News

Palliative Care Support Volunteers from CRANES Community Support Programs, based in Grafton, gathered for a special morning tea on Wednesday last week to celebrate National Volunteer Week.

It was also an opportunity for CRANES to acknowledge the commitment of three dedicated people who have given ten years service to supporting members of our community who are living with life limiting illness.

Shirley Burke and Christine Fuller both from Grafton, and Stephanye Holden of Ashby graduated together from the “class of 2006” in Palliative Care Volunteer training and have been stalwarts of the program ever since.

Joining in the celebration was the group of volunteers with collectively over 45 years experience as Palliative Care volunteers.

The volunteers’ mission is to help people at home achieve the best possible quality of life and ensure that their care givers have regular much-needed breaks.

The Volunteer Support Service began in 2004 and continues to grow with the support of local community donations.

In the past four years 100 families in the Clarence Valley have received support from having a CRANES Palliative Care volunteer in their life.

Pic from left to right: Christine Forino, Shirley Burke (seated), Maggie Barnewall (Coordinator), Bob White, Helen Stratford, Karen Childs, Stephanye Holden, Julie Helisma, Christine Fuller (seated).

For information about the CRANES Palliative Care Volunteer Support Service please call Maggie Barnewall on 02 6642 7257.