Murdoch caregivers provide a $23,000 boost for St Patrick’s
Wednesday 24 August 2011
Caregivers, hospital auxillary, patients,
visitors and doctors all contributed to the successful 2010/2011 St
John of God Hospital Murdoch Charity of the Year fundraising
program which raised nearly $23,000 for St Patrick’s Community
Support Centre.
The program included a Silent Auction at the
hospital ball, raffles, gold coin donation meals, a popular
bookstall, and donations gathered at Christmas events.
At a celebration morning tea on Tuesday 23
August, St Patrick’s Community Support Centre thanked St John of
God Hospital Murdoch caregivers for their generosity with a
performance by the Starlight Hotel Choir featuring members who will
directly benefit from the fundraising program.
Murdoch Director of Mission Colin Keogh said
the centre was already a focus of Social Outreach and Advocacy
activities at the hospital and was a natural fit for the
organisation.
“St Patrick’s Community Support Centre in
Fremantle provides accommodation and support to homeless men. There
has been a strong relationship with St Patrick’s since 2006 and, as
recipient of our Charity of the Year, we were able to increase that
support,” he said.
“The Charity of the Year program is a way for
all caregivers to make a direct and meaningful contribution to
worthwhile causes and allows caregivers to help determine how funds
are raised, and allows them to develop their own relationship with
the particular charity,” said Mr Keogh.
“For example, our caregivers participated in
busy bees at two of the men’s hostels run by St Patrick’s.
Caregivers and residents worked side by side, finishing the days
with a communal barbeque,” he said.
St Patrick’s Community Support Centre Chief
Operating Officer Michael Piu said the organisation considered
themselves privileged to have been chosen as the beneficiary of the
2010/11 Murdoch Charity of the year.
“I would like to make particular mention of
the Busy Bee Gardening Days by the fantastic nursing team at both
Colgan House and Park House which directly involved our residents,”
said Mr Piu.
“This ‘hands-on’ approach and contribution to
creating an entire community garden has genuinely had a
transformational effect on the homes in question, and our lodgers,
who not only feel a sense of pride, but of purpose in maintaining
the garden, and of community in working together to do so,” he
said.
“Murdoch Staff should be extremely proud of
their efforts and we are so impressed that an organisation and its
staff who care for others 24/7 - still found the time to go
the extra mile and care some more for those who are homeless or at
risk of being homeless in our community,” said Mr Piu.
Murdoch Chief Executive Officer Peter Mott
said the enthusiasm and passion shown by the caregivers in their
Charity of the Year fundraising efforts was indicative of the
culture at the hospital.
“I’m very proud of the way our caregivers
support the Charity of the Year program. This is very much aligned
to the culture and ethos of St John of God Health Care, our values
and the pioneering work of the Sisters of St John of God,” he
said.
About St Patrick’s and The Starlight
Hotel Choir
For nearly 40 years, St Patrick’s Community
Support Centre has been delivering services to the homeless and
disadvantaged across the Fremantle and South Metropolitan area.
These services include meals; crisis support, accommodation, health
services, recreation activities, and music/arts programs.
The Starlight Hotel Choir is our community
choir that operates weekly. Choir members consist of both those who
utilise St Patrick’s services and members of the wider
community. It is open to absolutely anyone regardless
of musical ability!
Many of the choir members have experienced
homelessness, hardship and mental health issues at some stage in
their lives and find that the choir assists in lifting their
spirits and creating a sense of belonging.
The Choir’s main goal is to create a fun,
non-threatening environment for people to express themselves, feel
a part of a team and have a great time singing the songs they
love!
Named after the ‘Hotel of Stars’ under which
many homeless people sleep, the Choir has expanded from its simple
jamming sessions in 2007, to become a professional and dedicated
choir consisting of more than 30 members.
The Choir’s CD “Shelter Me”, shares stories of
struggle, hope and recovery and reflect he outcomes of the
songwriting and singing workshops held at St Patrick’s on a weekly
basis.
The Choir has its own myspace site - Visit
www.myspace.com/thestarlighthotelchoir.
Throughout the year, the Choir performs at
well known events and music festivals to share its stories and
increase awareness of St Patrick’s Community Support Centre and to
help those in need.
For more information about the Starlight
Hotel Choir, contact Lisa Garside, Community Relations Manager - St
Patrick's Community Support Centre on (08) 9430 4159
IMAGE: The Starlight Hotel
Choir perform for Murdoch Caregivers.