows the recipient to travel overseas to study and gain additional knowledge. Each recipient then develops an education program for the RCH and also makes this information available
Picture: Kath Walker with a winning ticket holder.
New Auxiliaries We are so very pleased to be able to announce that we have had growth in the Auxiliary network during the past 6 months. Having been present when the Werribee Ladies for Kids Auxiliary Constitution was signed and followed shortly afterwards with the Cancer Crusaders Auxiliary constitution being signed. Both of these newly formed Auxiliaries were created from membership of current Auxiliaries with new members to generate a healthy increase in our membership base. More recently Bev Noonan from the AEC was instrumental in driving the formation of the newly formed Hawthorn Auxiliary; this Auxiliary was started from interest generated at a Cuppa for Kids event that
abroad thus continuing and enhancing the world class reputation of the RCH. The Dame Elisabeth Murdoch Lunch held in March 2013 was a huge success raising over $82,000 in total for the Dame Elisabeth Murdoch Nursing Scholarship. This amount was made possible by the support and donations from our amazing supporters, friends, family and business colleagues. The nominations for the 2013 Nursing Scholarships were sent out recently and the subsequent interviews with the successful candidates were held in late October. Robyn Anderson, President of Auxiliaries, Craig Wright, Auxiliaries Coordinator, and Sue Hunt, Executive Director, were on the panel with Bernadette Twomey, Executive Director, Nursing Services RCH and Fiona Newall, Director Nursing Research RCH. The winning candidate will be announced very soon. 4
Thank you from Carole Lowen
To Robyn Anderson, President, the Executive Committee, Craig, Laurel Leigh and Amanda in
A big thank you to each and every Auxiliary member
Auxiliaries, Peter Yates, Chairman, Sue Hunt & the
for my exquisite and abundantly flowering camellia, coincidentally named Volunteer which was presented at the wonderful 2013 Auxiliaries AGM.
Foundation, a big thank you for my most memorable farewell at the very special AGM at the magnificent Myer Mural Hall.
When I was negotiating, for two years, with the State
As I said in my report thank you to everyone for the
Government for Certificates of Appreciation for all volunteers in Victoria for the United Nations Year of the Volunteer, I could never have imagined I would be the recipient of such a special camellia named Volunteer! I shall treasure it always.
privilege and honour of being your President, as it has been a wonderful chapter in my life. Carole Lowen Former President
DATES FOR YOUR DIARY More information on all the events below at www.rchfoundation.org.au or contact the Auxiliaries office on 9345 5188 Event
Venue
Date
Geelong Auxiliary Christmas Stall
Market Square Shopping Centre, Geelong
5 ,6 &7 December
Heart to Heart Auxiliary Stall
Lilydale Marketplace Shopping Centre
13 December
Dame Elisabeth Murdoch Lunch
Myer Mural Hall
18 March 2014
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th
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Help us to help you! Ensure your event is promoted to a wider network – complete you Event Notification Form early, and send it to Caroline by email: caroline.duffield@rch.org.au. Get your form from the website or the office. Thanks
AUXILIARIES SUPPORT STAFF CONTACT DETAILS Sue Hunt, Executive Director sue.hunt@rch.org.au | 03 9345 7063
Amanda Caldwell, Auxiliaries Liaison - Administration amanda.caldwell@rch.org.au | 03 9345 4508
Craig Wright, Auxiliaries Coordinator craig.wright@rch.org.au | 03 9345 6491
Ellie Pateras, Donor Development Coordinator ellie.pateras@rch.org.au | 03 9345 7064
Andrew Long, Business Manager andrew.long@rch.org.au | 03 9345 5177
Pranav Kaushal, Accounts Coordinator pranav.kaushal@rch.org.au | 03 9345 7639
Katrina Wilkins, Community Development Manager katrina.wilkins@rch.org.au | 03 9345 5140
Lisette Ogg, Communications & Marketing Coordinator | lisette.ogg@rch.org.au | 03 9345 4746
Jemma Altmeier, Communications Manager jemma.altmeier@rch.org.au | 03 9345 5539
Caitlin Smooker, Design & Publications Coordinator caitlin.smooker@rch.org.au | 03 9345 6700
Caroline Duffield, Auxiliaries Liaison - Events caroline.duffield@rch.org.au | 03 9345 5188
Lucia DiMaio, Reception / Office Administrator lucia.dimaio@rch.org.au | 03 9345 5037
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