Volunteers reach $1.5 million milestone

Many might know Ann Carpenter as a regular face at Geraldton Hospital, running the gift shop kiosk and happily minding the meet-and-greet station.

But there is a lesser known fact about the retiree — she’s a driving force behind why the hospital routinely has updated and new medical equipment.

You see, it’s not always the State that pays for ultrasounds and birthing beds.

It’s Ms Carpenter and the rest of the volunteer team at Geraldton Hospital Auxiliary who make and sell gift items, the proceeds of which fund dozens of hospital purchases.

This month, hospital administrators reported the volunteers had recently hit a $1.5 million milestone.

Ms Carpenter said it was wonderful to be recognised, but the volunteers were not in it for the praise.

“We’re mostly all retirees and we just do it to give back to the community,” she said.

“Everyone ends up in Geraldton Hospital sooner or later and when I retired, I just felt like that’s where I wanted to go. A lot of patients tell us how thrilled they are with us and the feedback is usually good.”

Geraldton Hospital Auxiliary has funded the purchase of televisions, electric beds, cuddle cots, trolleys, a $63,000 ultrasound machine, a $49,000 theatre monitoring system and $14,000 worth of general ward equipment.

They have been in operation for roughly 19 years.