Service honoured
AHorsham woman who has given 30 years of voluntary service to Wimmera Base Hospital has been honoured with a Life Governor award.
Cynthia Knight is the first Horsham Life Governor of the new Grampians Health.
She is a volunteer with the Wimmera Base Hospital Ladies Auxiliary.
“The last 30 years of my life have been the happiest for me because I’ve made so many wonderful friends through the auxiliary,” she said.
“I enjoyed all the hard work because I was well, and I felt like I was doing something worthwhile.”
The Life Governor Award highlights the outstanding contribution of a Grampians Health volunteer, staff member, philanthropist or community member.
Nominations consider impact, reach of their contributions and how they have positively impacted the health service.
Having grown up on a Clear Lake farm, Cynthia remembers travelling to Horsham and seeing the Horsham Hospital Ladies Auxiliary caravan selling raffle tickets to raise money.
She said even at a young age, she was impressed by their dedication.
Fittingly, Cynthia was presented with a certificate for 30 years of voluntary work for that very committee this year.
Cynthia became involved with the auxiliary when she returned to Horsham 30 years ago after living in Portland for 18 years. She decided to be active after her friend, Barbara Coad told her the auxiliary might fold.
Barbara was rallying her friends to save the auxiliary and Cynthia was happy to be included, considering it would be a great way to reconnect with the community.
“I remember the very first gathering for the new look auxiliary was a morning tea at Rose Petrie’s home and we didn’t achieve a lot that day, but it got things going,” she said.
“We used to do just small fundraisers in those days, but we got bigger and started having fashion parades that were
hugely popular.”
Cynthia said the opportunity shop in Darlot Street had been a big winner for the auxiliary.
Auxiliary chair Denise Queale said Cynthia had been a wonderful contributor.
“She has never held a position of office, but she has always played a vital role in the productivity of our meetings,” she said.
“She has this happy knack of keeping us on track if we stray and keeping the agenda rolling.
“But what Cynthia is best known for is her delightful powder puffs that she would bake for every fashion parade and major fundraiser. She would bake 300 at a time and there was always a scramble over who would get the last few powder puffs.”