50 years of dedication to St John of God Bendigo Auxiliary

7 Sep 2017

7 September 2017

Mrs Gallagher joined what was then the Mt Alvernia Hospital Ladies Auxiliary in 1967 and for every one of the following years she has been a stalwart of the Auxiliary and their fundraising efforts. 

Mrs Gallagher has seen significant amounts of change in her time as part of the Auxiliary, as our Volunteers Service Manager, James Breene shared at the celebration this week. 

“I’m conscious that her support for our organisation, via the Ladies Auxiliary, has spanned all the chapters of our hospital.  Including the first 36 years with the Franciscan Missionaries of Divine Motherhood, the 8 years we were part of the Mercy family and the last 11 years with St John of God.  

While fundraising has been a major focus of the tireless effort Mrs Gallagher has given, the whole Gallagher family were also involved in getting the hospital up and running in the early 1960’s, with her husband Jim’s (deceased) brickwork still part of the hospital. 

“Ethel helped sew curtains for St Francis House before it had even opened and also helped commission the new hospital on this campus in 1971, said Mr Breene.    

Mrs Gallagher is approaching her 89th birthday this year and while she has 8 children, 17 grandchildren and 11 great grandchildren of her own, she has always seen the hospital as an extension of her family. 

“I’ve always thought of Mount Alvernia as my child.  And then Mt Alvernia Mercy was my grandchild.  And now St John of God is my great grandchild,” said Mrs Gallagher. 

Mr Breene has said that the hospital simply wouldn’t have come to fruition without the dedication of people like Mrs Gallagher. 

“We can’t thank her and the other Auxiliary members enough for all their years of service.”