Less than three weeks into 2023-24 and we’ve already been gifted the $6,242 we need for three diagnostic sets of otoscopes/opthalmoscopes for our Warrnambool emergency department. And it’s all thanks to our SWH Woolsthorpe Auxiliary.
An otoscope shines a beam of light to help visualise and examine the condition of the ear canal and eardrum to check for problems such as infection, excess ear wax, and objects young children occasionally pop in. An ophthalmoscope allows us to see into the back of an eye (at about 15 times magnification) to look at the health of the retina, optic nerve, vasculature and vitreous humor. Ophthalmoscopy is always part of a complete eye examination to detect and evaluate symptoms of retinal detachment or eye diseases such as glaucoma.
Two of these sets will be wall-fixed each end of our resuscitation room and the third will be on a portable stand for use throughout the rest of the emergency department.
President Sharon Huf (pictured) presented this $6,242 donation – and another $4,000 for an exciting clinical environment arts project we’ll tell you more about soon – to our redevelopment executive director Jamie Brennan at the auxiliary’s AGM this week.
The nine members who currently make up this auxiliary are wizzes at raising money by catering particularly at clearing/farm/cattle sales days and Bunnings BBQs, and by selling second hand books at Warrnambool’s Friday-nights-in-summer market down on Pertobe Road. Speaking of their second hand books stall, CAN YOU HELP? They’re now calling for donations of top-condition fiction books that are only a couple of years old. If you’ve got any, treasurer Barb Draffen would love to hear from you. Her email’s georgedraffen@gmail.com