News

Hospital commends heartfelt support

By Ryan Bellingham

Dec 1, 2025

Echuca Regional Health commended its donors at a recent morning tea. Pictured are Jan Sullivan and Joan Johnston. Photo by JORDAN TOWNROW

The generosity of community members was applauded at an Echuca Regional Health donor recognition morning tea on Tuesday, November 25.

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Students from the St Mary’s School Echuca Year 1 to 4 choir serenaded attendees with multiple performances before hospital chief executive Carol-Anne Lever expressed her extreme gratitude to donors.

ERH chief executive Carol-Anne Lever. Photo by JORDAN TOWNROW

“I've only been here nine or 10 weeks, and it feels like every day there's an envelope coming with something, or a suggestion from someone,” she said.

“I feel like I'm living on another planet because it is overwhelming the amount of support that the Echuca community shows to the hospital.”

Funds are raised for the hospital through direct donations, raffles and community or sporting events, and in-kind donations, such as knitted items, contribute to patient wellbeing.

Ray Hamilton, Pete Gibson, Mark Thomson, John Vincent and Michael Dubourg. Photo by JORDAN TOWNROW

More than 3000 handcrafted items were donated to the hospital in the past year, dispersed between the 30,000 people who presented to the emergency department, 17,500 hospital admissions and 373 babies born last year.

“That is a massive amount of people that you are impacting and touching and helping us care for, and we can't thank you enough,” Ms Lever said.

Christy O'Brien, Jodie Black and Emily Thorpe. Photo by JORDAN TOWNROW

Fundraising committee chair Scott Webb thanked attendees on behalf of the ERH board, and acknowledged all contributions while highlighting major events and donors.

Mr Webb said the morning was all about celebrating the past year’s achievements, and outlining fundraising priorities going forward.

Fundraising committee chair Scott Webb. Photo by JORDAN TOWNROW

“Our current mental health and wellbeing initiative, we're nearly close to the $500,000 goal that we were trying to reach. We're just off the edge of that,” he said.

“We're particularly proud of how we're doing in our Cancer and Wellness Centre. It's certainly a big fundraising initiative, and it's providing so much support to the local community.”

This year’s hospital Christmas raffle will go towards its mental health and wellbeing drive, which Mr Webb hoped would help the committee reach its goal.