Media Release 16 Aug 2007

Two remarkable ‘retiring’ RNSH Pink Ladies

Two very special hospital volunteers have retired from the executive of the Royal North Shore Hospital Ladies’ Committee this year.

Mrs Jeannette Dowda OAM and Mrs Hope Wheatley have retired as president and secretary, respectively, of the Ladies’ Committee after almost 30 years at the helm.
The Royal North Shore Hospital Ladies’ Committee is better known by their informal title the ‘Pink Ladies’ (members wear pink smocks) have supported the lifesaving work of RNSH since 1956 and in that time have raised more than $3.75million.

Jeannette Dowda has been a member of the Committee for 31 years and President for 28 years. She is a Life Member of Royal North Shore Hospital and in 1997 she received a Medal of the Order of Australia for her services to the community. She has three children, five grandchildren and an elderly aunt whom she has cared for at her home in Lindfield.

Hope Wheatley, known by many as the ‘quiet achiever’, has been a member of the Committee for 32 years and secretary for 17 of those years. She must be one of the few secretaries who still uses a manual typewriter to punch out her numerous letters and rosters each month. She has two children and five grandsons and has lived in her family home in Roseville for over sixty years.

As a special gift the hospital prepared a photo history of these two wonderful volunteers over the last 30 years.

It’s particularly welcome news that neither Jeannette nor Hope will be hanging up their distinctive pink and white striped uniforms just yet. Both will continue working as Ladies’ Committee volunteers but with reduced responsibilities.

This year the ‘pink ladies’ raised an amazing $165,580. The funds will purchase equipment across many different wards and departments of the hospital.

In addition to fundraising, the Ladies’ Committee provides practical daily services for patients including a trolley service (toiletries, sweets and newspapers) to each bedside, a mobile library service and a daily flower service to refresh patients’ bouquets.

Visitors to RNSH will also be familiar with the gift shop in the main hospital foyer run by the Ladies’ Committee. All money raised goes to the hospital to provide patient equipment and amenities.

Media Contact: Penelope Little 9926 7199 / 0413 025 742

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