Yarrawonga Health and Helping Hands are engaging in an ambitious year-long fundraising project to further enhance care for the community with the purchase of essential equipment and furnishings for the new theatre and main entrance project. Launching the Community Heart Appeal this week is Yarrawonga Health's representatives Bec Coll, Jo Spence, CEO Robin Haberecht and Lisa Coggar.
Yarrawonga Health and Helping Hands are engaging in an ambitious year-long fundraising project to enhance care and patient facilities for the community.
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The Community Heart Appeal aims to support the purchase of essential equipment and furnishings for the theatre and main entrance to complement the ongoing capital redevelopment project.
Yarrawonga Health Chief Executive Officer Yarrawonga Robin Haberecht said the entire community has always shown great generosity in supporting various fundraising initiatives for our local health service
"The Community Heart Appeal is calling on that generosity to further enhance care for our patients and community,” Ms Haberecht said.
"The completion of this major project will enable additional surgeries closer to home, broaden employment opportunities, and improve access to acute and urgent care services.
“This project is essential to meet the demands of our expanding cross-border population and is an acknowledgment of our growth in the region."
The Community Heart Appeal was officially launched by Yarrawonga Health staff on Wednesday.
Yarrawonga Health is moving forward with the major $10.8 million theatre capital redevelopment project. The project will include a state-of-the-art operating theatre, sterilising department, and revamped main entrance and reception, which will complement the existing health services.
David Rokesky, Yarrawonga Health Board Chair, said the Victorian Government has demonstrated its commitment to supporting health service growth in the local community by funding this project’s capital build.
“This funding acknowledges both the growing population and the influx of tourists, which places increasing demands on the health service,” Mr Rokesy said.
The community members is encouraged to donate funds from various activities as part of the Community Heart Appeal.
"There will be various ways for our community to engage in the Community Heart Appeal’s activities and contribute to this important project," he explains.
"People may wish to make personal contributions or help purchase items from our “Shopping List”, which will be distributed across the community in the coming weeks."
Yarrawonga Health’s Community Engagement Manager Jo Spence said the wish list includes items such as an operating table, an anaesthetic machine, recovery beds, recliner chairs, a portable ventilator, an additional defibrillator, a blanket warmer, hospital-grade furnishing and even landscaping.
“Businesses, organisations or even families can choose to donate towards buying one item.
“Our Community Heart Appeal sub-committee has many ideas including hosting our own events. Organisations may even choose to register their own event with us with the intention to donate funds towards the appeal,” Ms Spence explained.
Along with the official launch of the Community Heart Appeal on Wednesday, September 4, there will also be a barometer started to keep the community updated on the progress.
“We invite everyone to engage in the Community Heart Appeal with us, consider donations, or find other forms of support and activities to aid our fundraising efforts," Ms Haberecht added.
Ms Haberecht also explained that funds raised will be “strictly quarantined” for use only toward the appeal and its “wish list for the enhancement of care”.
“Funds will not be used in any other way but tied to support this appeal, and in the meantime, nothing will change in our ability to maintain services for our community while the build is still ongoing.
“By coming together, Yarrawonga Health and Helping Hands hope to make a lasting impact on the community’s health services, ensuring better care and facilities for everyone.”
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