News

Shoalhaven Palliative Care Volunteer June Spurr has received two awards recently in recognition of her contributions as a volunteer. June was named the Illawarra Shoalhaven Local Health District’s Volunteer of the Year at the end of 2015, in recognition of her tireless dedication to the Shoalhaven Palliative Care Service.  She was then awarded a silver medal at the Shoalhaven City Council Australia Day Citizen of the Year awards on January 21, 2016.

June, who is a Nowra local, has donated her time to the Service for the past 22 years, and counting, and has made an exceptional contribution to the local community. Shoalhaven Palliative Care Volunteer Coordinator, Elanne Thompson, said we are so fortunate to have such a dedicated and inspirational volunteer in June – who has made a difference to the lives of so many people within our community. June always approaches her volunteering work with a beautiful smile, great compassion and total selflessness.

In her role as a volunteer with the service, June has assisted many people in many ways, including attending to patients at the Karinya Palliative Care Unit at Berry, visiting community Palliative Care clients in their homes and, for the past five years, making weekly visits to David Berry Hospital to assist the patients in the Rehabilitation Ward.

At the Rehabilitation Ward she helps with the little things that can be so important – such as participating in games and activities, encouraging social interaction or just being a friendly ear for someone who is lonely or helping someone get outside to enjoy the fresh air, sunshine and the beautiful grounds at the Hospital. June continually goes above and beyond – even knitting beanies for the patients in her ‘spare’ time!

When the Volunteer Service was asked recently to assist at the Rehabilitation Ward at Shoalhaven Hospital in Nowra, June was the first to put her hand up. She now attends Shoalhaven most weeks, along with other dedicated volunteers, to provide activities and social interaction for the patients.

June is affectionately known as the Volunteer ‘poster girl’ for promoting the Palliative Care Volunteer Service. She leads by example and has been instrumental in mentoring and inspiring countless new volunteers over the years.

Pic: June Spurr (L) receiving her Volunteer of 2015 Award with Margot Mains, Chief Executive Illawarra Shoalhaven Local Health District