With three of its original members still involved after 38 years as a fundraising group, the Yackandandah Health Ladies’ Auxiliary will hang up its aprons and put away its raffle books next week.
The group has raised more than $100,000 just in the last 20 years, funding such items as furniture, furnishings and medical equipment.
CEO, Annette Nuck said many dedicated women had worked hard to support Yackandandah Health through the years.
“But special mention needs to be made of Pam Smith, Helen Kelley and Mona Saunders who had all been involved since 1981.
“Our current group of women are now in their 80s and continued to make a large contribution even last year, holding a stall and raffling a Christmas cake at our Community Celebration in November. They are real workers and have supported many in our community through the years,” Ms Nuck said.
The Ladies’ Auxiliary members will be officially thanked and the group wound-up after their last meeting on Tuesday, 30 April.
“The financial contribution they have made is incredible. When we renovated the residents’ dining room in 2013, they donated $12,000 for furniture and in 2017 they provided $8,500 to set up the resident library. In the past, they bought baby cots for the women’s clinic and infant bed warmers, so they really have supported people in this town through all stages of their lives,” Ms Nuck said.
Records show a social group was formed in the 1960s, however during this time there were only references to social gatherings, not specific fundraising efforts.
In the early days of fundraising, activities included a Mardi Gras dinner/dance, golf days, over 40’s footy match, cops and robbers bowls and sponsored bike rides. More recently the Ladies’ Auxiliary did more catering for events such as Devonshire teas at open gardens and the annual fete where they also sold cakes, slices and jams.
“Their baking has always been sought after by our community and will be sadly missed,” Ms Nuck said.
Local women including Delray Simpfendorfer, Vera Otten and Edna Jackson (all deceased) formed the Ladies’ Auxiliary in 1981. Current members include Pam Smith, Helen Kelley, Mona Saunders, Sonia Wolf, Pat Muller, Alison Nichols and Lyn Cameron. Many others have been involved through the years and will be thanked at Tuesday’s afternoon tea.
As a parting gift, the Auxiliary will fund the establishment of emergency accommodation for the community by furnishing one of Yackandandah Health’s apartments for this purpose. Yackandandah Health has commissioned a painting which captures the history of the Ladies’ Auxiliary. It will be unveiled at the afternoon tea event.