Corporal (CPL) Rach Hopkins of RAAF Base East Sale, along with her fellow RAAF volunteers, facilitated a Ladies Night Fundraiser at Sale Cinema on Friday, May 19, raising $15,000 for the Newborn Intensive Care Foundation (NICF).
Founder and chairman of the NICF, Peter Cursley, was blown away by the outstanding work of “Rach Hopkins and her dream team”.
“It was a fantastic night,” Mr Cursley said.
“Rach and her dream team did an incredible job organising the event, raising a massive $15,000, which has allowed us to purchase an isolette for the Sale Hospital.”
The money raised from Ladies Night have also funded a new breast pump, waterless milk warmer and specialist baby scales for the Sale Hospital, with the remaining funding set aside for reclining sofa beds – the target for NICFs 2023 Bake for Babies campaign.
The sold-out event, screening Magic Mike: Last Dance in Sale Cinema’s newly renovated Cinema 3, aimed to raise $5,000 for the NICF, with CPL Hopkins and the volunteers well surpassing the set target.
Mr Cursley and his partner Di Van den Broek joined the 200 ticket holders on Friday, May 19, at Sale Cinema with notable guests SADFO representative WGCDR Garry McKee, Central Gippsland Health CEO Mark Dykgraaf, Nurse Unit Manager Kim Costin and many midwives from the Women’s and Children’s Unit also in attendance.
“The idea for the event stemmed from wanting to strengthen ties between the RAAF community and local Sale Community,” CPL Hopkins said.
“Many RAAF families, including myself, have or will utilise the Women and Children’s Unit at Sale Hospital, so when I met Peter Cursley, I knew NICF was the right fit.
“Mr Cursley shared the emotional story of the loss of his newborn daughter Hanna, 30 years ago, the reason he started the foundation.
“There was silent auctions, raffles, toy giveaways, gift bags, a photo wall and lucky door prizes. Local businesses from the Gippsland region kindly donated over $8,000 in prizes.
“The evening was more successful than we ever anticipated. It was so positive, powerful and uplifting to see what a small community can do for such a worthy cause.”
Since commencing operations in Sale in July 2019, the NICF has facilitated more than $250,000 worth of medical equipment for Sale Hospital’s Special Care Nursery.
The NICF Bake for Babies fundraiser officially commences on June 1.
For more information about the NICF or Bake for Babies, go to newborn.org.au/
