Charlie Watt Volunteer of the Month Award

SOUTH WEST TAFE - MEDIA RELEASE

Apart from raising eight children with husband Bruce and working their sheep and cropping farm north of Hamilton, Lesley Bastock-Lewis has transformed into an award-winning student with a new career in nursing. 

Ms Bastock-Lewis has been named South West TAFE Outstanding Vocational Student of the Year and has been quick to find work from her nursing studies with a graduate position at Western District Health Service.

“To win the award is quite humbling and I feel very proud,” she said. “I did work very hard and set high goals for myself during the two years.”

Those high expectations have paid off. “The Diploma opened a whole new world for me,” she said. “You’re only limited by your imagination and your own ambition.”

Ms Bastock-Lewis achieved excellent academic results, glowing reports from clinical placements and was also recognised as an outstanding student by the Australian Nursing and Midwifery Federation.

Ms Bastock-Lewis had lived in an Aboriginal community for seven years, been a full-time mum and worked in clerical and aged care fields before meeting Bruce and moving to the farm.

“My plan was always to do nursing but different circumstances took me away from it,” she said. “Now it was the right time and the right place.”

Ms Bastock-Lewis says the course was challenging but worth the effort. “The delivery was sensational,” she said. “We were blessed in Hamilton with really good lecturers who are passionate about nursing and educating really good nurses, not just ticking off boxes.

“It’s been a great head start to my career.”

Her role as a graduate nurse at Western District Health Service has confirmed her enthusiasm for working in the field. “I’ve been lucky enough to be on surgical ward for the first few months which has been outstanding. It’s been a great consolidation of skills I learnt during the course,” she said.

After her graduation year, Ms Bastock-Lewis will consider further study, potentially in aged care, dementia studies or a Bachelor of Nursing.

“I’m leaving it open-ended until the end of the year,” she said. “I’m 51 so time is against me but I want to work everywhere that I can.”

Nursing teacher Danielle Hobbs said Ms Bastock-Lewis had been an amazing asset to the class environment and will make a positive difference to the industry.

July Volunteer of the Month, Anne Milne with her award

Anne Milne is the Western District Health Service (WDHS) Volunteer of the Month for July and has been volunteering on the Comforts Trolley at Hamilton Hospital for an impressive 20 years.

The comforts trolley provides toiletries, magazines and snacks for patients to purchase on the wards, Monday to Friday each week.

Volunteer Coordinator, Jeanette Ryan says the trolley volunteers not only provide patient necessities, but valuable interactions when they stop for a chat.

“The Comforts Trolley is not only about the physical comforts, the volunteers also provide company and conversation to patients as well.

Mrs Milne is one of around 10 volunteers who are rostered on the trolley and for two decades she has supported this service, which is an incredible contribution,” Ms Ryan said.

WDHS May Volunteer of the Month, Rayleen Holliday

The Western District Health Service (WDHS) May Volunteer of the Month is Rayleen Holliday, who has volunteered for the Health Service for over 14 years.

Ms Holliday pays weekly visits to the residents at the Grange, providing important companionship and community interaction.

She also helps out with the Door Knock Appeal each year and prior to commencing with WDHS she also visited residents at the Grange as a Community Connections volunteer.

Volunteer Coordinator, Jeanette Ryan says despite suffering ill health over a number of years, Ms Holliday has continued to be a great support and offer assistance wherever possible.

“Rayleen is a reliable and loyal volunteer, who has supported the Grange Residential Care residents for many years.

WDHS is very fortunate to have Rayleen and so many volunteers who have contributed to the organisation over a long period,” Ms Ryan said.

WDHS Hotel Services Coordinator, Norm Saligari with WDHS February Volunteer of the Month, Neil Sandford

Western District Health Service (WDHS) February Volunteer of the Month, Neil Sandford started volunteering with WDHS nine years ago, supporting many areas of the Health Service.

Neil currently volunteers twice a week assisting the Hotel Services team to transport recyclable materials to the waste transfer station, as part of the WDHS Onsite Waste Management Program.

Neil also assists with the Penshurst Planned Activity Group (PAG) fortnightly on a Thursday and on Friday’s he delivers PAG clients home at the end of the day.  He also drives the hospital Podiatrist to and from Penshurst for client appointments each week.

WDHS Volunteer Coordinator, Jeanette Ryan says Neil always makes himself available to help out where he can and is an invaluable contributor to the Health Service.

“Neil is amazing, when he is not already volunteering he helps out with community transport runs, barbeques at fundraising events (including the Skate Festival and Golf Tournament) and anything else we need,” Ms Ryan said.

Hotel Services Coordinator, Norm Saligari says Neil is prompt, courteous and reliable and is always ready to help out.

“Neil carries out his volunteering duties admirably, safely and efficiently – nothing ever seems too hard for Neil and he is a great help to our waste management team, his work in my view goes well above and beyond,” Mr Saligari said.