Boost for young patients at St Vincent’s hospital
CHILDREN like 11-year-old Blair Cary found themselves in a hospital bed instead of enjoying the school holidays, but a group of locals wants to make his and other children’s stays a bit better.
The Cambooya Campdraft Association rallied to raise $10,000 through two campdrafts it held this year which members decided to donate to a great cause.
The large cheque was donated to the St Gabriel’s Unit, the paediatric unit at St Vincent’s Private Hospital.
Cambooya Campdraft Association president Neil Kann said it was proud to help the hospital and the children - including Blair who he met yesterday who was admitted to hospital after he suffered severe abdominal pain on Tuesday.
“Hopefully Blair will be home for Christmas. You just don’t know what families are going through I suppose,” Mr Kann said.
It was this reason the committee decided to put the money toward the hospital - which is the most significant donation it has made in recent years.
“It just came up at a meeting when we were trying to think of somewhere and I think everyone is affected with a child, a relative or something like that being sick at some stage,” he said.
“We hold two campdrafts a year at Cambooya and we get donations from sponsors around town, cattle donors and the likes and we advertised that we were going to donate to St Gabriel’s and we have been well-supported.”
Mr Kann said the funds would go toward upgrades to the ward and making it a better place for children.
“Just to provide different areas of the ward for different ages. They look after kids anywhere up to 16-years so we are just trying to make every child feel at home,” he said.
“Also there are monitors in the infants’ rooms so we can look after the little fellas.”