Ms Verlie Kirkby of East Gosford has been recognised as Gosford Hospital Auxiliary’s longest serving member, having given 60 years of service to the organisation.
Ms Kirkby signed up to support Gosford Hospital in 1955 and over the years has helped thousands of patients through her tireless volunteering and fundraising efforts.
Central Coast Local Health District director of nursing and midwifery Ms Jan Tweedie presented Ms Kirkby with a 60-year service badge at Gosford Hospital Auxiliary’s monthly meeting on September 17.
“On behalf of Central Coast Local Health District I am delighted to acknowledge Verlie’s incredible contribution to the hospital and our local community over the past 60 years,” Ms Tweedie said.
“Her hard work and dedication is truly remarkable and I believe it is a reflection of the outstanding generosity and selflessness of all our wonderful volunteers,” she said.
Ms Kirkby, now aged 92, said she can remember some of her first days of volunteering with the auxiliary. “I used to push the trolley down the wards and deliver the newspaper and other bits and pieces to patients as well as working in the kiosk,” she said.
“I think I have seen every part of the hospital but it is very different to what it used to be like now, it was a lot smaller back then.”
Ms Kirkby is still an active member of Gosford Hospital Auxiliary and regularly volunteers her time to sell raffle tickets and homemade goods at their stalls which raise funds for the hospital.
Ms Kirkby has made many close friends through the auxiliary over the past six decades. Despite having now reached the 60-year milestone, she said she has no plans of quitting.
“It is my chosen charity work and I really enjoy doing it,” she said. “It has been a wonderful experience and I will keep doing it for as long as I can.”
Media release,
Sep 16, 2015
Lauren Nicholls, Central
Coast Local Health District