Before Acting Tenterfield Health Service Manager Ken Hampson finishes his four week secondment in Tenterfield, he had the pleasure of receiving a very generous donation from the Tenterfield United Hospital Auxiliary, and discuss a new fundraising approach.

Mr Hampson said Tuesday’s donation was for $3,285 which has purchased some special equipment for heavy patients.

He said the bariatric chairs for wheel chair and toileting will make life easier for nursing staff who are caring for larger than average patients, and certainly make it more comfortable for the patients who can’t use standard size equipment.

"This was a very generous donation and we are pleased that people are feeling more confident about making donations now that the rumours of ‘stolen’ equipment have been proven to be incorrect.

"In fact at Tuesday’s meeting I discussed a new plan with Auxiliary members whereby we keep a complete list of donations, which will include an expected ‘use-by’ date and the opportunity to inform donors when and how the equipment is to be disposed of when that time comes.

"It’s a simple plan that helps to keep the process transparent, so rumours don’t ever start," he said.

Tenterfield UHA president, Jess McFarlane, said she was very happy with Tuesday’s meeting, as it settled down their fears of what might become of the equipment they donate.

"We had been mislead by gossip, hearing that anything we bought here would be sent off to Timbuktu. We have been assured that this isn’t the case," she said.

She said they have purchased $17,000 worth of equipment since 1996 for the hospital, including a patient lifter, pressure mattresses and an electric bed. Mr Hampson said all of these donations are still in Tenterfield and very much appreciated by staff and patients alike.

Jess McFarlane said the Auxiliary has been raising money for the hospital for the past 78 years and they don’t want to stop because of unnecessary fears.

"There are people in town ready for a fight, but we don’t want to be at logger-heads with the health service. We want to find out the facts and work with them," she said.

The next Auxiliary fundraising target is for some hearing testing equipment to be used by Community Health staff, but in the meantime they will be very busy cooking for the Hospital staff reunion being held on 1 November.