November 8, 2023
A morning tea was held at Murgon Hospital on Wednesday to thank the Murgon Hospital Auxiliary – and a string of local community groups – for their generous support over the past two years.
The Auxiliary has been leading campaigns (and running raffles) to raise funds for two heart monitors for use at the hospital as well as a self-propelled retrieval trolley.
The trolley, which is used to transfer seriously ill patients from the hospital to the medevac helipad, was unveiled at the morning tea.
Cheryl Dennien, manager of operational services at Murgon Hospital, said the trolley was making the transfer process more comfortable for both patients and staff.
“It’s battery operated. Staff just have to steer,” she said.
Paul Kemp, from South Burnett Security and Traffic Control, made a $25,000 donation towards the trolley in memory of his brother Bruce who died in a road traffic crash at Wondai several years ago.
Bruce formerly provided security at Murgon Hospital and the trolley bears a plaque in his memory.
Murgon Services Club also made generous donations towards the fundraising, including $32,000 for a heart monitor and $27,000 for furnishing the Community Health building, which was opened in the refurbished nurses’ quarters in 2022.
Murgon Services Club secretary Cynthia Hatchett said the club wanted to help the community.
“We also donate $10,000 every year to LifeFlight and also to the Royal Flying Doctor Service,” she said.
Other groups to support the Auxiliary’s fundraising included Murgon and Wondai Lions Clubs, Murgon Rotary, Murgon Apex and the Goomeri Chrome Bumpers car club.
Chrome Bumpers president Rob Goodchild presented $1000 cheques to both Auxiliary president Muriel Schultz and to Cassie Grentell, from the LifeFlight Foundation.
Muriel said the generosity of the people of the South Burnett had been “overwhelming”.
She said the response when the call went out to raise funds for the two heart monitors had been unbelievable.
Over the past 27 years, about $300,000 has been raised by the Auxiliary to support Murgon Hospital.
Darling Downs Health Cluster Director Of Nursing for the South Burnett, Sharon Shelswell, thanked the community of Murgon and the surrounding areas for their generosity in supporting the fundraising initiatives.
“The community spirit in this area is second to none,” she said.
