AUSTRALIA: Elderly volunteers booted out of Melbourne hospital

. MELBOURNE, Australia The Daily Telegraph September 18, 2008 By Grant McArthur KIND-HEARTED volunteers who have spent decades helping sick babies and adults have been booted out of Melbourne hospitals so big business can make more money. Fundraising auxiliaries at the Royal Women's and Royal Melbourne hospitals have been forced to fold up their knitwear stall and close a cafe, which has raised millions of dollars to buy hospital equipment. The elderly volunteers were told that after almost 90 years the auxiliaries could no longer sell items in the hospitals, because Zouki Nominees had won the rights to the redeveloped retail area and did not want any competition. The deal forced the Royal Melbourne Hospital Kiosk Auxiliary to shut its store, despite raising about $130,000 last year, and more than $3 million since 1922. Royal Women's auxiliary members were also shocked when told recently they could not continue weekly knitwear stalls because Zouki had the rights to operate all cafes, hairdressers, chocolate shops, post offices and clothing stores in the mall linking the two hospitals. The handmade booties, cardigans and hats sold by the RWH Hawthorn auxiliary raised about $20,000 a year to buy much-needed equipment for premature newborns in the hospital's neonatal intensive care unit. Auxiliary president Julie Campbell said dozens of knitters, aged between 70 and 90, were told that while the hospital still wanted their money, they were not welcome in the new building. "They felt totally insulted and annoyed by the fact they could not be doing what they love doing - and that is knitting to raise funds for the hospital," Ms Campbell said. Ruth Watts, 78, said she loved knitting for the hospital. "I think it is disgusting, because they are always complaining they want money for the hospitals, and all the money we raised went towards equipment," she said. "Just before Christmas they wanted 10 breast pumps at $1000 each, and we were able to give them $10,000 straight away." Royal Women's spokeswoman Stephanie Boag said an area for "ad-hoc fundraising activities" was under construction. Royal Melbourne spokeswoman Jan Sharrock said the auxiliary kiosk was closed because the volunteers would struggle to cope in the larger retail area. Zouki chief executive Carla Taylor said the company was working with the two hospitals to "accommodate ongoing volunteer fundraising efforts in our retail precinct". The company operates stores at several Melbourne hospitals including St Vincent's, the Monash Medical Centre, and the Casey, Dandenong, Williamstown, Western, and Eye and Ear hospitals. Article from: Herald Sun Copyright 2008 News Limited.