By Tanya Steele
The Gully market recently made another amazing donation to the Upper Ferntree Gully Angliss Hospital this April, donating 5,000 dollars to support their on-site Emergency Department.
Operating every Saturday and Sunday from the Upper Gully Station car park, the team of community market volunteers continue to give back to their community in the Outer East of Melbourne.
Gully Market President Ian Rice and fellow volunteers were invited on-site at Angliss in Upper Ferntree Gully on Thursday 3 April to mark the current donation and see the results of a donation they made in previous years.
An upgraded patient monitor that helps the team at Angliss manage and monitor patients’ vital signs including their heart rate and oxygen saturation levels has been getting daily use thanks to their previous donation. in 2023.
“It was great to see what the money went towards,” said Mr Rice.
“Hopefully we can now sort out what we can donate to the next time,” he said.
The Gully Market team were then invited by Angliss to discuss their current donation, looking over a small wish list the Angliss staff had made up for the team.
The group will now look over a list of potential donation items they could direct the current funds towards, with vital everyday equipment always needed at the hospital.
An Eastern Health spokesperson said that Eastern Health sincerely appreciates the fundraising efforts of the Gully Market.
“It is a privilege to serve our community, and we are deeply grateful for this generous contribution,” they said.
The hospital is vital to the local community and Mr Rice said whatever money has been raised by the market, after costs, will always go back to local community groups in his local area.
In 2024 the Gully Market made several donations to local causes including the Boronia RSL, The Otis Foundation, the Prostate Cancer Foundation, the Upper Gully CFA, Foothills Community Care and the Ferntree Gully Salvation Army Food Bank.
The Gully Market team thoroughly enjoyed their visit and Mr Rice said they will continue to place funds across local community groups.
“When people support our local market, we can then continue to give back to the community,” he said.
