Denise has helping hands

By Casey Neill
ANGLISS Hospital volunteer Denise Gravatt’s reason for lending a hand is simple – she enjoys helping people and making new friends.
A friend suggested the Ferntree Gully 66-year-old join the Ferntree Gully Auxiliary 15 years ago when she’d finished work. She’s never looked back, and last month picked up Knox City Council’s Volunteer of the Year Australia Day Award for her efforts.
“It was nice and unexpected,” she said.
“You’re only as good as the team behind you.”
Mrs Gravatt has been the auxiliary’s secretary for the past 11 years, and took on the opp shop manager role a year ago.
She revamped the store to make it more user-friendly, and has completed “a lot of paperwork” in her secretary role.
Mrs Gravatt also helps to organise the group’s July fashion parade fundraiser featuring opp shop garments, Mother’s Day raffle, sausage sizzles and more.
Funds raised go towards a hospital ‘wish list’, which has included new operating tables and other crucial equipment.
The group also makes theatre bags with books, crayons and toys for kids having operations, hands out trauma teddies, knits bonnets and jackets for the maternity ward, and collects gifts at Christmas.
“We all work as a team,” she said.
Mrs Gravatt said she couldn’t play her part without her husband Brian’s support.
Over the past 40 years she has also volunteered at Fairhills Primary Mothers Club, was a Boronia Soccer Club founding member, and was part of the Boronia Country Women’s Association.
The Ferntree Gully Angliss Hospital Auxiliary generally meets on the second Tuesday of each month, and is always looking for new members. Call 9763 4803 for more information.