Compassion in action: QLD floods
It’s one thing to talk about helping the QLD flood victims but another thing to do it. Goodwin Aged Care Services go the extra mile to help 57 displaced residents from another facility, kms away.
By Yasmin Noone
The graphic images and heartfelt stories which stemmed from the recent Queensland floods reached every corner of Australia and touched just about everyone. Most Australians responded the best way they knew how — by dipping deep into their pockets, donating items or even volunteering for the cause.
But the staff at Goodwin Aged Care Services, ACT, went that extra step further. When the first floods hit, a phone call was made to the Department of Health and Ageing to ask if there was anything that the organisation could do to help and to find out who, in the aged care sector, had been affected.
Soon enough, the staff received word that 57 residents from the Pine Lodge Home for the Aged, Rocklea, had been evacuated because of flooding. The residents had been relocated to a nearby hospital and evacuation centre during the brunt of the disaster but once the waters had receded, they had been unable to return home.
Extensive property damage to the facility has left the residents without permanent accommodation—some are now living with families and more than 50 residents are living at one of two local facilities.
The story of the displaced residents strung a chord with Goodwin staff. They immediately swung into fundraising action, raising a $4,000 donation in three weeks through a series of small charity events.
On Thursday, 3 March, Goodwin will also hold a charity fundraiser cocktail party and auction in Ainslie (ACT) to raise much-needed cash for the cause.
“Certainly for the residents and staff here at Goodwin, there is a special affinity for the aged and for what it takes to manage an aged care facility,” said CEO of Goodwin Aged Care Services, Chris Lamont.
“The staff have taken the lead on this one. It’s really a ground up response to help what we think is a worthy cause.
“These are 57 elderly Australians who, if it were not for the good graces and compassion of the Pine Lodge staff, they would otherwise be homeless. It’s a precarious situation that they are in and one which we can assist them out of.”
Mr Lamont said that the upcoming fundraising event has received a great response from local businesses, following the donation of hundreds of items for the auction.
“We hope to raise a lot of money on that night…We are setting our sights high. If we raise $20 000 to $30 000, that would be a fantastic outcome.
“There’s been many faces and stories about the plight of the Queensland flood victims. But for the aged care sector, this is a very graphic example of a group of individuals being in dire need. I encourage the rest of the sector to get behind this particular cause.”
Chairman of Pine Lodge Homes, Serge Voloschenko, expressed his gratitude to the staff at Goodwin, not only for their fundraising efforts but for their thoughts and ongoing support.
“The difference between people seems to disappear when it comes to these sorts of [disasters]. I’m still overwhelmed by the support,” Mr Voloschenko said.
“I guess the thing that matters to me is really the thoughtfulness, compassion and understanding that people are showing.
“To me that’s what it’s about – the spirit of relationship. It’s more than admiration. This is what we all feel we ought to do and some people just make that extra step. I admire people that think of other people in a situation where they are not affected personally at that time.”
Mr Voloschenko said that it will cost more than a million dollars to repair the property damage, caused by the metre high floodwater which seeped into the facility. The water, he said, reached the door handles and ruined equipment, beds, the bottom half of the walls and many other items.
The facility is currently being repaired and the residents are expected to all be moved back in by April.
“Sure, we operate facilities [on our own] but at the end of the day, we are not alone and people really help you in your time of need.
“It’s not so much the financial support. It’s beyond that. It’s about the fact that people want to help you and offer you their [emotional] support.”
To find out more details about the upcoming charity event/auction or to donate to the cause, call Goodwin Aged Care Services on 02 6175 5177.
All donations over $2 are tax deductible.
