Roslyn Gaylor, Treasurer and Volunteer at Diamond Creek Op Shop, with Anita Rivera, Director Fundraising and Corporate Communications

3 April 2025

Last Thursday, 27 March, the Diamond Creek Opportunity Shop presented Austin Health with an incredible cheque of $320,374 at its Annual General Meeting (AGM). This annual event celebrates the shop’s remarkable achievements and the dedicated volunteers who make it all happen.

Between 1 March 2024 and 28 February 2025, 52 volunteers contributed over 13,626 hours to running the Op Shop, raising this outstanding sum. Their tireless efforts continue to make a significant impact on patient care at Austin Health.

Diamond Creek Op Shop President, Gail Gilham, reflected on the dedication of the Op Shop’s volunteers “who have dedicated hundreds of hours of their time this past year to generously support the wonderful Op Shop”.

“Taking on the responsibility of supporting and caring for our wonderful crew of 50 volunteers here at our Op Shop has been a humbling experience and leaves me in even more awe than I already had been of what we achieve here and the ladies who have served as President each of the 51 years before me,” said Gail.

Jodi Batchelor, Manager of Volunteer Engagement, expressed her admiration for the volunteers, saying:

“A massive thank you to the incredible volunteers at the Diamond Creek Op Shop. Your dedication and hard work in keeping the legacy of giving alive is truly something special. Thanks to you, vital equipment can be purchased - things that wouldn’t be possible otherwise - and that impact is literally saving lives. What you achieve is remarkable, and we are so grateful for all that you do.”

Anita Rivera, Director of Fundraising and Corporate Communications, highlighted the real-world impact of their fundraising:

“With the acquisition of equipment like the Kidney Perfusion Machine, kidney transplants at Austin Health have increased by 35 per cent, whereas transplants at most other hospitals have declined. Over the years, the Diamond Creek Op Shop has raised an astounding $4.7 million - our volunteers truly make a difference to the entire community.”

The AGM also recognised two exceptional volunteers, Yvonne Dunt and Claire Weaver, who were inducted into the Victorian Public Healthcare Awards’ ‘Health Volunteer Honour Roll.’

Kathleen Barrett, Volunteer Engagement Adviser, described the nomination process:

“The process of nominating Yvonne and Claire began in early 2024, with confirmation in October they were both deserving recipients. They have not only met but surpassed an incredible milestone - 50 years of volunteer service to Austin Health!"

Volunteers Yvonne Dunt and Claire Weaver

The event featured guest speakers Dr Eoin Mac Craith, Urology Clinical Fellow, and Jayne Ramsdale, Clinical Nurse Educator ICU.

Eoin provided an update on the da Vinci Xi robotic surgery system, which was made possible by a previous donation from the Op Shop.

“With reduced recovery times, patients can return to their normal routines faster and enjoy a better quality of life. Everyone benefits - patients, surgeons, and trainees,” said Dr Eoin.

Jayne discussed the impact of the SimMan Critical Care Manikin, a high fidelity simulation training tool for ICU staff.

“There are many manikins used in hospitals, but the SimMan is something we’ve never had before. Its ability to simulate real human conditions is a game-changer for training doctors and nurses,” she said.

A heartfelt thank you to each and every volunteer who makes this work possible. Your generosity and dedication are making a lasting difference for our patients, their families, our staff, and the broader community.