Chair of the Griffith Local Health Advisory Committee Margaret King has been named the Volunteer of the Year at the 2024 NSW Health Awards. Photo: Supplied.
Griffith Local Health Advisory Committee (LHAC) chair Margaret King has taken home the title of NSW Health Volunteer of the Year, becoming the third Murrumbidgee-based LHAC chair to win in the past three years.
Ms King joins previous winners, Finley LHAC chair Syd Dudley who was named the 2023 Volunteer of the Year, and chair of Wagga LHAC Garth Hungerford who was the 2022 Volunteer of the Year.
Ms King has been instrumental in providing feedback and community views to the redevelopment of the Griffith Base Hospital (GBH) and is a prominent and highly regarded member of the Griffith community.
Ms King said the local health advisory committees, right across the Murrumbidgee were critical to each of their communities and she was proud to serve as chair of the Griffith Local Health Advisory Committee.
“We are all volunteers, and we are the eyes and ears of the community,” she said.
“We are about identifying any gaps in services. This is a very exciting time in Griffith, with the redevelopment of the new hospital, the LHAC has played a very important role in that, particularly my role as chair.
“I’m very passionate about the refugee and migrant community here in Griffith. We’ve done a recent pop-up vaccination clinic with Muslim men while they were attending prayers and have helped many people in that community get vaccinated.
“It is a humbling position, but I don’t do it on my own, but it’s very, very exciting and I’m very grateful to have been given the award.”
The Murrumbidgee Local Health District (MLHD) has congratulated Ms King on her work with the Griffith community and her achievements as chair of the Griffith LHAC.
“LHAC members play an active role in advocating for better health in their communities and are a vital communication link,” an MLHD spokesperson said.
“LHACs contribute to health service planning and provide advice and feedback to the local health district and to the primary health network about what matters most to them in their local towns.
“LHAC members also play an important role in health literacy and education by providing information to the community about services available and how to access them.
“Congratulations to all our award winners, and to all our LHAC members – you are all worthy of recognition.”
Original Article published by Jarryd Rowley on Region Riverina.
