Fundraising

Ipswich Hospital Foundation (IHF) is pleased to announce the appointment of three new board members, Dr. Geoff Mitchell, Jacinta Dale and Jillian Fox.

The new board appointees represent the diverse groups that support and drive IHF’s growth and influence. Each member brings knowledge and expertise from their respective field to the Foundation and is a passionate local community member.

Dr. Geoff Mitchell is Emeritus Professor of General Practice and Palliative Care who retired from full-time work at the University of Queensland in 2019 to return to general practice. He has worked 37 years as a GP in Ipswich, and his family has lived in Ipswich for 17 years. His extensive medical experience and community background will provide a substantial contribution to the IHF board in terms of the need for local medical support in the West Moreton region.

Jacinta Dale is an experienced business lawyer, having practiced in corporate, commercial, litigation, regulatory and property law. She is also a governance professional, bringing over ten years of experience delivering company secretarial support services to the IHF board. Jacinta is the founder of Abledale Law, an Ipswich firm, and is a fourth generation Ipswich local.

Jillian Fox is an accomplished senior executive with many years of strategic leadership and management experience. With her extensive experience in the community and healthcare sector, Jillian brings a strong commitment to values and governance.

Prof. Geraldine Mackenzie, Board Chair of IHF said, “We are delighted to welcome three new members to the IHF Board. They bring a wealth of experience and expertise, which is extraordinarily beneficial as we continue our efforts to support West Moreton Health to deliver safe, quality healthcare.”

Scott Young, CEO of IHF, said, “The new members join the IHF board at a time of growth and opportunities for IHF. Their guidance and advice will be instrumental in helping us continue to raise awareness of IHF within our community.”

The beloved Ipswich charity event, Regina & Vicki Doig Fund Morning Tea 2023 will be hosted by Ipswich Hospital Foundation and Regina Doig’s younger sister, Vicki Doig, at Brothers League Club, 20 Wildey Street, Raceview on Saturday, March 4^th this year.

The Regina & Vicki Doig Fund is a charity fund established by the Ipswich Hospital Foundation and Vicki Doig as a legacy for her sister who died tragically of lymphoma cancer at the age of just 39.

Regina Doig was a qualified music and language secondary school teacher. She gave her living body over to her doctors before her passing and fervently believed that with research, other lives could be saved in the future.

A familiar face to many, Vicki Doig is the former Director of the Milford Street Ipswich Kindergarten for 40 years and a proud, third-generation Ipswich resident.

Vicki is passionate about building the capability of the region through innovative medical research and wishes to leave a lasting legacy in her sister’s name to enrich the lives of people in the Ipswich and West Moreton community.

“I guess I never thought my sister would die of cancer. In 34 years, they have come so far in research. If she fell sick now, she may well have survived.

“This is why I want to start the Regina & Vicki Doig Fund – to assist with local medical research.

“She was a ballet dancer, a teacher, fluent in German and French, well educated, she was musical, highly intelligent, and shy.

“She believed girls could always achieve their dreams through education and when she believed in something, she would battle for anything,” Vicki said.

With the support from the event attendees and donors, the Fund will provide much-needed assistance in funding medical research by local researchers, for the benefit of the local community.

Last year over a hundred people attended the Morning Tea and donated to the Regina & Vicki Doig Fund. It was an event enjoyed by all.

Those wishing to secure their seats or donate to the Regina & Vicki Doig Fund please visit: https://morning-tea.ihfoundation.org.au/.

Online registrations have opened for one of southeast Queensland’s favourite charity bike rides, the St Andrew’s Private Hospital Ipswich100 on Sunday 26 March 2023.

The ride is a Brisbane West (BW) Lions Club initiative in association with the Ipswich Hospital Foundation (IHF), and 2023 will mark the 24th year of the ride in Ipswich and the Scenic Rim region, with cyclists testing their fitness and supporting worthy causes.

The Ipswich100 Charity Bike Rides offer cyclists three routes, from a challenging Imperial 100-mile ride (169km) to 100km and 50 km rides.

