DUNGOG Shire Palliative Care Volunteers (DSPCV) had plenty of reasons to celebrate during Palliative Care Week (11-17 May).
The week marked the 30th birthday of both the local community organisation (DSPCV) and Palliative Care Australia.
A special morning tea celebration was held at the Dungog Anglican church hall in Dowling Street on Wednesday 11 May, with around 90 people from Dungog Shire and further afield in attendance.
Palliative Care NSW representative Kate Bowman travelled from Sydney for the event.
Past and present volunteers and committee members, clients, carers and family members and others gathered to catch up, listen to local speakers and enjoy some tasty treats.
DSPCV provides free, non-medical support to all residents of Dungog Shire diagnosed with a life-limiting illness, as well as their families and carers.
Assistance offered includes transport to medical appointments, a linen service, equipment needed for at-home support, respite, and visits to home and hospital.
DSPCV Management Committee President Margaret Jones welcomed guests and spoke about the organisation’s history.
From a slow start in 1995, the community came to embrace the variety of free assistance.
Margaret told of the challenges during the Covid pandemic, of the organisation’s name changes, finding equipment and premises, and the need to tailor services like transport to suit locals’ needs.
Stroud business Carly’s Cakes supplied the cake which was cut by Margaret, current Coordinator Annette O’Neill and the organisation’s first Secretary, Elsie Francis.
Dungog Shire Mayor Digby Rayward also spoke at the morning tea.
He said that volunteers are the backbone of any community, and specifically thanked the DSPCV volunteers for their commitment and support.
This week is National Volunteer Week (19-25 May), and the Palliative Care Volunteers will have a display in the window of Davey and Olsen’s in Dowling Street.
For more information about volunteering and Dungog Shire Palliative Care Volunteers, please contact Annette O’Neill on 0457846806.
By Lisa WISEMAN
