Message from the President, Auxiliaries

MESSAGE FROM THE PRESIDENT

I don’t think any of us could have predicted the challenges of the past 12 months, but through this adversity Auxiliaries still managed to prosper, as you have done since the very beginning. Thank you so much for another remarkable year of fundraising for the RCH. Once again, I have been in awe of your unwavering dedication to sick children and their families.

This commitment resulted in a $656,933 donation to the 2021 Good Friday Appeal and I hope you all feel incredibly proud of this achievement.

Auxiliaries are the hospital’s longest philanthropic partner and 2022 will mark 100 years since our founding.

As we continue plans for our centenary and begin to reflect on this incredible legacy, I was so heartened to see Auxiliaries continue to collaborate, adapt and inspire our community throughout this past year.

Many of you worked with each other and the broader community to maximise the impact of your fundraising. Cancer in Kids Auxiliary (CIKA) and Absent Friends Auxiliary collaborated to continue CIKA’s funding of the Solid Tumour Study Coordinator. A grateful patient family raised funds to support the Beyond Sight Auxiliary, and two Auxiliaries, Waverley Auxiliary and South Western Auxiliary collaborated to continue funding the Training Coordinator in the Neurodevelopment and Disability Department. These are just a few examples of the generosity of spirit and collaboration that makes the RCH Auxiliaries the truly respected and revered group we are today.

With the support of the RCH Foundation, we were also able to innovate, moving many of our beloved fundraisers online like the Dame Elisabeth Murdoch Nursing Development Scholarship and the AFL raffle, along with events like our Annual General Meeting (AGM). This ensured we remained connected not only with each other, but our community as well. I would also like to take this opportunity to sincerely thank the Auxiliaries Executive Committee (AEC) for their leadership.

Mim presenting the 2021 Auxiliaries fundraising cheque to the Good Friday Appeal with Secretary of Templestowe Auxiliary and 2020 Madge Tate recipient Barb Nicoll

Thank you also to the RCH Foundation for their support throughout this past year. Peter Yates AM, Chairman; Sue Hunt, Chief Executive Officer and the Auxiliaries and Fundraising Team have worked with us to ensure Auxiliaries continue to adapt and innovate to support the RCH.

To all Auxiliary members, thank you. I know this has been a challenging time, but your resilience, dedication and positive spirit is inspirational. Together we truly are making sick kids better.

Dr Miriam (Mim) Weisz OAM

President, RCH Auxiliaries

Dame Elisabeth Murdoch Nursing Development Scholarship Committee members Barb Nicoll, Lauren Daly, Mim Weisz, Marcia Bacon and Annie Tsourlinis. Insert: Lila Kemlo

Mim hosting the 2021 Dame Elisabeth Murdoch Nursing Development Scholarship Virtual Fundraiser with Professor John Massie, Prof Lynn Gillam and 2021 recipient Jenny O’Neill