WCHN Volunteer Newsletter - December 2014

December 2014
Manager’s Note
Congratulations to you all! What a fabulous
achievement 2014 has been for all our wonderful
volunteers. You have contributed 21,2246.1 hours
of time and energy into the WCHN and when
worked out to the dollar valued amounts to
$584,267.75. This is an extraordinary effort.
We had an opportunity to celebrate this effort at the
WCHN Volunteers Awards on 10 October 2014. I
was thrilled to meet volunteers and staff from the
hospital and from across the network who attended
on the day. Thank you for coming from near and far
to join in.
You are all an inspiration, whether you received 100
hours of service awards, or like Jenny Bell, 25,000
hours and 40 years awards! As I said on the day, time is finite and a precious commodity. We are
privileged that you choose to spend some of your time with us.
I would like to say a special thank you to Cynthia Baldwin and Linda Dyett for all their effort in
making the awards an occasion to remember. It wouldn’t have happened without them.
Lis Brittan
Manager, WCHN Volunteers
WCHN Volunteer Awards 2014
Jenny Bell receives her 25,000 Hours and 40 Years’ service awards from Mr Phil
Robinson, Executive Director Corporate Services, WCHN.
Security IDs
Remember that you are responsible for keeping your security ID safe and secure.
Do not leave your ID in your tabard pocket. It must be taken home and kept in a secure
place.
If you lose your security ID we need to be informed immediately as Security need to cancel
the card and then reissue a new one.
Welcome to New Volunteers
The following volunteers have commenced with the Volunteer Unit since the last newsletter.
We welcome you all and thank you for your interest in volunteering with the WCH.
Michelle Beelitz
Human Resources
Judy Bickley
Neonatal & Special Care Nurseries
Paula Bitencourt
Cassia Ward
Sophie Braun
Medical Ward 1
Elkie Cairns
DOSA/Campbell Ward
Evie Catt
Toxinology
Shailey Coleman
Medical Ward 1
Thao Dang
Haematology/Oncology
Roberta di Marzo
Cassia Ward
Rosa Funes
Medical Records
Yuan Fang
WCH Creche
Winnie Fangaloka
Medical Ward 1
Charity Foo
WCH Creche
Cheriyse Hope
Paediatric Surgery Ambulatory Svc
Marguerite Howard
WCH Creche
Stef Johnston
Surgical Hub
Nyree Joyce
DOSA/Campbell Ward
Amelia Loxton
Cassia Ward
Lina Peno
Adult Genetics Unit
Neha Sharma
Medical Records
Barbara Slade
Cassia Ward
Kate Strauss
Helen Mayo House
Jennie Thurley
Recovery and Anaesthesia
Lauren Williams
Neonatal & Special Care Nurseries
Yi Yu
Home Equipment/ Paediatric O/P
Jen Zerner
Multiple Births
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Volunteer Profile
Hello! My name is Rathneary S. Hean and I
am a volunteer of WCHN in the area of
Speech Pathology.
The Speech Pathology department of WCHN
is very busy and I am very happy that I have
the opportunity to help the speech
pathologists. I assist them in maintaining the
treatment room, storage room and running
the talk and sing groups as well as the food
play groups.
I do enjoy my volunteer work very much.
Everybody including the volunteer officers,
speech pathologists, speech pathologists’
assistants, staff in the crèche, my volunteer
friends, the parents and kids are very nice to
work with. Moreover, there is no speech
pathology in Cambodia and I do appreciate the opportunity to be introduced to and learn
this new thing.
I would also like to take this opportunity to share a bit of my story. I am from Cambodia.
I am a mother of a twenty-month-old boy. I have my background in medicine and now I
am pursuing Diploma in Child Health (SA). I moved to Adelaide to accompany my
husband while he is pursuing his PhD.
Before arriving in Adelaide, what came in my mind was “Coming alone from one of the
poorest country in Asia to a well-developed country like Australia would make me small.
I was not sure whether if resigning my job and coming to Adelaide was the right
decision for me. I was scared!”
In contrast, I was so wrong! Australia is a very nice country; people are very helpful and
friendly. Because I don’t know anyone here in Adelaide and I have background in
medicine, I came up with the idea of volunteering in the hospital. I went through the
internet and found WCHN. I put my volunteer application online and was warmly
welcome by WCHN volunteer officers, Cynthia Baldwin and Linda Dyett. They
introduced me to the speech pathologists’ assistants, my supervisors, Karen Sowton
and Kerrie McDonald.
Now I got a casual job in preschool as a classroom support staff. My job hunting would
have not been successful without Karen and Kerrie being my referees. I want to send a
message to all the people who wish to volunteer, please do so. Please find somewhere
you like and start volunteering. Volunteering will not only benefit other people and
society, but also benefit you. Through volunteering you will feel happy as you are
contributing, gaining experiences, meeting new people, and building networks … etc.
Finally, I would like to mention that, excluding summer, Australia has a very cold
weather compared to my country, Cambodia, but everyone here makes my heart feel
warm. Thank you very much indeed. Now that I enjoy life in Adelaide, three years will go
fast.
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WCHN Volunteer Awards 2014
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WCHN Volunteer Awards 2014
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People and Tales
from the Hospital
Heritage and History
Committee
Walter Charles Torode
Walter Charles Torode was born on 17 September
1858 in North Adelaide, close to the site of the
Adelaide Children’s Hospital. His parents were
Henry and Sarah Torode. As a boy, he watched the
building of St Peter’s Cathedral, an edifice that
featured later in his life. Walter became an
apprentice at William King’s steam sawmill in
O’Connell Street, North Adelaide, completing his
training in 1879. He made a specialty of building
large mansions and, after the railway through the
Adelaide Hills was completed in 1883, he built large
houses for the gentry in Aldgate and Stirling.