Cyclists start and finish at Ipswich’s picturesque University of Southern Qld campus and pass through farming land and bushland of the Scenic Rim with spectacular views to the Great Divide and Cunningham’s Gap.

The ride is famed as south-east Queensland’s friendliest, most scenic, and best-catered ride. This year’s ride manager David Clark says, “The emphasis is on rider safety and support with direction signage, course marshals and rest stops staffed by volunteers with free sports drinks, fresh fruit, buns and sunscreen.”

Despite Covid and the resulting reduced rider numbers the event has never had to cancel the ride. The 2022 event took total funds raised for local and Lions charities since 2000 to more than $ 1.3 million. When registering for our ride, you help local charities and good causes, such as IHF.

To register online and find more information about route maps and rest stop locations, please visit www.ipswich100.com.au . Early Bird pricing ends Friday, 29 January.

If you can’t make it, you can show your support by making a donation on our website http://donate.ipswich100.com.au/ .

Local community group, Rotary Club of Ipswich has generously donated $3,151 to Ipswich Hospital Foundation’s (IHF) Children’s Christmas Appeal from the proceeds of the Annual Trailer Raffle. The Appeal is raising funds for much-needed equipment for the resuscitation area in Ipswich Hospital’s Special Care Nursery.

The Special Care Nursery provides specialised care for many premature or ill babies. However, they need more resuscitation equipment to respond to the growing needs in the region including cardiac monitors, a resuscitation cot and humidifiers for respiratory support for newborns.

Past President Anita Dwyer from the Rotary Club of Ipswich said, “Our club is committed to working together with numerous local charities and organisations providing support on community projects.’’

“Each year proceeds of the Trailer Raffle are given back to the Ipswich community. Rotary has been supporting Ipswich Hospital Foundation for many years and the Children’s Christmas Appeal was another way for Rotary to give support.

“This is our way of showing our appreciation of the ever-present need to help provide better health services and equipment needed by the valuable staff to carry out the life-saving treatment for our most vulnerable at Ipswich Hospital’s Special Nursery Care”, said Ms. Dwyer.

Scott Young, CEO of IHF said, “The Rotary Club of Ipswich, is yet another local community club of volunteers working hard to raise funds and support our Children’s Christmas Appeal.

“This is a very generous donation that will make an impact allowing IHF to purchase vital equipment for the special Care Nursery. Thanks to Anita and her club, their contribution means we are one step closer to our goal” Mr. Young said.

The Rotary Club of Ipswich was chartered in 1960, making it one of the oldest service clubs in Ipswich. The Club is very active in the community and welcome new members to help with their community projects. For more information about the Rotary Club of Ipswich, please visit http://www.ipswichcityrotary.com.au.

To learn more about the IHF Children’s Christmas Appeal or to make a tax-deductible donation, please visit https://christmas.ihfoundation.org.au/ .

Today, we hold our inaugural Giving Day as part of our Children’s Christmas Appeal. All funds raised will support the resuscitation area in Ipswich Hospital’s Special Care Nursery. West Bremer Radio was broadcasting live from Ipswich Hospital to support and promote this great cause.

West Moreton Health executives, staff, doctors, nurses and our volunteers were involved in the Giving Day, including being interviewed by West Bremer Radio hosts. The Children’s Christmas Appeal has raised over $18,000 to date; however, more funds are needed to reach the target of $150,000.

Scott Young, CEO of IHF, said, “We have already received incredible support from the community, but we aim to raise as much as possible leading into the final days of the appeal before Christmas. We invite our community to donate, buy raffle tickets and participate in our Christmas gift-wrapping event at Riverlink Shopping Centre.

“Today represents the community’s last chance to purchase raffle tickets via our website to win some amazing prizes, including a Range Rover and gold bullion. The first prize is valued at $250,000”, said Mr. Young.

To learn more about the IHF Children’s Christmas Appeal or to make a tax-deductible donation, please visit https://christmas.ihfoundation.org.au/ .

Ipswich Hospital Foundation (IHF) is very grateful to local real estate company, Boettchers Estate Agents for its generous donation of $1,000 to the Children’s Christmas Appeal. The Appeal is raising funds for much-needed equipment for the resuscitation area in Ipswich Hospital’s Special Care Nursery.

