We are proud to announce that Gunnedah’s GoCo has been nominated as a semi-finalist in the 1st Choice Rentals Volunteering category for the 2016 NSW/ACT Regional Achievement and Community Awards.
GoCo received the nomination for the work of two outstanding GoCo volunteers Jill Woodhead and Hope Cahill, who made an amazing community contribution by spending time comforting a dying man who was without family in his final days.
Out of the kindness of their hearts, Woodhead and Cahill regularly visited the man in Gunnedah District Hospital. When the man’s condition deteriorated and he was transferred to Tamworth Base Hospital, Woodhead and Cahill travelled every day to visit him, do his washing, and sit with him.
When his condition deteriorated further, Woodhead and Cahill brought his dog to his bedside, and he was able to spend his final hours with his beloved pet before he died.
“They are volunteers with a heart of gold, who really went above and beyond in their duties.” GoCo Community Care Team Leader Sharon Tibbs said.
“They only knew this gentleman from taking him on trips with Community Transport. If only the world had more people with hearts as big as theirs” she concluded.
GoCo Volunteers make an exceptional contribution to GoCo and to the wider community. They assist with everything from general lifestyle support to more dedicated medical support. Over the years, the Volunteers have done everything from laundry and mowing lawns, to dressing changes and wound cleaning. GoCo prides itself on offering tailored packages, with as much or as little care as need, with their aim to preserve and maintain their clients’ independence.
GoCo’s services extend to not just the aged but many different areas, including disability support, Aboriginal support, assistance for those with dementia, and community transport – vital for those in towns with limited services. On top of this GoCo’s Community Hub provides guidance for all members of the community, not just those in need of specialised care.
GoCo is also the point of contact in the Gunnedah Shire for the National Disability Insurance team.
“We’re allowed to transport anyone in the community who needs transport services, and school leavers can access help with resumes through our Community Hub, for example,” says Sharon.
“GoCo has 40 community Volunteers in Gunnedah, with 22 transport drivers.”
Always looking to do more for the community, GoCo constantly seeks new volunteers to expand and reinforce its capabilities.
If you or anyone you know can spare as little as a few hours a week, or is in need of care or assistance, Sharon would like for you to contact them on (02) 6740 2240, through the form on their website at www.gococare.com.au, or drop in to their offices at 80 Marquis Street, Gunnedah.
With over 127 years of combined experience in their community care team, GoCo started out as a small organisation in Gunnedah, and has since expanded to care operations in Moree, Quirindi, Narrabri, Tamworth, and everywhere in between. Two of the original three founding members still form part of GoCo today, and they continue to live up to GoCo’s core belief of empowering people to live their lives the way they choose.
