But Echuca Regional Health could not run without them.
Here is the story of an ERH volunteer.
VIDEO: Marg Shinns shares her story
MARG Shinns has witnessed the full gamut of emotions from the Echuca Regional Health gift shop counter.
She’s seen the pure joy of a first grandchild.
The bittersweetness of a get-well-soon gift.
But whatever your needs, she – along with the rest of the gift shop crew – will do whatever she can to find you the perfect something for the beloved someone.
And all proceeds go back to the hospital.
“In the time since we opened the shop we have given $250,000 to the hospital just from us little old ladies selling things,” Marg said.
Many of these “little old ladies” have been true stalwarts of the shop.
Marg has been there since its inception 30 years ago.
“I was just looking for something to do for the community,” she said.
“I was a member of the local Red Cross unit and as an extension from that I heard they were forming an auxiliary to raise funds for the hospital – so I joined that as well.”Initially running the hospital fete, mannequin parades and raffles down the street – “anything to raise money” – auxiliary duties were later expanded to include touring the wards with a trolley of newspapers and sweets for patients.
Finally, the hospital offered to set up a little gift shop at the entrance of the hospital.
And while it’s enjoyed a few different locations since (it’s now past the coffee shop on the left), the wide range of goodies remain.
“We have a good selection of hand-knitted baby wear, toys, jewellery, quilts, scarves, flowers – anything you want, we've got,” Marg said.
She said the auxiliary tried to stipulate where the funds raised would go.
“Our next project is some more equipment for rehab,” she said.
“Oncology and those sorts of departments get plenty of money donated to them but we try to give money to the departments that are less 'glamorous'.”
She may have been there 30 years, but Marg shows no signs of slowing down.
“I'm not a rich person, I can't afford to donate money and it's just my way of being grateful for living in a great country and having the best health service,” she said.
“My husband's been sick lately and there's been no problem, you just go straight in. And that's just my way of giving back.”