GIPPSLAND Southern Health Service’s Lyrebird Auxiliary has been giving to the local community for nearly 40 years – and volunteers are asking the community to lend a helping hand.
The auxiliary was formed in 1987, replacing an earlier group that disbanded when its members decided they were too old to continue with the fundraising activities.
A younger group of women in their 40s took on the challenge at the time, but now they are reaching the point where they need to step back and help a new generation of volunteers to step up and support their local hospital.
The youngest auxiliary member is 67, and the oldest is 79, and treasurer Lyndy Elliott says it’s time for some new blood.
“As older members, we’re quite happy to support new and younger members, but we don’t want to stay in the office bearer positions,” Mrs Elliott said.
Mrs Elliott joined the auxiliary in 1990 and has been treasurer for 25 years. President Lyn Yeomans has been in her role for 15 years.
The auxiliary has been reduced from more than 20 to about 15 members and today mostly relies on donation tins in Leongatha and Korumburra shops to raise money, though that is usually limited to $500-$700 a year.
“We haven’t got the people on the ground now to hold big events,” Mrs Elliott said. “We need new blood and want to encourage younger people to come in.”
One of the auxiliary’s biggest jobs was selling the contents of a house that had been bequeathed to the hospital in 2021.
Along with funds raised from other events, the auxiliary has contributed $4000 for SOZO machines for lymphedema sufferers, helped to establish the Dolly Parton imagination library, purchased five trampolines for physiotherapy, televisions, knee rugs, fusion pumps, chemotherapy furniture, mannikins, large wheelchairs, and helped with upgrades to hospital gardens, among other donations.
Individual members also knit soft toys such as trauma teddies for urgent care and bonnets for premature babies.
While Mrs Elliott admits fundraising these days is hard work, she says there is a sense of pride and community spirit from their volunteer contributions.
“Joining and contributing gives people a sense of belonging to a community,” she said. “It’s our hospital. People can’t complain if it doesn’t have things if they’re not prepared to raise funds to help out. I’m not talking about big items – I’m talking about little items like mattresses and comfort items.”
The auxiliary also fosters ongoing friendships. “We still have social catchups. That’s what it’s all about – the camaraderie and friendships that are formed through the auxiliary, plus it’s the people you meet in the community when you’re selling raffle tickets. You get to be known as the hospital auxiliary.”
There’s also the occasional lighter moment. “We came up with the name Lyrebird hospital auxiliary – then someone said `I didn’t know we had a hospital for lyrebirds down here’.
Anyone interested in joining the auxiliary can contact President Lyn Yeomans on 0419 565711 Lynyeomans1@gmail.com or treasurer Lyndy Elliott 0409 623650 or lyngrae@dcsi.net.au.
