Country club’s helping hand for hospital

Proceeds from the Warragul Country Club and the Community Bank's annual Charity Golf Day were presented to West Gippsland Healthcare Group and Warragul District Specialist School last week.

This is the seventh time the event has been held and saw many community members chip in to help out. The big day started with a dropout Ambrose in teams of four and finished in the drawing of a raffle and auction.

A total of $24,000 was raised and was gratefully accepted by the recipients.

The Charity Golf Day began back in 2015 as a collaboration between the Community Banks of Drouin, Bunyip, Neerim, Trafalgar, Bendigo Bank Warragul, Warragul Country Club and West Gippsland Healthcare Group. In 2018 Warragul Specialist School was added as a recipient.

About $188,000 has been raised since the event started.

Warragul Golf Club women's committee member Jo De Jong said the golf day was a "big success" given the event was coming back after COVID-19.

"Attendees and event sponsors all enjoyed the day with friendly golf competition and healthy bidding. The committee was delighted that a sum of $24,000 raised, given the effect that COVID has had on our community," she said. "We all can't wait for the 2023 event and look forward to continuing to support two wonderful community services."

Healthcare group chief executive officer Dan Weeks said the event was important and the organisation was "really grateful for the support of the club, bank and community."

The group's director of operations Trish O'Kelly said the staff were "blown away" by the generosity of the community, and while there are a number of things on the group's wish list, the funds have been allocated to two specific areas.

The first purchase is an i-STAT machine for the theatre complex, which will be used to provide point of care testing. It will allow clinicians to perform diagnostic blood tests at a patient's bedside. A lifting machine and slings for aged care patients will be other purchases, which will allow a single caregiver to assist residents from a sitting to a standing position.

Ms O'Kelly said items purchased from the funds will ensure a better patient and resident experience.

At the presentation of funds to the West Gippsland Healthcare Group and Warragul Specialist School are (from left): Drouin and District bank manager Rob Hutchinson, Warragul Country Club women’s golf committee member Jo De Jong and Kaye Rollinson, Warragul and District Specialist School’s Alex Hillbrick, assistant principal Alesha Marshall, school representative Ky Blight, Healthcare group board chair Christine Holland, Women’s Golf Committee member Wilma Henshall, Healthcare Group public relations officer Aurelia Schiafone, and Healthcare Group chief executive officer Dan Weeks.