Elsie’s Project

How it all began

In 2013 Oana McBride’s friend Elsie Green was diagnosed with cancer. For Elsie there was no other option but to be placed in Nursing Care. As a former nurse Elsie was very aware of the need for a dedicated Palliative Care Facility on the Central Coast.
It was Oana’s final promise to her friend that led her to attend a Lions Women’s Seminar and ask if Lions International could help her to achieve her friend’s dream. The seed was sown, and the Lions Club of Wyoming East Gosford Centennial now proudly hosts the Elsie’s Project. Endless events and meetings over the past 10 years resulted in a petition of over 10,000 signatures to being presented to the then NSW Minister for Health, the Honourable Brad Hazzard. In late 2019 Elsie’s Dream came true. On the 16th of July 2020 when the local MP, the Honourable Adam Crouch, Member for Terrigal, announced that a dedicated Palliative Care Unit would open in 2021 at Gosford Hospital.

Coming together is a beginning,
Staying together is progress.
Working together is success.
Edward Everett Hale

On the 20th of April 2021 the new Unit A5 was officially opened by the former Premier of NSW, the Honourable Gladys Berejiklian MP. The support from the Community of the Central Coast and generous donations and Grants from Lions Clubs International Foundation we were able to donate all the furniture, and fitting to the Unit for the cost of $500,000, totally under the umbrella of The Lions Club of Wyoming East Gosford Centennial.

The Unit is offered to patients of 18 years and older to allow them to have a beautiful space of dignity and a homely feeling at this time.
The Club is committed to assist with the ongoing purchase and medical equipment as well as any other goods which will make the Unit as homelike as possible, such as outdo patio furnishings, Children’s area, Kitchen Lounge, and family rooms.

PALLIATIVE CARE PIONEER

English women Dame Cicely Saunders (1918-2005) is noted for her role in the birth of the Hospice movement and raising the need for specialist palliative care in modern medicine.
At the end of the war in 1945 as a volunteer nurse Dame Cecily saw first hand what was needed to care for terminally ill patients.
Dame Cecily became a doctor in 1957 to gain support for Palliative care as a specialist field. In 1967 Dame Cecily also established the first purpose-built hospice St Christopher’s Hospice. Its care philosophy was based on the Hospice care needed for its patients and those of the Family and friends.

You matter, because you are you,
You matter, till the last moment of your life.

If one man from a small village in India dies without pain because of what I have done it will have been worthwhile.
Dame Cecily Saunders

Were to from here

In September 2022 our Club hosted a Touch of Orange Luncheon and invited the Minister for Regional Health, the Honourable Bronwyn Taylor MP to be our keynote speaker. We spoke at length on the success of the Unit in Gosford Hospital and the suggestion that another in the Northern end of the Central Coast would not only benefit the Community but take pressure off the numbers being treated at Gosford Hospital as it is running at almost 100% capacity.
In November 2022, the minister visited Wyong Hospital and announced the proposed opening of a Unit at Wyong Hospital and the assistance of a 13.6Million Dollar Grant.
Currently the plans are moving forward to a schedule opening in 2024.

We continue to fundraise and create awareness of these Units to gain more support to ensure that this service will continue into the future for our community.

Meeting for the Elsie’s Project Community.

 Last Wednesday of each Month.
} 6pm
 Mingara Recreation Club, Tumbi Umbi

Palliative Care Nurses Scholarships

We have been able to offer Nurses Scholarships to Registered Nurses who are looking towards attaining their qualifications to work in our Special Units.
To date we have 4 special Nurses who are studying hard to achieve their goal to work in our Units in the near future.

Please contact us if you know of anyone who is looking to take up our offer, we are ready to assist.

Volunteers at work

Two of our members are volunteering at the Elsie’s Project Unit at Gosford Hospital. The Lions Find this to be a very rewarding experience.

The Angel Rugs

This wonderful project has given our community to add to and contribute to the Units. We are able to gift a beautiful Rug either knitted, crocheted or sewn to our patients and the family is gifted it to take home as a memory after their passing.
We always welcome any donations of either a rug or wool, (preferable 8ply) to allow this project to continue. Remembering that this is for patients of 18 years and up, so Footy or sport colours are always popular as well as feminine and masculine colours.