Bass Strait Charity Fund supports Sale Ambulance Auxiliary

Putting more fluid warmers into ambulances supporting Sale
The Bass Strait Charity Fund has chosen the Sale Ambulance Auxiliary as one of the local charities it will support this year.

The Bass Strait Charity Fund uses money raised through staff fundraising initiatives and matched giving from Esso Australia’s contributions program to support worthy community charities and organisations providing a service to the Gippsland community.

The COVID19 pandemic has impacted the group’s normal fundraising activities this year and they are having to rely on support from corporate and community partners like the Bass Strait Charity Fund.

“Fluid warmers are a vital piece of equipment for paramedic crews, especially due to the COVID19 pandemic and the winter flu season,” said Sale Ambulance Auxiliary Secretary, Chris Lyon.

“Support from the Bass Strait Charity Fund will allow us to provide two fluid warmers in each of our two ambulances servicing the community of Sale.

“Before administering intravenous fluids, we need to bring them to body temperature. Previously, we relied on hot water bottles to perform this task and the fluid warmers will certainly help us to do this more effectively.”

The Bass Strait Charity Fund was started back in the early 1980s as a way for offshore workers to contribute to the Royal Children's Hospital Good Friday Appeal.

It started after offshore chef supervisor Brian Bowes and camp attendant Ken Wain took up a collection on Mackerel for the appeal in 1980. The next year they issued a challenge to other platforms to see who could raise the most money.

It soon developed into a way to raise money for local Gippsland charities as well as the Royal Children's Hospital.

Each year, around $20,000 is provided to local community groups via the Bass Strait Charity Fund, including matched giving from Esso Australia.