Rachael Spurway is a special kind of person. The eighty-eight year old from North Haven spends countless hours knitting ‘trauma teddies’ in the hope they will comfort children in hospital.
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Rachael recently finished creating her 1000th trauma teddy, an accomplishment celebrated by her fellow Camden Haven Auxiliary volunteers and Port Macquarie Base Hospital representatives.
Paediatric Nursing Unit Manager Cheryl Nolte presented Rachael with a certificate of appreciation at an Auxiliary meeting on Monday, describing the trauma teddy specialist as a kind and generous person.
“Rachael’s trauma teddies are one-of-a-kind bears made from wool and with plenty of love,” Ms Nolte said.
“The bears have a calming effect on children who are frightened or in pain, which is why they are so valued by the Ambulance service and hospital Emergency Departments and Paediatric Units.
“They comfort children experiencing trauma – hugged and squeezed hard when needed most.
“We are indebted to Rachael, and all our volunteers, for the difference they make to our patients.”
Camden Haven branch President Alayne Menzies also thanked Rachael for her years of service to the branch, which raises funds to support the Camden Haven Community Health Centre in Laurieton, and her dedication to the trauma teddy program.
“We are very lucky in the Camden Haven to have such dedicated people in our midst; people who see a need and act on it,” Mrs Menzies said.
“We achieve great outcomes for our community because we have strong support from our community. And every now and then we are reminded, by people like Rachael Spurway, how good it is to do something for others.”