Adam Boettcher, Director of Boettchers Estate Agents, said the company is always looking for opportunities to give back to the community, “ We think it’s important to donate to a good cause in our community and create positive change in the lives of others.’’

“Our team includes many parents, and we have children ourselves. In the past six months, I have seen many people affected by something in some way. It’s hard on families and kids. We believe that Christmas is a time for giving back to our community, and the IHF Children’s Christmas Appeal is a worthy cause that benefits children in need.

“We want to thank our community for supporting our business and we hope this donation will inspire others to give back as well”, said Mr. Boettcher.

The Special Care Nursery provides specialised care for many premature or ill babies. However, they are in need of more resuscitation equipment in order to respond to the growing needs in the region, including cardiac monitors, resuscitation cots and humidifiers for respiratory support for newborns.

Scott Young, CEO of IHF said, “The generosity of local businesses is one of the things that makes Ipswich such a great city. And this donation from Boettchers Estate Agents will make a huge difference to local families by providing babies born at Ipswich Hospital with the care and equipment they need here, so they don’t need to travel for specialist treatment outside our region.

“The support provided by this initiative will directly improve the function and capacity of our local hospitals.

“Thank you to Boettcher’s Estate Agents for helping us move closer to our goal,” Mr. Young said.

To learn more about the IHF Children’s Christmas Appeal or to make a tax-deductible donation, please visit https://christmas.ihfoundation.org.au/ .

Local sports association, Ipswich Parents and Old Boys (IPOB) has generously donated $3,000 to Ipswich Hospital Foundation’s (IHF) Children’s Christmas Appeal. The Appeal is raising funds for much-needed equipment for the resuscitation area in Ipswich Hospital’s Special Care Nursery.

The Special Care Nursery provides specialised care for many premature or ill babies. However, they need more resuscitation equipment to respond to the growing needs in the region including cardiac monitors, a resuscitation cot and humidifiers for respiratory support for newborns.

Brad McCoombes, IPOB Secretary, said, “It was a great opportunity for our association to support IHF and its mission of delivering quality healthcare for the Ipswich and West Moreton region.’’

“We at the IPOB, are always on the lookout for opportunities to give back to the ‘Community’ for very worthy and beneficial causes, such as the IHF Children’s Christmas Appeal.

“This is our way of showing our appreciation of the ever-present need to help provide better health services and equipment needed by the valuable staff to carry out the life-saving treatment for our most vulnerable at Ipswich Hospital’s Special Nursery Care”, said Mr. McCoombes.

Scott Young, CEO of IHF said, “This incredible donation from IPOB, shows the generosity of local community groups. It will make a huge difference to local families by providing babies born at Ipswich Hospital with the care and equipment they need here, so they don’t need to travel for specialist treatment outside our region.

“This support will directly improve the function and capacity of our local hospitals.

“Thanks to IPOB, we now are one step closer to our goal,” Mr. Young said.

To learn more about the IHF Children’s Christmas Appeal or to make a tax-deductible donation, please visit https://christmas.ihfoundation.org.au/ .

The IPOB was initially formed in 1964 and for over 50 years has been able to offer support Under 11 and Under 12 Ipswich Rugby League teams embark on southern tours and become a reality for players that may not be able to tour.

Over the years, fundraising from within the membership of the club has been many and varied from the humble meat tray and chook raffles at various locations, Bingo nights, Minor Art Unions to current day with weekly meat raffles at North Ipswich RSL now Club Services Ipswich and also supported by assistance through sponsorship and donations from within the Ipswich District. The IPOB is always on the lookout for new members. For more information, please call Brad McCoombes at 0447 385 008.

Over the 2022 Christmas period, Ipswich Hospital Foundation (IHF) Volunteers prepared beautifully wrapped gifts at Riverlink Shopping Centre so shoppers could shop longer and rest easy at Christmas!

Scott Young, CEO of IHF, said the partnership with Riverlink Shopping Centre is so valuable to IHF.

