West Gippsland Hospital’s Annual Equipment Appeal has exceeded its $125,000 goal thanks to a new charity partner and the generosity of long-term donors.
The 2024 appeal raised $125,406, covering the cost of all eight items on the equipment wish list.
WGHG CEO Dan Weeks was delighted with the result amid persistent cost-of-living pressures. He attributed the success to significant donations from community organisations, plus a new charity partnership with Snowfest organisers, which will continue into next year.
“These organisations and our new partnership with Snowfest made an enormous difference to this year’s appeal,” he said. “They have contributed more than two thirds of the total funds raised. In this tough economic climate, we simply couldn’t have reached our goal without them.
“We are grateful for their loyalty and support, and look forward to working with them into the future.”
Our biggest contributors to the appeal were:
- Snowfest 2024, which donated $21,000 in its first year of fundraising for West Gippsland Hospital. The money will go toward a Hillrom Birthing Bed for the Maternity Unit
- Lions Club of Warragul, a regular and long-term supporter of WGHG, which generously donated $28,106 towards two laparoscopes and two stretcher trolleys, plus associated equipment
- Community Bank Drouin and District, which made two substantial donations of $12,500 for a defibrillator for the Medical Unit and $12,000 toward other essential equipment
An individual who wished to remain anonymous, also contributed the cost of an ECG machine for the Haemodialysis Unit. The remaining funds came from the generous West Gippsland community, with donations ranging from $40 up to $4000.
This year’s appeal wish list included:
- A birthing bed for the maternity unit
- Two high definition laparoscopes for theatre
- Two stretcher trolleys for the emergency department
- A bladder scanner and probe for the consulting suites
- An ECG machine for Haemodialysis
- A treadmill for physiotherapy
- A defibrillator for the Medical Unit
- And a resuscitation crash cart for Learning and Development