The event made president for the branch Anne Sheedy very proud. 

“It makes me aware of just how much they [the volunteers] have done to last this long,” she said. 

At the South East hospital auxiliaries zone conference the longest serving members of the Bega branch, Betty Lovelock, Lorna Ringland, Betty Rose and Vi Sherlock, who had all been involved in the group for over 20 years at least cut the anniversary cake.

Ms Rose said when she first joined the group was smaller than it is now. 

“We have a lot of new, young members now, which we need,” she said.

“We’ve done our share, so we’re always looking for new members!

“But we certainly have had a lot of fun.” 

Ms Sherlock, who herself had been in the auxiliary for over 30 years, said has also volunteered with other organisations over the years including Meals on Wheels and Legacy. 

“I don’t know why, it’s just one of the things you do,” she said. 

Ms Sheedy provided some information on the history of the branch.

The Bega Hospital Auxiliary was formed on May 14, in the Bega CWA Rooms.

Well-known doctor John McKee felt an organisation like the auxiliary was necessary to provide help for the hospital.

Amy Wood was elected the first president with Ms Upjohn secretary and Ms McKee the treasurer. 

Other members were Mesdames, Burgess, Spence, Mashman, Smith, Balmain, Wren, Blomfield, Jauncey, Ritchie, Rixon, Rogers, Otton, Irwin, Johnston and Gowing – some well-known Bega names.

The first fundraising activity was a ball, followed by street stalls, dances and card parties. 

At the end of the first year the auxiliary had a credit balance of £24.24.5 after paying £63.5 towards the cost of a new operating table and £35 for a piano for the nurses quarter, but in 1939 £2500 was placed in fixed deposit. 

Money raised over the next few years was spent on furnishings for the nurses’ home and patients’ care.

In July 1951 the foundation stone was laid for the then-new hospital on McKee Drive and over the next few years the auxiliary raised money for the patients in the old hospital and made preparations for the new one. 

In July 1956 the new hospital was opened and in May 1957 the kiosk service was begun from a cupboard under the stairs. 

After negotiations the auxiliary was allowed to use an unused lift and so began the “Lolly Trolley”.

This, combined with the vending machine which was purchased in 1985, became a major fundraiser.

The auxiliary is indebted to the ladies who provided a daily service with the “Lolly Trolley” for many years until the hospital was closed in 2016. 

A brand new state of the art hospital was opened off Tathra Rd in March 2016 with a new ambulance station nearby.

The auxiliary’s largest single donation ever made was $65,800 for televisions for every bed in the new hospital and $45,00 for a scanner.