Community & Business
14 March, 2025
Hospital auxiliary looking for new members
Since it was officially created from a meeting in the Nyngan Town Hall supper room in 1936, the Nyngan Hospital Auxiliary has been raising funds for the benefit of patient comfort and care.
It is one of the oldest continuous committees in Nyngan and has been responsible for many important assets at the Nyngan Hospital and Multi-Purpose Health Service including new beds, medical equipment, building improvements, crockery and many comforts to make life better for patients and staff.
Many local people have given years of dedicated service over the past 89 years including the current president/secretary Rhonda Baden and treasurer Sue Bourke – who are now hoping to encourage others to be a part of the auxiliary to ensure it remains active into the future.
They have organised an upcoming community information morning at the Nyngan Multi-Purpose Health Service.
“It’s an opportunity for people in the community who may be interested in joining the hospital auxiliary to come and see what it’s about and some of the things we do, Rhonda said.
“If they’re interested in joining, they can then come along to a meeting. We have meetings every two months and we keep them informal.
“They’re a good opportunity to get out and meet other community and have a cup of tea and plan.
“Jenny Griffiths represents the hospital and she usually has a wish list of items which we can then raise the funds for.”
“It’s a very rewarding committee to be a part of. Its’ about making the hospital and the hostel a little bit better. For many of the residents the hostel is their whole world.”
The auxiliary has organised street stalls, hospital fetes, dollar boards and raffles to raise money in recent years.
“We have a great group of people who are always willing to help out. If we have a street stall there are always people in the community who will turn up with cakes and produce. People are very good at supporting the hospital,” Rhonda said.
Despite this, Rhonda and Sue say it’s been difficult to attract people to take positions on the executive, and this has put the auxiliary’s future at risk.
“I’m 64-years-old and the youngest member. I took on the role as president from an amazing lady who had given a long time to the committee. Sue has been involved for 26 years and between us we have filled the executive roles but we both have family health issues and it’s getting harder for us.”
The Nyngan Hospital Auxiliary is part of the United Hospital Auxiliaries of NSW, which is the umbrella organisation for the charity.
“It’s important to note that although we are part of the UHA, all the money our branch raises stays in Nyngan,” Sue said.
According to the book “History of Nyngan - 1883-1958” the Nyngan Hospital Auxiliary was formed at a meeting called by Mr R.A Burgess and Mr Jno S. Cambridge in the Town Hall supper room on May 2, 1936.
Dir. A McLaughlin and Mr Cambridge represented the hospital and there was an attendance of about 20 women.
The first president was Mrs R.H. Bursill and the vice presidents were Mesdames J.R. Temple, M.B. Robinson, L. W. Ramage and Miss M.M McLaughlin.
In the early years the Auxiliary raised funds for a humidicrib for the nursery, curtains, blinds, and bedspreads; furniture for matron’s flat; and commenced a canteen for the nurses.
For many years there were separate fundraising committees for the hospital and the hostel; but when the Nyngan Multi-Purpose Health Centre was opened and the two facilities were combined under one roof, the NHA has raised funds for both.
The two longest serving members are currently Marcia Nichols (now a resident at the hostel) and Lorraine Callaghan who have each notched up more than 30 years.
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