What a team! Incoming executive members Libby Usher and Liz Bennett with the retiring trio of Nita McKnight, Sandra McGuire and Andrey Woodland who, collectively, have given more than 75 years of service to the Dorrigo UHA executive committee.
Dorrigo MPS thanks its volunteers
Jul 27, 2022The Dorrigo branch of the United Hospital Auxiliaries of NSW has a new leadership team for the first time in a decade.
President Sandra McGuire, Secretary Nita McKnight and Treasurer Audrey Woodland retired at the branch’s recent annual general meeting, taking a well-earned rest after a collective 75 years at the helm.
Liz Bennett has taken on the President’s role for 2022-23; Libby Usher is Secretary and Treasurer is Patsy Green.
The branch’s 86th year is destined to be an exciting one with plans already in motion for a high tea fundraiser in Spring.
The past year had been a challenging one for the branch, said outgoing President Sandra McGuire.
COVID-19 precautions had had a significant impact on the branch’s fundraising activities, and yet the volunteers still managed to donate $8649.44 in hospital equipment to Dorrigo Multi Purpose Service.
“I would like to thank members for their patience and support over the past 10 and a half years I have been president,” Mrs McGuire said.
“During this time, we have donated more than $180,000 worth of equipment to the MPS, and with the expertise of our past member Mary Kell organising meetings with Members of Parliament, we were able to receive a grant for an x-ray machine costing $190,000.”
Mrs McGuire also thanked the Dorrigo community for generously supporting the branch’s fundraisers.
The MPS’ Nurse Manager Lynn Forsyth also attended the AGM to thank the volunteers for their hard work.
“We are very grateful for the support you provide to our MPS and our patients,” Ms Forsyth said.
“Our MPS is a well-equipped facility due to the support of the Dorrigo UHA and our community. It’s a partnership that I’m pleased will keep going because it is invaluable to us.
“We are also in awe of the years of service provided by Sandra, Nita and Audrey.”
Service badges were presented to Dawn Hinton (20 years) and Nancye Bain (10 years) by North Eastern Regional Representative Dee Hunter, who also presented a certificate acknowledging volunteer Shirley Freeman’s 80th birthday.
Andrey Woodland marked 20 years as branch treasurer. She joined the UHA’s North Dorrigo branch in 1956, where her mother was branch president. When the branch closed, she took a break before returning the UHA as a member of the Dorrigo branch for the past 25 years.
Nita McKnight joined the Dorrigo branch in 1957 – a remarkable 65 years ago. She was branch president for 23 years, treasurer for nine years and secretary for 13 years.
Their remarkable service will never be forgotten by the Dorrigo Multi Purpose Service team, or the broader Health family on the Mid North Coast.
Shirley Freeman, Dawn Hinton and Nancye Bain with North Eastern Regional Representative Dee Hunter, who presented Shirley with a UHA certificate acknowledging her 80th birthday and 10 and 20-year service badges to Nancey and Dawn.