Sadly, the building was demolished in 1965.
The second building Torode erected for the
Hospital is the still extant Allan Campbell
Building, completed in 1897. For this he was
paid 5,000 pounds.
The third Torode building is the Hospital’s
former Queen Victoria Convalescent Home
located at 51 Birch Road, Stirling. Torode was
paid 1,500 pounds for building it. It was owned
and used by the Hospital from 1899 until 1947,
and is now a private residence. A stained glass
window from that Convalescent Home was for
a time moved to the hospital’s chapel, but is
now in storage.
On 12 May 1881 he married Sophia Gellentien and
they produced six children.
Walter’s works include the Adelaide Stock
Exchange, the Elder Conservatorium, Ruthven
Mansions, parts of Pultney Grammar School and
extensions to the Unley Town Hall. He also created
the pedestal of both the statue of McDouall Stuart in
Victoria Square and the statue of King Edward VII on
North Terrace. The latter statue arrived in Adelaide
with only three of the four bronze female figures
intended for its decoration. Torode was called upon
at short notice to provide a substitute. If you look at
the back of the statue you will see the substitute he
created, quite unlike the other three.
Walter Torode built three buildings for the Adelaide
Children’s Hospital. The first, begun in 1878 and
opened in the following year, was the Hospital’s first
building, the original Samuel Way Building. The
Hospital’s General Committee was told that Torode
had done the job “in a very creditable manner”.
As mentioned at the beginning of this article,
Walter Torode watched the building of St
Peter’s Cathedral. After the walls and roof of
the cathedral were in place there was an
extended delay. It was Walter Torode who later
built the tower and the spires of the cathedral.
The illustration, courtesy of the State Library,
shows the Hospital’s initial Samuel Way
building with the cathedral, as yet without its
spires, in the background.
Dr Brian Fotheringham
Chairman
Heritage and History Committee
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Lunch with the CEO
CEO Naomi Dwyer made a
brief but enjoyable stop at the
WCH’s Volunteer Haven
recently to join some of the
Friday volunteers for lunch
and to hear what they do and
what motivates them to be a
part of the hospital team.
Fabio gives children a voice in their care
Children at the Women’s and Children’s Hospital (WCH) can now have their say about their hospital
experience through a fun, easy-to-use patient survey.
Featuring a charming animated character Fabio the Frog, the
patient survey – the National Paediatric Toolkit - is being
trialled at the WCH in an Australian first, thanks to funding from
the Women’s & Children’s Hospital Foundation.
“Traditional ways of seeking feedback from patients aren’t
always suitable for children, yet it’s vital that their voice is
heard,” said Pam Murphy, SA Child Health Clinical Network
Manager.
“Children’s participation is more than just asking them for their
ideas and views. It’s about listening to them, taking them
seriously and turning their ideas and suggestions into reality.
“It’s also about providing them with the ability to influence some
of the things that affect them and, at the same time, helping
adults understand children’s issues through their lens.”
The survey is accessed through a handheld touch screen tablet
and can be used by children as young as three. During the survey, children interact with Fabio who asks
them a range of simple and easy to understand questions.
Reprinted from Healthy Focus
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Christmas/New Year
leave
Public Transport Tickets
The Office for Volunteers and DPTI (Department
WCH volunteers will take an
of Planning Transport and Infrastructure) has
official three weeks’ break from Friday 19
now supplied us with complimentary public
December 2014 and return on Monday 12
transport tickets for volunteers and they are
January 2014.
available from Linda Dyett in the Volunteer
office.
Staff of WCHN Volunteers will be on leave from
24 December inc, returning on 5 January 2014.
We are very happy to supply them to you on a
As no staff will be present we ask that volunteers
regular basis and like to share them around to
do not come in through that week.
as many volunteers as possible. Please
remember these are to subsidise your travel not
If you wish to return to your volunteering after
totally fund it.
Monday 5 January please consult your
supervisor as several areas will close until 12
Keeping Infection Away
January.
If you are unwell , do not come into the hospital
A number of areas are very quiet during January
or clinic or visit families if you are a home visiting
and may not require their volunteers until later in
volunteer.
the month or even the beginning of February.
A sore throat, respiratory infection or a gastric
infection are easily passed to children , patients
Keeping up Appearances
and staff so please stay away until you have
WCHN volunteers are an important part of the
work force of the health network, volunteering
Signing On and Off
their time to support patients, families and staff.
Just a reminder ……. signing on and signing off
Whether you are part of the community
your volunteer duties isn’t just so we can count
program or volunteer within the Women’s and
the hours of your contribution. Knowing when
Children’s Hospital, your appearance, grooming
you are here is a legal requirement of the
and personal hygiene are an important part of
organisation for safety purposes and covers
the professional image of our volunteers.
you for insurance.
Clean, neat, casual dress is perfectly
If you do not sign in and have an accident you
acceptable, with closed shoes if you are
would not be covered by insurance. Thanks for
volunteering in a clinical area or in the Creche.
your cooperation.
If you wear a tabard as a requirement in your
WCH work area you are responsible for
Contact us
keeping it washed and ironed. A ward tabard is
often marked with coloured paint and texta (one
Lis Brittan, Manager WCHN Volunteers
Tel: 81618475
lis.brittan@health.sa.gov.au
of the reasons for wearing it over your clothes)
but that is not a problem as long as it is
otherwise clean.
Cynthia Baldwin, Coordinator WCHN Volunteers
Tel: 8161 6437
cynthia.baldwin@health.sa.gov,au
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