By Deanne Jeffers
FOLLOWING a successful community memorial event, GV Hospice Care has hosted its tireless volunteers for morning tea to give thanks to their work as part of National Volunteer Week.
“The reputation that we’ve had, not just in the community but nationally, about being number one about three years ago of the best palliative care service of 72 around the nation,” said Jeanette Powell management committee president. “Without you as volunteers, we couldn’t do what we do because we wouldn’t have the funds.”
GV Hospice community engagement and volunteer co-ordinator Maree Chin, said that volunteers contributed 2,000 hours in the October to December quarter last year, amounting to 8,000 volunteer hours each year.
Maree said, “That is equivalent to four and a half full-time jobs, so that’s a lot of money, so all of that good will is fantastic. It really helps us to do the work that we do.”
Long-serving volunteer Valerie Gibbs was acknowledged at the Volunteer Week morning tea for 17 years of service to GV Hospice Care. She will continue to help the palliative care organisation through volunteering with her church and assisting with getting hampers to clients.
Val said, “You really do get more back than what you give when you volunteer,” and that her ethos throughout her life has been that “If something needs to be done, we just do it, and get it done.”
Valerie joined in 2007 as a client care volunteer and specialised in palliative care for children based on her own experience working with children with disabilities as a teacher.
“That is a really unique area of expertise, and we are really grateful for the work that you did there with those families and the children,” said Ms Powell, thanking Val for her contributions.
Friends of Hospice provided the morning tea and bouquets and table arrangements were contributed by Shepparton Access.
