FROM people prepared to be on call to help in emergencies to volunteers raising funds for our hospitals, Grant District Council has celebrated individuals and groups dedicated to our community.
The annual National Volunteer Week Morning Tea was held last week at the Port MacDonell Community Complex, with groups represented from across the district, including Tarpeena, Carpenter Rocks and Donovans, in addition to Port MacDonnell residents.
As well as providing a social gathering, awards were handed out at the event for groups demonstrating outstanding volunteer service.
The council nominated groups which were then approved by Premier Steven Marshall and awarded with a plaque for their service.
Tarpeena Cancer Support Group received an award for service to the oncology programs at both Mount Gambier and Penola hospitals.
Founding member Poppy Howe said the group was a great way for Tarpeena people to get together and support each other as well as people with cancer.
“I have lost two children to cancer and I knew I had to do something to help,” she said.
“I decided to start the group to raise money for our region’s hospitals and it just took off from there.
“We have around 12 ladies who attend our meetings where we have afternoon tea and discuss our fundraising plans each week.”
The group has been able to donate an AccuVein machine to the Mount Gambier Hospital, an aquarium for the oncology ward in addition to two specialised mattresses for patients at Penola Hospital.
“We know Tarpeena is only a small town, but we just want to be able to give back and help wherever we can,” Ms Howe said.
Also recognised for their efforts were the Bollywood team which has raised over $50,000 for the upgrade of the Mount Gambier Hospital Renal
Unit.
Maureen Klintberg said the group demonstrated how much power volunteers and the community have.
“A total of 31 hospital staff and community members make up the team and help us raise awareness for kidney health,” she said.
“Our hospital ball raised over $50,000, but our fundraising does not stop there.
“The next project will be the pediatrics and obstetrics wards.
“We aim to gain funding for families and young people and create a holistic approach to healing.”
Ms Klintberg said the team had many fundraisers organised for the future and was grateful for the recognition received.
The Port MacDonnell Community Emergency Response Team was the first service of its kind created in South Australia and the team also received an award at the event.
The team comprises volunteer first responders, located in less populated and more remote areas, who are dispatched at the same time as an ambulance in response to a triple zero call.
They are trained to provide advanced first aid services within their local community and provide immediate care until the ambulance arrives.
The team responds to around 100 emergency situations every year and has successfully intervened in three cardiac arrest situations.
Since the implementation of the Port MacDonnell service, five more have been rolled out across our state.
Grant District Mayor Richard Sage said events like these were an opportunity for all councils to celebrate volunteers in their regions.
“Each year we have around 70 to 80 people in attendance here at Port MacDonnell,” he said.
“It is a great way to recognise how much volunteers do for our community.”
