HOSPICE WEEK : CHAMPIONS WHO CARE
A champion isn't made of muscle; a champion is made of heart! Liang Chow
Knysna-Sedgefield Hospice is celebrating 30 years of providing quality palliative care to patients with progressive, incurable or chronic debilitating illnesses.
Knysna-Sedgefield Hospice started informally in 1986 from the boot of a car when a nurse and doctor worked together to provide care to those who needed it at home.
In 1990 B.O.N.D. House was handed over to Hospice and the official opening was on 5thAugust 1990.
Our first Day Care started on 29 January 1991 with 5 patients, a doctor, and two volunteers.
Today we salute our founding members and all the champions who are still contributing to the success of Hospice in the greater Knysna community.
Just to mention some of our early champions:
- Dr. Joan Louwrens, she lost her husband due to cancer
- Nurses Sue Brukman, Fiona Simpson, Glennys Hyde, Alison Evans, Audrey Collins, Jenny Shaw
- Viv and Pete Vadas donated the first much needed answering machine
- Eleanor Pawson with Tracey Kohler started the first daycare (getting the ladies to knit, crochet and do needlework),
- Margi Ben, Millie White, Mike Lawson -first event organisers
- Marilyn Cairns - first secretary of Hospice
- Joan Chapman and Louis Matthee were the first garden volunteers
- Gordon Bamford helped establish the Hospice shop
- Jenny Patrick and Cathy Bath - Hospice care givers
- James van Heerden spiritual adviser
- Marion McDonald, Ruth Bodmer, Margeret Senior
Today and still going strong are: Nurse Dina Arends, Social worker Anne Cretchley, Lynne Barnhoorn (fundraising committee)
Faithfully the baton has been passed on to others to continue the good and much-needed service in our area. Today we have 7 full-time professional nurses, one medical doctor, 2 social workers and 30 community health workers providing care and support at no cost to about 310 patients per month and our vehicles travel over 14,000 kms per month.
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