‘TOGETHER -WE MAKE A DIFFERENCE’

‘TOGETHER -WE MAKE A DIFFERENCE’
(left to right - Melissa Hopley (President of Riviera Quilts), Ashley Leach (prostate cancer specialist nurse) Simone Wake (oncology nurse), Wendy Whitchurch (Oncology Num), Anthony Kuick (Managing Partner Chemist Warehouse Bairnsdale), Jodie Campain (Cancer nurse Coordinator), Clare Marriot-Smith (President Rotary Club of Bairnsdale Sunrise).

The Rotary Club of Bairnsdale Sunrise, Riviera Quilters and Chemist Warehouse Bairnsdale(Anthony Kuick & all partners) have joined together to provide much needed assistance to Oncology patients at Bairnsdale Regional Health Service (BRHS). “Wendy Whitechurch, head nurse in the Oncology Department at BRHS, was guest speaker at Rotary Sunrise in November and explained that, due to financial constraints within the health budget, the unit was no longer able to provide much needed care bags to new patients.” Rotary Sunrise president, Clare Marriot-Smith explained. “Our Rotary club decided to provide these bags for six months and to investigate ongoing funding and support for the care packs.” Each care bag contains a supply of skin creams, non-scented body wash, mouth washes and other necessary items that help to alleviate any side effects experienced during the patient’s chemotherapy treatment.
Chemist Warehouse Bairnsdale (Anthony Kuick and all partners), has agreed to provide ongoing funding to cover the costs of the bag contents, which will be purchased through BRHS. Riviera Quilters members have started making the bags, from their own or donated fabrics and have also donated a number of beautiful quilts for the use of the oncology patients. The quilts brighten the room as well as lifting the spirits of the patients, who keep the quilts after their
treatment.

Rotary Sunrise extends a huge thank you to all those involved in collaborating to make this happen, and to ensure that these care bags continue to be provided.
“Working together…we make a difference.”