Main funding purpose: Area of greatest need
The story so far
Established in 1939, the Templestowe/Yarra Valley Auxiliary has been supporting the hospital for over 80 years. After hearing about the work of the RCH and its need for support as it grew, Templestowe residents, including many orchardists, decided to form the Templestowe Auxiliary in July 1939. It was renamed the Templestowe/Yarra Valley Auxiliary in 2023.
In the early years, fundraising consisted of jam appeals, cake stalls, dances, euchre (card) parties, gymkhanas, fairs and raffles. These days, stalls and Cuppa for Kids events are the main fundraisers. Several families involved in the Auxiliary, including the Beales, Blackies and Reads, have been multigenerational members. Dorothy Beale was involved in the Auxiliary from the age of 13. She helped transport fruit and vegetables from the local orchards to stalls and fetes and the hospital in Carlton. As one of very few drivers in the area, she drove a 1937 Willys utility which was used for orchard work. Dorothy Blackie was a member for 70 years and her daughter, Glenda, is the current Auxiliary President. Doris Read has been a member for 69 years and has been joined by her daughter, Julie, and her granddaughter, Sarah.
The Auxiliary has raised over $1 million dollars and continues to support Platypus, the Surgical Ward, and has also funded equipment and research across the hospital. In 2019, it celebrated its 80th anniversary with an afternoon tea.
2022/2023 Auxiliary Report
We have 22 members contributing in various ways to our fundraising activities.
As well as stalls at the RCH, we continued our monthly stalls at Lilydale Marketplace plus had Christmas and Easter pop-up shops at Bendigo Bank Croydon Central. Templestowe/Yarra Valley was one of four Auxiliaries who participated in the Melbourne International Flower and Garden Show in March/April 2023 which raised nearly $16,500 for the RCH.
We are fortunate to receive proceeds of sales from Craftpaks Heathmont as well as beautiful hand-made items for our stalls. A Lilydale Bowls Club Charity event on 7 May was a huge success, with approximately $13,000 raised. This family day had silent auctions, numerous raffle prizes, a sausage sizzle, a craft stall, barefoot bowls and a tournament. Our major raffle prize of a week’s accommodation in Burleigh Heads
raised $4,000.
A special celebration was our name change High Tea on 17 March 2023 held in the beautiful gardens in Templestowe. The 51 ladies who attended enjoyed delicious food and drinks with the event raising $2,640.
Throughout the last year we also had members attend the AGM and Celebratory High Tea at the Sofitel, Combined Auxiliary Meetings, Christmas Party, Living Treasures events, Dame Elisabeth Murdoch Nursing Development Scholarship Luncheon and Paddy’s Market.
Office bearers
President: Glenda Fraser
Secretary: Barb Nicoll
Treasurer: Raelene Trotter
Contact
Barb Nicoll
Phone
0412 837 660
Email
[email protected]