Celebrating 90 years of the Mater Auxiliary
24th August 2017
From humble beginnings to becoming the major fundraising arm of Calvary Mater Newcastle, the Mater Auxiliary has much to celebrate this August as it reaches its ninetieth year of operation.
On 24 August 1927 the Mater Ladies’ Auxiliary was formed with Mrs J.W. Greaves taking up the helm as President. With six members, the group was established at ‘Enmore Hall’, the original Newcastle Misericordiae Hospital staffed by the Sisters of Mercy (Singleton).
To celebrate this milestone anniversary, Auxiliary members both past and present joined together on Tuesday 22 August at Calvary Mater Newcastle for a Mass and a celebration luncheon.
The day started with a Mass where members were presented with yellow roses as a sign of appreciation. Staff where then given the opportunity to acknowledge the Auxiliary’s wonderful contribution to the hospital by forming a guard of honour, reaching from the Chapel to the Mater Lecture Theatre. Staff clapped the Auxiliary on the way to lunch, a very simple but very moving tribute which overwhelmed many of the Auxiliary members.
Besides past and present Auxiliary members, guests from the local community and Matt Hanrahan, Calvary National Chief Operating Officer, Mark Green, National Director of Mission and Bryan McLoughlin, National Director at Calvary Retirement Communities attended the celebrations.
Elaine Wellard, Auxiliary President, said,
“Looking back at the history of the Mater Auxiliary it is easy to feel a deep sense of gratitude towards those members who contributed so richly to the life of the Mater and in return left a wonderful legacy both for the hospital and its Auxiliary. It is a privilege to be part of this wonderful Auxiliary and we look forward to serving our community for many more years to come.”
Greg Flint, Chief Executive Officer, comments, “While the Auxiliary’s role at the Mater has evolved throughout the years, the selflessness of members, both past and present, remains. This inspiring group continues to be an integral part of the hospital with the bare foundations laid by the courageous and dedicated women who formed the Mater Auxiliary in 1927.”
A brief summary of the Mater Auxiliary history:
On 24 August 1927 the Mater Ladies’ Auxiliary was formed with Mrs J.W. Greaves taking up the helm as President. With six members, the group was established at ‘Enmore Hall’, the original Newcastle Misericordiae Hospital staffed by the Sisters of Mercy (Singleton).
While fundraising may have been one of the Auxiliary’s objectives, initially there was little money to handle, so instead the group turned their talents to sewing. From doctor’s gowns to mosquito nets, pan covers to pillow cases, the ladies sewing skills were very much appreciated by all at the hospital.
The Auxiliary’s first function in 1927 was a car drive making a profit of 25 pounds. Other sources of fundraising were card parties, musicals, race days and the organisation of the Annual Ball, a prime social event that was later run by a dedicated committee.
Under Mrs Greaves leadership the Auxiliary went on to flourish and branches of the hospital’s Auxiliary were also formed in Broadmeadow, Newcastle, Hamilton, Singleton and Stockton. These separate branches continued to function until approximately 1970 and the parent branch remained and continued to thrive and develop to the Auxiliary it is nowadays, including accepting men as members.
In the 1950s the Auxiliaries joined into one charitable body known as Newcastle Mater Misericordiae Hospital Ladies Auxiliary and in 2007 became known as Calvary Mater Newcastle Auxiliary ‘Cancer Carers’. Today the Auxiliary is a group of 30 dedicated volunteers, both men and women, ranging in age from 57 to 99 years, who dedicate their time to raise funds to purchase items of comfort and care for patients at the hospital.
It is recorded that from the period 2000 to 2017, the Auxiliary has raised over $3.8 million on behalf of the Mater. And over the past financial year, 2016-17, the Auxiliary purchased hospital equipment and made donations to the value of $182,407.68 with further equipment to the value of $120,594 on order.
