By Charlene Macaulay
It’s the barefoot bowls event that will help sick and premature babies get the best start to life.
The Werribee Bowls Club has joined forces with the Werribee Hospital Foundation to host a barefoot bowls and barbecue fundraiser next month, with all proceeds going towards new equipment for the special care nursery at Werribee Mercy Hospital.
Werribee Hospital Foundation community engagement and fundraising manager Lisa Field said it was hoped the event would raise enough money to purchase a Neopuff infant resuscitator.
About 700 babies are cared for in the special care nursery each year.
Ms Field said 3867 babies were delivered at Werribee Mercy in 2018, with even more expected this year – meaning an increased demand for special care nursery services.
“The special care nursery is just one area of maternity services … we are getting ready to fundraise for more children’s services, because about 16 per cent of the patients going through the hospital are children, and 25 per cent of emergency department presentations are children,” she said.
“We’ve got a high youth population in the community … the hospital needs to keep pace with the needs of the community.”
Ms Field said the foundation hoped to eventually purchase four Neopuff resuscitators for the unit through a series of fundraisers. Each resuscitator costs about $1800.
The barefoot bowls and barbecue fundraiser will be held on Friday, March 22, from 6-10pm at the Werribee Bowls Club at Chirnside Park, Watton Street, Werribee, and will include social bowls, a barbecue, salads and raffle. Tickets cost $20.
To book or make a donation, call Lisa on 0433 559 530 or email lisa.field@werribeehospitalfoundation.org.au
