Volunteer Profile: Bev Graham

28 Feb

Written By Friends of the Women's & Children's Hospital FWCH

In April 1999 Beverley Graham read a letter in The Advertiser appealing for volunteers to work with the Friends of the Women’s and Children’s Hospital. Bev became a member of the Shops Auxiliary and found that, like her, many volunteers had stories to tell about children or grandchildren who had received special care at the WCH. Working to raise money for hospital equipment was their way of saying “Thank you” for that special care and was something Bev has been doing for more than 20 years.

Bev started in the Rainbows kitchen making sandwiches, rolls and hot dogs two mornings a week. Several years later she was invited to join the shops’ management committee and was trained in all areas of the shops’ operations. She also took on the arduous responsibility of managing the Rainbows daily roster, a task requiring both persistence and enormous patience!

Bev was President of the Shops’ Committee and a member of Friends’ Council, its governing body, for 11 years. This was a position that she enjoyed, mainly because of the support from all of the volunteers and the wonderful enduring friendships she made.

When asked what she would say to someone who asked what it was like to be a Friends volunteer, Bev replied:

Being involved as a volunteer with the Friends of the Women’s and Children’s Hospital and the Shops Auxiliary is a very rewarding experience as we are all committed to raising money for the hospital.

I would encourage anyone interested in volunteering in any organisation to go ahead and join. They will receive training and support, a feeling of satisfaction and wellbeing and, most of all, friendship.

Thank you Bev, for your wonderful contribution!