Without their auxiliary members and volunteers they wouldn’t be able to offer the lifestyle the residents enjoy. 

This month at a special morning tea 15 members of the Elizabeth Gates Auxiliary were honoured for 20 years’ service. 

Three of  the group’s foundation members were also recognised as life members of the group and given a certificate of appreciation for their dedication to the nursing homes. 

A feat that volunteer coordinator Sharon Cox said was rare in nursing homes. 

Staff and residents were there in large numbers to show their appreciation to the group.  

The nursing home based at Singleton Height’s has the most volunteers of any other Uniting Care nursing home. 

Th auxiliary help across the whole complex not just at Elizabeth Gates.

The auxiliary have been around for over 30 years and support by helping to organise the major fundraisers at Elizabeth Gates, the fete and the ball and since 2006 have raised $94,000 for the village. 

“This funding creates more beds, better lifters and anything we need that we can’t meet in the budget,” Mrs Cox said. 

“The auxiliary also gives the lifestyle coordinators $150 a month for everyday and activity expenses and purchase newspapers and reading material for the whole building.” 

“They’re invaluable we really do treasure them and hope they know that, someone from the auxiliary is here on any given day helping out.”

Mrs Cox said that after their fete last weekend which auxiliary members had been working on all day she saw some of the members weeding the garden the next day after such a full on day.

“If there’s a holiday lunch or an activity going on they’ll pop round and give their time to help organise,” Mrs Cox said. 

“That’s the goal of the auxiliary it’s to improve the quality of life of the residents and assist the staff.” 

The auxiliary is made up of a broad group of caring and generous people with some people travelling from Greenlands Goorangoola to be a part of the group. 

Mrs Cox said sometimes this work can go unnoticed but it’s important to highlight milestones like these. 

Mrs Cox said that they were very fortunate at Elizabeth Gates and she believed it might have something to do with country community  that sees a lot more caring people support local groups. 

“They’re the type of people who walk in and jump at the opportunity to lend a hand wherever it’s needed and some of the auxiliary are also part of our regular 96 volunteers who have clocked 850 hours this year,” Mrs Cox

“They become a part of the family here and are looked at as equals with the staff and many of the staff have joined the auxiliary.”  

“While it’s great to have such long serving auxiliary, more members are needed to take carry on the good work of auxiliary into the future.”

It’s a hard job to run a nursing home and any support is welcome.