Alfred Health News

After more than 30 years of running the Helmsmen Kiosk at Caulfield Hospital, the auxiliary has reached a major milestone. With its most recent donation to the hospital of more than $50,000, total proceeds now top one million dollars.

The kiosk first opened in 1979 and that year gave a donation of $740. Donations have steadily built up every year as volunteers have sold snacks, newspapers, bathroom necessities and gifts to staff, patients and volunteers.

Each year the annual donation is used to purchase important medical equipment. This year the donation will benefit a host of areas including the aged care inpatient wards, podiatry, consulting suites, continence clinic, community rehabilitation and aged psychiatry.

Andrew Perta, clinical service director - rehabilitation, aged & community care, called this a "phenomenal effort".

"It's just amazing that these women have spent decades volunteering their own time to raise this much money for their local hospital. There is no doubt they have made an enormous contribution to the care we provide our patients," Andrew said.

"We are so fortunate to have such a dedicated group of volunteers who run this kiosk six days a week all year round. We thank them again for their tireless efforts."