The ongoing relationship between the Friends and the Australian Professional Firefighters Foundation (APFF) continues to strengthen. The Friends were pleased to facilitate the recent handover of two HotDog air-free Patient Warmers.

On Sunday evening, 11th February the Friends Queen Victoria Auxiliary Division held another very successful Film Night ‘Force of Nature: The Dry 2’ at the Regal Cinema in Kensington Park.

The Women’s and Children’s Health Network (WCHN) annually fund a Christmas Lunch to acknowledge and thank the Friends Shops Volunteers for their outstanding service given to Rainbows and Vic’s Coffee Shop on site at the Women’s and Children’s Hospital.

The Friends Queen Victoria Auxiliary committee hosted a Devonshire tea at the Mount Osmond Golf Club, on Monday 23rd October 2023. Members and supporters were thrilled to have ‘Her Excellency the Honourable Frances Adamson AC Governor of South Australia as the Guest Speaker’.

The Friends Tarlee/Stockport Auxiliary group held their very successful Melbourne Cup luncheon at the Hotel Central Riverton for the fourth year running. Hotel hosts Harry, Adam and Jasmin opened their doors to 60 people for an afternoon of sweeps, raffles and fashion parade kindly provided by the Riverton Boutique ‘Sassy Lass’. Chef Matthew Mitchell did not disappoint with a superb lunch menu.

Kadina residents Helen and Dean Rodda held their final ‘Camelot Garden Stroll’ springtime open generously allowing all gate proceeds to be donated to The Friends of the Women’s and Children’s Hospital Inc’. Helen has been a member of the Friends Kadina Auxiliary for just over 30 years and continues to work tirelessly for charities within the local community.

The Friends of the Women’s and Children’s Hospital Inc. (Friends) members celebrated 30 years as an incorporated association at their 30th Annual Conference and AGM at the Adelaide Royal Coach Hotel on the 27th of October 2023. The luncheon was extended to incorporate cutting of the cake including a very interesting history of the Friends kindly researched and presented by Friends Life Member Barb Lamkin.

Congratulations to Linda Brennan, who was awarded this year’s Parent Family Centred Care Award (PFCC). Linda is based at Child and Family Health Services (CaFHS) Edwardstown and showcases how using a person family centred care approach has resulted in better health outcomes for our consumers.

On Friday 28th July, Region 12 members from Auxiliary groups Kadina, Maitland/Arthurton, Moonta and Warooka/Yorketown attended their 60th Annual Conference at Arthurton.

Eleanor Langford opened the conference. Eleanor grew up in the area, became a doctor and moved back to her area as a local GP. Eleanor spoke about the self-collection Cervical Screening Test and discussed the changes in survival rates over the years. ‘About 800 women are diagnosed with cervical cancer in Australia each year, and about 70% of these cases occur in women who have never screened or were not up-to-date with their screening. Having regular screening tests is the best way to protect yourself’.

A Lip Smacking Thank you to Target Reynella, from Friends!

The Friends, staff and patients of the Women’s and Children’s Hospital shout out a big ‘Thank You’ to Target Reynella, for their very generous donation of Lip Smackers. 

Kirstine Warneford, Equipment Nurse Manager, Surgical Services WCHN reached out to Friends advising the Lip Smacker product could no longer be sourced through the WCHN procurement process.  

Margaret Davies (Margie) is a Kadina Auxiliary group member of 50 years and a very proud Life Member. Margie explains how her membership came about…

“I was invited to join the auxiliary by Kadina Auxiliary President Corinne Warmington. I was newly married and didn’t know a soul in the area. Corinne took me under her wing.

Around thirty people gathered from far and wide at the Meningie Sailing Club on Monday, 19th June to attend the Friends of the Women’s and Children’s Hospital Inc. Auxiliaries Division Region 5 conference.

Region 5 includes auxiliary groups Pinnaroo, Lameroo, Tintinara and Meningie with children utilising the hospital from these towns.