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A message from the Manager

I am incredibly proud to share that Warrnambool & District Community Hospice has been announced as a Finalist for the 2021 Volunteering Victoria COVID-19 Resilience Award. The award recognises resilience in adapting to accommodate COVID-19 social distancing requirements and changes while still delivering high quality services to our community. It is also wonderful recognition of the incredible kindness, compassion and community-spirit that drives our volunteers. Their dedication to working safely through the pandemic has helped many people in our community make the most of their final days in the comfort of home. Our team will attend the Awards ceremony on Friday 25 March 2022 at Government House hosted by honourable Linda Dessau AC, Governor of Victoria.

As a not-for-profit organisation, our Hospice in the Home program would not be possible without the generous contribution of our supporters and volunteers. We are eternally grateful for the support which has seen our volunteers provide over 1200 hours of in-home support to 30 local clients and their families in 2021 and help meet rising demand for our service.

So to all our supporters and volunteers, a big thank you. We look forward to continuing our work in 2022.

Emmalee Bell, Manager – Warrnambool & District Community Hospice

Volunteer Tour of Guyetts Funerals

At Warrnambool & District Community Hospice we acknowledge that volunteers are vital to our success and recognise the importance of providing continual growth and development opportunities for them.

For our February Volunteer Meeting Adam Jones from Guyetts Funerals kindly took the team on a tour of the Eastern Park Complex to learn abut how people are cared for after death and requirements of funerals, burials and cremations.

It gave our volunteers wonderful insight into the compassionate care which is provided to our community once death has occurred and some of the changes that have occurred in the funeral industry as a result of COVID-19. Since the pandemic, smaller in-person attendance at funerals have become more common, allowing immediate families to support each other in their grief, without feeling the pressure of having to interact with a large group of people on the day. Live streaming services have also increased in popularity, allowing a wider community to still express their support for the families.

We express our gratitude to Adam and Guyetts Funerals for their generosity of time and sharing their wealth of knowledge with us.

National Advance Care Planning Week

Your choice. Now and always. Get involved in National Advance Care Planning Week, 21 – 27 March 2022

Did you know that only 15% of Australians have an advance care directive? National Advance Care Planning Week is the perfect time to have a heart to heart with someone close to you and document your values and preferences. Have the conversations now to ensure more control over your health care choices into the future. Visit www.acpweek.org.au for more information.

Warrnambool & District Community Hospice also hosts monthly End of Life Preparation Workshops, facilitated by Dr Eric Fairbank at the Archie Graham Community Centre.

Over the course of 2 hours you will learn about advance care planning, powers of attorney and wills. You will be supported to complete your end of life care plan, life review and funeral plan, as well as provided with a template for gathering your medical, personal, legal and financial information in one place.

The next workshop is Thursday 14 April, 2pm - 4pm. Attendance is limited and bookings are essential. Please call the Archie Graham Centre on (03) 5559 4800 to book your spot.

Volunteer Information Session

To find out more about what is involved in being an end-of-life care volunteer, come to our information session at Wannon Room on Wednesday 30 March at 5.30pm.