Helderberg Hospice Newsletter 11 August 2014
PARTNERSHIPS – JOINING HANDS TO SUSTAIN OUR CARE
The ongoing sustainability of our services to all sectors of the population in our area will, in the light of extremely reduced sources of outside funding, increasingly be the financial responsibility of our community. Our ability to care for and support patients and families devastated by terminal illness is directly influenced by the amount of support we receive from our community and the quality of our partnerships. Our partnerships take on various forms. Partnerships with sister hospices, businesses and volunteers are precious and essential to our existence.
THE VALUE OF INTERNATIONAL PARTNERSHIPS – A WORD FROM OUR MANAGER, GILL WASSERFALL
Helderberg Hospice has been in existence for 27 years now and our connection with Hospice of the Western Reserve covers more than half of that time. Over the years we have been able to get to know some staff members better. In 2009 Shariefa Sabur, Chairperson: Partnership Committee, visited us and facilitated a strategic planning session for us and the model that she used on that occasion still impacts that way we do our planning today. Andre Wagner, who so often represents us to them, started his association with the hospice movement in general here at Helderberg Hospice and was at one time the chairman of our board. His talents and work have taken him a long way since but we still count him as one of our valued volunteers.
The visits we have enjoyed from members of Hospice of the Western Reserve team over the past years highlighted the common interests we share, showed us both that despite the difference in size, different continent, different ways of doing things, there is so very much that makes us kindred spirits. Here, we have felt neither overwhelmed by size of the hospice in Ohio nor intimidated by the first world ways of doing things. Instead we have been strengthened in the knowledge that we can absorb some of the progressive ideas from Hospice of the Western Reserve and at the same time be creative in our own environment to respond to our unique challenges.
Our board, staff and volunteers base and also members of the public are regularly reminded of our partnership as the quilt depicting their diversity hangs in our hospice In Patient Unit passage and provides an ongoing talking point for so many who pass through the unit.
Our partnership with the Hospizbewegung Liechtenstein has a different flavour altogether but there again we are met with the same kindred spirit that guides both our hospices. This hospice is smaller and more concentrated on bereavement care than on direct patient care. Annually they host a concert in aid of Helderberg Hospice on Remembrance Sunday in November. They too visited us recently with some members of their board, as well as interested others. You may have taken note that one of our vehicles that is regularly used in the community also carries their logo as they donated that vehicle to us and are real partners with us at the coalface of care delivery.
This partnership developed out of a connection with a journalist who spent some time with us in 2002. One of the directors at Hospizbewegung Liechtenstein is South African born and bred and has lived for very many years in Liechtenstein. She is a catalyst for friendship and has helped us to bridge the language barrier effectively. Yvonne Odoni and Gill Wasserfal, Manager: Helderberg Hospice are pictured below in our sponsored Volkswagen Caddy.
OUR CLUB 1000 MEMBERS ARE STALWARTS
In view of the financial pressure that bears down on us at this time, the support of our community is essential to sustain our service. Helderberg Hospice is fortunate to have our Club 1000 members’ loyal support for our care. Club 1000 is in its 17th year, having started as Club 100 and growing to the present format. Quite a few of the founder members are still supporters of this initiative! Our Club is registered with the National Lottery and is a valuable source of income for this Hospice.
Over the past financial year the following folks were each the lucky winners of the R10 000 prize in the monthly draws.
April 2013 – Julian Weil
May 2013 – Alta Smit
June 2013 – Pam Willis and the Golden Oldies
July 2013 – YV Smith
August 2013 – Trudie Loots
September 2013 – SC Appelcryn
October 2013 – Meerlust Administrators
November 2013 – SP van der Merwe
December 2013 – PG Kett
January 2014 – R Hettasch
February 2014 – D Luttig
March 2014 – JV Coetzee
We are appreciative of each and every committed Club 1000 member. Your goodwill and support are essential to undergirding Hospice care. We are in awe of Club members’ generosity towards Helderberg Hospice – we often have the R10 000 prize money donated back to us. As Club 1000 members partner with Helderberg Hospice, they become the hands that care, so be assured of our heartfelt thanks in this regard. Club 1000 presents wonderful opportunity for members of the community to share in sustaining a much needed service to the Helderberg area.
MEG AND KEN COATES, COMMITTED PARTNERS OF HELDERBERG HOSPICE
Volunteers Meg and Ken Coates have been committed partners with Helderberg Hospice for the past 20 years. During this 20 year period, Meg and Ken have been part of the Volunteer Meal Collection team that ensure that our patients get daily meals. Over a 1000 trips and many an hour spent doing this labour of love, shows commendable commitment.
We wish them well as they leave the Helderberg to live closer to their children.
We have many volunteers like Meg and Ken Coates that partner with Helderberg Hospice to ensure a palliative care service to the Helderberg community. Because of the quality of these partnerships we can render a service of excellence to those who need our love and care the most.
YOU’RE INVITED!
You are invited to join us for our AGM.
Date: Wednesday 20th August 2014
Venue: Helderberg Hospice Hall
Time: 12h00
RSVP: 13th August 2014 (for catering purposes)
Phone : 021 852 4608
Email: karin@helderberghospice.org.za
LIFE IN FULL FOCUS PHOTOGRAPHIC COMPETITION
Whether you’re serious about photography or just a happy snapper, your photographs could make you a winner in the Life in Full Focus competition launched by Helderberg Hospice in conjunction with Kodak Superfoto. There are three categories in which to enter and you may interpret them as widely and creatively as you like. Action photo lovers may enjoy entering the Making the Most of the Moment section, while parents as well as those who specialise in macro photography could find their niche in It’s the Little Things that Matter. Anyone who has been stopped in their tracks by a spectacular view or sunset will want to enter the Wow! category.
Photographs must be submitted for development to Kodak Superfoto at Waterstone Village or Somerset Mall by the last Monday of August, September and November. Monthly winners will be announced in the local media the following week and an overall winner of the competition will be announced in November. A R5 entry fee will go towards Helderberg Hospice and an exhibition of winning photographs will be on display at the Hospice during November.
For enquiries contact Patricia McNaught Davis at 082 731 5736 or at patricia@helderberghospice.org.za
IN CLOSING
As an organisation we are eternally grateful for each person who partners with us. We view each partnership as a precious gift and we cherish your involvement. May your gift of partnership bring you joy!