The Mt Beauty Gardening Girls announced as the 2023 Bernece Delany Volunteer Award recipients
16 May 2023
Pictured L to R: Gardening Girls and Alpine Health staff with one of their many projects : Pauline Wiffen (Gardening Girl), Sally Browning, Kristy Whitefield (AH Staff), Michael Whipps (Community Member), Dan van der Ploeg (AH staff), Marie Lucas-Gear, Sue Ryder, Maureen Magill.
The Bernece Delany Volunteer Award commenced in 2014 and recognises volunteers who exemplify the generosity of volunteering and selflessly give their time and talent to benefit others in the Alpine community.
The annual Bernece Delany Volunteer Award is a unique local opportunity to say 'thank you' to our volunteers during National Volunteer Week 15 – 21 May 2023.
The 2023 Bernece Delany Volunteer Award has been awarded to the Mt Beauty Gardening Girls who will receive a $500 donation to give to a community group of their choice.
The Mt Beauty Gardening Girls have volunteered their time for 10 years to develop and maintain the gardens at the Mount Beauty Hospital. Sue Ryder, Gardening Girls group lead said " it all started in August 2014, when visiting Dot and Lorna and looking out the window and seeing some blackberry bushes in the garden. It's grown from there and the group members have changed over the years. The most recent group of members include Sally Browning, Pauline Wiffen, Marie Lucas-Gear, Rae Dart, Maureen Magill and myself. We meet every Wednesday or Thursday except when it rains."
The team raise funds through the sale of potted plants at the Hospital Op Shop and these along with help from other funds support new initiatives and projects including garden furniture, shade sales, courtyard gardens, sculptures, indoor pot plants and rock edging.
Alpine Health Staff, patients at Mt Beauty Hospital, residents of Kiewa Valley House and the wider community are very grateful to have a wonderful group who make such a meaningful contribution to the community.
Nick Shaw CEO said "the Gardening Girls have created a beautiful, welcoming space which contributes to the positive feel to the place."
Congratulations to the Mt Beauty Gardening Girls, and thank you for all that you do for our community!
Alpine Health would also like to acknowledge runner up Georgie Nolan who has been volunteering her time with Alpine Leisure Group in Myrtleford for 13 years.
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