North Eastern Regional Representative Dee Hunter (standing) with Lorraine Edmondson, Adele McKinnon, Heather Hardwick and Helen Mears at the conference dinner.
Our UHA branches shine at state conference
Nov 03, 2022The 89th State Conference of the United Hospital Auxiliaries of NSW was held in Bankstown last week, and attended by 150 delegates from throughout NSW, including seven UHA members from the Mid North Coast.
The hospital volunteers were thrilled to get together at last; this being their first conference in three years due to the 2020 and 2021 events being cancelled because of COVID-19.
The Honourable Margaret Beazley AO KC, Governor of NSW and Patron of the UHA, attended, along with Co-patron and husband Mr Dennis Wilson. Her Excellency gave an inspiring address centred on the conference theme, ‘Together we can do so much’.
The total dollar amount of equipment gifted to NSW public hospitals and health facilities by the UHA during 2021/2022 was $2,326,097.90.
The amazing effort of the North Eastern region totalled $373,678.47 during a year where volunteer activities were severely impacted due to the pandemic response.
Of special note at the conference were branches that raised more than $500 net per member – Bellingen Hospital and Pink Ladies Hospital Auxiliary, BowraMacksville Hospital Auxiliary, Coffs Harbour Pink Ladies and Wauchope District Memorial Hospital Volunteers.
Representing Bellingen UHA branch were President Deb Anderson and Life Member recipient Irene Chesterman, BowraMacksville was represented by President Lorraine Edmondson and Treasurer Dee Hunter, who is also the North Eastern Regional Representative for the UHA, and Coffs Harbour was represented by President Helen Mears, Vice-president Adele McKinnon and Secretary Heather Hardwick.
Ms Mears was also presented with the 2021 Honor Bell for most money raised gross by a country auxiliary and the Frances Gavel OAM Trophy for the most money raised net by a country auxiliary in NSW.
For more images from the conference, please click on the photo below and scroll through the library.
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- Deb Anderson of Bellingen UHA branch, Lorraine Edmondson of BowraMacksville UHA branch and Heather Hardwick of Coffs Harbour Pink Ladies with their branch citations for raising more than $500 per member.
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- Coffs Harbour Pink Ladies President Helen Mears with the Honor Bell and Frances Gavel OAM Trophy for the most money raised by a country auxiliary.
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- Deb Anderson and Irene Chesterman of Bellingen UHA branch enjoy their trip to Sydney as delegates at the 89th State Conference of the UHA.