Awards overwhelm volunteers

Two hospice volunteers are overwhelmed at the accolades that have been pouring in since they were announced as the 2007 HOT Volunteer Award recipients.

In fact Ecie Hursthouse a volunteer at Auckland’s Amitabha Hospice, and Rotorua Community Hospice volunteer Desrae Murphy are still coming to grips with the news.

“I haven’t come down to earth yet,” says Desrae. “I can’t believe it, it was a big surpirse.”

“I knew they were putting my name forward but I didn’t think for a minute I’d hear anything more about it,” says the 65-year-old grandmother to five children.

Ecie was surprised to hear her name had been put forward for the award, especially because her team of 80 volunteers had nominated her.

"I thought it was so remarkable that they thought of me for this and they put so much effort into it."

Hospice New Zealand announced Ecie and Desrae as this year’s award winners on December 5 to coincide with International Volunteer Day.

Representatives from House of Travel, hospice’s national partner, in both Auckland and Rotorua have presented both women with their prizes – a trip for two to the Gold Coast and four nights’ accommodation.

And Ecie and Desrae can't wait to take their trips - both have family in Queensland, Ecie a son and Desrae a daughter - who they plan to visit while there.

Ecie works as Amitabha Hospice’s managing director in a voluntary capacity and for the past 11 years has been the driving force behind the service she helped to set up.

Trained as a nurse, Ecie has been described by her colleagues as “a selfless human dynamo involved in activities across the entire spectrum of services delivered”.

With help from her trustees, she has built up a network of specially trained volunteer caregivers who offer support for the physical, emotional, intellectual, cultural and spiritual needs of people with terminal illness and their families. She not only recruits these volunteers, she also organises them and trains them.

Desrae undertakes a multitude of tasks in her voluntary role too. She is team leader for the day programme for patients but she also finds time to be a companion sitter, provide transport for patients, help at the local hospice shop, support fundraising activities and help out with the Tree of Remembrance at Christmas.

A volunteer for the past eight years, Desrae is described by Rotorua Community Hospice chief executive Tracey Watters as “gold”.

“Desrae is a huge achiever but a quiet achiever. She is extremely resilient and has a patient focus beyond anything I’ve seen in my 10 years with this service. She is passionate about our brand and is 100 percent pure volunteer.”

Desrae herself can't emphasise enough how great a cause hospice is.

"I feel if I have helped to make it easier for one or two people in a year, and make a difference, then I’ve done my job.”

Meanwhile, Amitabha chairman Chris Destrieux says Ecie’s award is a wonderful acknowledgement of the selfless application and total commitment that she has brought to the task of helping people in great need.

“It also highlights the great work she has done in educating people about the great need for more volunteers to help hospices in the work they do in the community.”

Ecie naturally downplays her role, saying volunteers like herself often feel they receive more than they give.

"Volunteer work is all about being kind, giving your time and using your skills and passion to help others."

Hospice New Zealand chief executive Mary Schumacher says the Volunteer Awards are designed to help recognise the unpaid work done in hospices by many community-minded people like Desrae and Ecie.

“These awards honour the wonderful people who give their time to hospice, those that stand out for their passion, dedication and commitment to the work they undertake on a voluntary basis.

“Hospices rely hugely on the good nature of volunteers. Many services and activities would come to a halt without them. It takes a special kind of person to do such a job and I can’t thank our volunteers enough for the amazing job they do throughout the country.”