Mossman Hospital bag big THANK YOU!

Businesses thank covid frontliners

Paul Makin

Journalist

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Student nurse Emma Coffey was not expecting a bag of presents when she went on shift IMAGE: Paul Makin|FAB FM

During the Covid Pandemic, which raged around the world, it was the ‘Frontline’ medical workers who took the brunt of the virus advance. Like troops during a war, which it was, they bunkered down to help the public not only fight the enemy but protect them from it. Like many other places, the Douglas Shire had its quiet heroes.

Not one person, but lots of health workers who rolled up their sleeves and got us to do the same with lifesaving vaccines and drive in testing for the virus.

One of those headquarters during the Covid war was the Mossman District Hospital and on Friday its staff were officially thanked by local and national businesses on behalf of all of us.
 

Philip Leahy and Michael Joseph bringing the gift bags into the staff room. IMAGE: Paul Makin|FAB FM
The Good 360 Bag is full of national and local ‘pressies’ IMAGE: Paul Makin|FAB FM

Advancing to the frontline

Frontliners.com.au was launched in March 2020 at the start of the pandemic and so far, has delivered over $3,000,000 in products and services to over 135,000 frontline health workers nationally.

Philip Leahy and his partner Annabel Taig moved to Mowbray last year and decided to approach Michael Joseph from Deep Yoga Studio at Port Douglas to assemble gift bags for our hospital workers. They then called on local and national businesses to provide products and discount vouchers.

Mr Leahy told Newsport “We partnered with Good360, an Australian charity from the retail industry and other leading brands and retailers, so it was a targeted plan” he said.

Louise Wall and Chris Neilan were happy to accept the gifts on behalf of the whole Douglas Shire. IMAGE: Paul Makin|FAB FM
Mandy Denison, James Hilton and Sinali Sonseka were taken aback by the generosity. IMAGE: Paul Makin|FAB FM

Often big cities get to be first in the queue and FNQ is forgotten due to the distance and the cost of freight and logistics. But not this time. It was our turn and with a huge kick along from Mossman & Port Douglas businesses, Mossman District Hospital frontline workers got a big thank you with a gift bag and shopping vouchers.

Local businesses who contributed included Jenny Anne Mossman, Port Douglas Counselling Services, Lady Douglas River Cruises, Divine Beauty Mossman, Mumma Dee's Kitchen Port Douglas Markets and others.

Michael Joseph, who was on hand to hand out the ‘pressies’ told Newsport “This is for everyone who works at the Mossman Hospital, the cleaners, caterers, nurses, in fact all the medical staff right up to the doctors and surgeons, all have done an amazing job during Covid and sometimes we take frontline medical for granted but it’s only when we need them, we fully appreciate the work they do” he said.

Narelle Spencer, Karen Petherbridge, Sarah Williams and Eliza Markham with their ‘thank you’ bags. IMAGE: Paul Makin|FAB FM
Kym Baker and Natalie Halse being presented their gift bags by Frontline’s Philip Leahy and partner Annabel Taig. IMAGE: Paul Makin|FAB FM
Deb Fudala and James Bourke with their Good360 bag. IMAGE: Paul Makin|FAB FM
Frontlines Philip Leahy, Zoe Royan, Michael Joseph, Kath Anich, Annabel Taig and Adeline Coetzee. IMAGE: Paul Makin|FAB FM

Very personal beginnings

Mr Leahy says he got the idea when his mother fell ill and was in Frankston Hospital in Victoria and he saw first-hand what staff were doing as the Pandemic took hold “They were getting things like chips and small gifts to the patients which brightened up their day no end, so I thought maybe we could brighten up the day of medical staff all over Australia and now it’s Mossman’s turn “he said.

The first person to receive a thank you bag in the hospital was student nurse Emma Coffey who summed up everyone’s thoughts when she said “What a lovely surprise I wasn’t expecting this”.
That’s just about the most perfect reason for giving.

Local and National businesses to thank

  • Divine Beauty Mossman
  • Deep Yoga @ Mossman Bowls Club
  • Jenny Anne Mossman Port Douglas Counselling Services
  • Deep Beauty Port Douglas
  • Love Honey
  • Natural Aesthetics Port Douglas
  • Quicksilver Port Douglas
  • Devils Thumb Gin Port Douglas
  • Mumma Dee's Kitchen Port Douglas Markets
  • Naked Wines
  • Lady Douglas River Cruises
  • HandyCam
  • MedCart

For more information on how it all works go to www.frontliners.com.au

 

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