The saying, ‘If you want something done, ask a busy person’ certainly applies to the current Singleton Hospital Auxiliary president, Sue Ferguson.
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Recently she was awarded second place in the state for Barnardo’s Mother of Year and was placed in top 16 in Australia. Sue, a mother of three children of her own, said she felt proud to be nominated for the award by her own daughter.
Although she is the official foster carer, her husband, children and friends are also involved. At present Sue has two foster children in her care but over the past 14 years she has cared for some 20 children.
“Eventually the foster children move on but one of the joys of fostering is to hear from them done the track,” she said. “It’s especially nice when they send me a Mother’s Day message.”
Asked why she fosters Sue replied, “Some children as young as four have no home to go to and can be placed in hotel rooms with minimal case worker supervisions. If we turn our back on them – what will happen then?”
There has been a ballooning number of children in care which has risen from 14,000 to 43,399 in the past two decades with the NSW government spends more than $1 billion a year on out-of-home care.
Which makes Sue work all the more important. In between her commitments, Sue has an active role in three other organisations.
Sue is equally passionate about her role as president of the Hospital Auxiliary. A close liaison with hospital staff sees 100 per cent of all funds raised directed towards equipment needed.
Sue says, “Work on the new wing at the hospital has commenced and when completed, furnishings and equipment will be required so the Auxiliary is preparing financially to accommodate these needs.”
“The group is always looking for new members, young or seniors, so anyone with a couple of hours a month spare would be most welcome.
“The Auxiliary offers friendship, community connections and being part of a team committed to a better environment for patients, visitors and staff at Singleton Hospital.”
For anyone interested the Auxiliary meetings are held at the hospital on the fourth Thursday of every month starting at 2:00pm.
More information contact Sue, who would love to hear of you, mob: 0421 155 179.