Charity golf day about shots for cots

AN annual golf-day fundraiser is set to return with the aim of helping young mums and babies throughout the region.

Staff at Adroit Insurance and Risk are scheduled to run their charity event later this month with proceeds going towards at least two new infant resuscitation cots for Grampians Health.

With about 20 teams lined up to play, director Steven Coltman said the day is about supporting an essential department for the service provider.

“People really rely on this part of the hospital to help grow their families which is number one for us,” he said.

“We’ve been involved with the paediatric area here for many, many years. A core pillar for us is to be involved with our community and this is number one for us.”

More than $100,000 has been raised through Adroit Insurance and Risk’s golf fundraiser since it started in 2019.

The organisation has been raising funds for Grampians Health for more than a decade, having first supported the health service through their Run Ballarat initiative.

Eighteen holes will be played as part of the golf-day’s Ambrose game after which an auction will be held.

Funds raised on the day will be matched by Grampians Health’s fundraising arm, Ballarat Health Services Foundation.

The health service currently has 10 cots throughout their departments and co-director of paediatrics Dr Shabna Rajapaksa said they’re an essential part of their operation.

“The resuscitation devices are now a key part of our equipment when it comes to life-saving intervention for babies,” she said.

“These could be sick infants coming in through our emergency department or babies who are needing to be delivered in a labour ward. These devices help them in a range of scenarios.

“The newer devices mean we don’t have to lift the babies in and out to do tests, x-rays or to weigh them, they have that all built in.”

The golf-day fundraiser is set to take place on Friday, 24 March at Midlands Golf Club.