Neil Thomas is leaving Echuca Regional Health’s fundraising committee after more than a decade of volunteering.
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Ryan Bellingham
After 14 years of service to Echuca Regional Health, Neil Thomas will be stepping down from his role as chair of the fundraising committee.
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Looking back on his time, the highlights for Mr Thomas are all about the community.
After more than 37 years with Victoria Police, an occupation which led him to Echuca as inspector, Mr Thomas signalled his interest in volunteering during his retirement speech.
Shortly afterwards, former ERH board member Handel Aubrey asked if he would like to help with fundraising efforts for a new hospital.
In mid-2011 he began work in a voluntary role and, a year later, nine other community members joined Mr Thomas in forming the successful Make Your Mark committee.
Make Your Mark committee members Dorothy Maughan, Handel Aubrey, Des Carey, Neil Thomas, Di van der Zypp, Clint Flanigan and Ingrid Lewis. Absent are Roger Wakefield, Carol Worsnop and Alan Whitten.
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“And then we just fundraised. We had a target and we exceeded the target — we got over $3 million,” Mr Thomas said.
While the hospital had secured government funding for major redevelopments, Mr Thomas said the “gravy” was not included in that money.
“If you think about a meal, the meat and potatoes — the buildings — always come under the government,” he said.
“But the extra parts, they expect communities to fundraise for that.”
The committee’s fundraising success came from tying donations to specific items, such as bedside tables, letting donors know exactly how their money would help.
Everybody who contributed to the campaign also had their name added to a wall of honour, which is still on display at the hospital’s entrance.
“The kids who donated 20 cents, or the people who donated $100,000, they’re all on there,” Mr Thomas said.
“There’s recognition for everyone.”
Mr Thomas pictured in front of the wall of honour.
After about eight years as the chair of Make Your Mark, Mr Thomas was invited to join the hospital’s fundraising committee.
For the past six years, the fundraising committee has focused on supporting the Cancer and Wellness Centre and mental health services.
With permission, Mr Thomas shared the story of Echuca businesspeople Norm and Robyn Sharp, who have given generously to appeals over the years.
During a round of calls Mr Thomas routinely made around Christmas to thank major donors, Mr Sharp told him his wife had just been diagnosed with cancer.
“He said, ‘I don’t believe it. We just donated hoping that it’s going to help someone else’,” Mr Thomas said.
Sadly, Mrs Sharp passed away this year, but Mr Thomas said her husband and daughter were grateful for his call and praised the staff and care at ERH.
Mr Thomas said working with the hospital team and meeting “genuine people,” as well as achieving all the committee’s goals, were the highlights of his role.
“It’s really the community spirit, and as I say, it was a team effort,” he said.
With 14 grandchildren between Melbourne and Tasmania, Mr Thomas is now spending more time visiting family, on top of running the Great Aussie Beer Shed.
He said it was now time to pass the torch on to the next generation of committee members.
“They’ve got a couple of really good younger community members on there,” he said.
“And young ones have got great ideas.”
Mr Thomas urged anyone considering volunteering in any community role to put themselves out there.
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