Volunteers from the Golden Girls, Pink Ladies, Oncology, Pastoral Care and Auxiliary teams were celebrated for the generosity and care they provided to patients over the past year. 

Around 40 volunteers attended, including some from Pambula Hospital. 

A thank you cake was cut by veteran volunteer Beryl Davies, who has dedicated 38 years to caring for patients at South East Regional Hospital and the former Bega District Hospital.

“I’m passionate about doing this work because it’s giving to people who are in less fortunate positions because they’ve fallen into ill health,” she said. 

“They’re thrown into a different environment and taken away from their loved ones, so it is our job to give them empathy and provide them with love and care during their stay.”

As a retired nurse, Ms Davies said it was difficult to find the time to provide the company and comfort her patients needed. 

In the last year, Ms Davies has been admitted to hospital four times, which helped her to understand the value of hospital volunteers from a new perspective. 

“When you’re on the other side, you really see how worthy and needed these volunteers are,” she said.

“There were times when I just needed someone to sit beside me and talk, and that’s exactly what we do as volunteers.”

Celebrating alongside Ms Davies were some new hospital volunteers, including Sally Honey, who has recently joined the Golden Girl team. 

Golden Girl volunteers work with dementia and special needs patients during their stay in hospital. 

“I’m currently studying a bachelor of dementia care online, so I signed up as a volunteer to get some practical experience in the hospital,” she said. 

South East Regional Hospital volunteer coordinator Jenny Francis said it was great to see all of the volunteers come together on the day. 

She encouraged anyone interested in volunteering at the hospital to contact her on 0401 093 422 or email jenny.francis1@health.nsw.gov.au.