With the help of generous sponsors, Pambula Rotary have raised over $13,000 to buy three portable oxygen concentrators for palliative care patients in the Bega Valley.
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The idea for the concentrators came from a conversation between Pambula Rotarian Lynne Koerbin and Helen Limbach, who had been a long term market stall holder at their monthly markets.
Ms Limbach described how vital an oxygen concentrator was for her late husband while he was unwell, but that there had only been two available to loan from the local health service.
After hearing the moving story, Ms Koerbin raised the issue with the club and received tremendous support to work towards improving the availability of the device.
"For a person who's totally reliant on supplementary oxygen, a portable concentrator is life changing. It is a ticket to the outside world," she said.
Funds from a range of local sponsors and their annual Charity Golf Day enabled the club to purchase three portable oxygen concentrators for the palliative care unit in the South East Regional Hospital.
The devices were handed over by two Rotarians to three staff members from the unit on July 5.
Nurses express gratitude for donations of much needed medical equipment
The palliative care workers said they were deeply moved by the generosity of those in the community and the bravery of Ms Limbach for reaching out shortly after husband's passing and communicating the need for the devices.
"We don't receive generous donations like this and as Helen said, it made such a difference to Don's life, to enable patients to actually be independent is what this is all about," said SERH Nurse practitioner in palliative care Bronwyn Raatz.
"It's about maintaining someone's independence at a point in their life where they often become housebound so a piece of equipment like this enables them to do the things that you and I take for granted," she said.
SERH Respiratory nurse practitioner, Linda Geale, said the first loan of the new devices would be for a patient travelling to St Vincent Hospital in Sydney to be assessed for a lung transplant.
"A trip which would be near impossible for her without a portable machine," Ms Geale said.
Ms Geale said the machine would be loaned out for short term use for outings, attending appointments, family events, or to help relieve the pain for for those close to the end of their lives.
Donations not possible without assistance from the Bega Valley Community
Community services director of Pambula Rotary, Daryl Dobson said the donation would not have been possible without the generosity of people and businesses within the Bega Valley.
The golfing event raised a total of $16,000 this year. After the donation to the palliative care unit, the reminding $2,000 was given to the Pambula Hospital Auxiliary.
Pambula Rotary have been running their Golf day for six years and in that time they have raised around $96,000 in total.
All money raised are put straight back into supporting the local community for a range of causes.
"I'd like to say a big thank you to all our sponsors and everybody that supported the day," Mr Dobson said.