“Thanks to Riverlink Shopping Centre and our wonderful volunteers that help us raise funds to purchase much-needed equipment for the resuscitation area in Ipswich Hospital’s Special Care Nursery!

“We aim to raise $150,000 with all funds raised going towards equipment including cardiac monitors, a resuscitation cot and humidifiers for respiratory support for newborns.

“Shoppers can show their support by getting their gifts wrapped at our gift-wrapping station or making a tax-deductible cash donation there. Your donation will make a huge difference to local families, allowing them to get the best possible care closer to home.”  Mr. Young said.

To learn more about the IHF Children’s Christmas Appeal or to make a tax-deductible donation, please visit https://christmas.ihfoundation.org.au/ .

Ipswich Hospital Foundation (IHF) has launched a Children’s Christmas Appeal to raise funds for purchasing much-needed equipment for the resuscitation area in Ipswich Hospital’s Special Care Nursery.

Ipswich Hospital Director of Paediatrics Dr. John Waugh said more than 3000 babies were born at Ipswich Hospital in the past 12 months, and one in four of those babies spent time in the Special Care Nursery.

“Of these 785 newborns, 210 were born prematurely, and many families had to travel to a more specialised hospital for extra care outside the West Moreton region,” Dr. Waugh said.

“Our Special Care Nursery provides specialised care for many premature or ill babies. However, this additional resuscitation equipment will help us to respond to the growing needs in our region and improve functionality.

“We want to provide the babies born at Ipswich Hospital with the care and equipment they require here, so fewer babies need to travel for specialist medical care outside the region.”

IHF CEO Scott Young said they aimed to raise $150,000 for the Special Care Nursery.

“All funds raised will go towards equipment including cardiac monitors, a resuscitation cot, and humidifiers for respiratory support for newborns. This equipment will work in conjunction with the equipment already used in the special care nursery enabling more babies born in the region with unexpected medical issues to be able to stay here to receive the care they need.

“You can show your support by making a tax-deductible cash donation or purchasing a raffle ticket through our website. Your donation will make a huge difference to local families, allowing them to get the best possible care closer to home.”  Mr. Young said.

To learn more about the IHF Children’s Christmas Appeal or to make a tax-deductible donation, please visit https://christmas.ihfoundation.org.au/ .

140 members of the community gathered at Brothers Leagues Club to raise funds for breast cancer care in the West Moreton region on Friday, marking the official Go Pink Day.

The Go Pink breakfast, held by Ipswich Hospital Foundation (IHF) in partnership with Brothers Leagues Club, was an opportunity for the community to come together and Go Pink!

Guests enjoyed a plated breakfast, guest speeches, multi-draw raffles, and a prize for being best dressed.

Monica Vella, a formal breast cancer patient and West Moreton Health employee shared why every woman should not play down the importance of a routine breast screen.

“I was feeling well and experienced no symptoms whatsoever, so I can honestly say that having the routine breast screen saved my life.

“My cancer was detected early, which gave me more treatment options and better outcomes.

“Breast cancer is the most commonly diagnosed cancer in Australian women. Don’t think that it can’t happen to you, as it can happen to anyone,” Ms Vella said.

Vanessa Brown, one of the guests said, “I enjoyed today’s event. It made me think about breast cancer. It can happen to people randomly. It’s important to support people and their families suffering from breast cancer in our community.”

Julie Draper, another guest said, “Some people don’t want to know about breast cancer, but this event makes us sit down and consider the importance of breast cancer prevention.”

Scott Young, CEO of IHF said, “The IHF Go Pink campaign is all about raising money and awareness for breast cancer care in the West Moreton region. It’s great to see the West Moreton community get behind the IHF Go Pink campaign because everyone knows someone affected by breast cancer.

“On behalf of the foundation, thank you to everyone who helped raise funds for breast cancer care in the West Moreton region,” said Mr. Young.

IHF is a trusted community partner supporting West Moreton Health to deliver safe, quality healthcare promoting community health and wellbeing. To learn more about IHF Go Pink, please visit: https://go-pink.ihfoundation.org.au/events .