Four legs down and 12 to go and hundreds of staff, volunteers, clients and BCS partners united together in celebration.
That’s the progress report on the BCS “Hands of Care” Relay, which is the key focus of our 65th anniversary celebrations at BCS.
The relay event, an initiative developed by the BCS Community Relations Unit, is aimed at bringing together people from across the BCS family in celebration, while focusing on our core vision of Christian care.
The relay was launched at Carlingford, the home of BCS’ first aged care centre, on April 21, with Tanya Gadiel MP, the State Member for Parramatta, joining BCS Board Chairman Dr Graham Henderson and CEO Dr June Heinrich to receive the baton from our first group of relay walkers; a mix of staff, volunteers and clients from local AgeCare and LifeCare services.
Speaking at the relay launch, Dr Heinrich said that as the relay baton passes from one hand to the next across NSW and the ACT we will be reminded of the privilege that each of us have to use our “hands of care” at BCS in meeting the unmet physical, emotional and spiritual needs of others in the community.
“Further we will be reminded that to do what we do, we need each other. We work together in unity, as partners in care,” Dr Heinrich said.
The baton being carried in the relay has been made to symbolise a 1940s style package and inside is contained copies of a special news sheet, which welcomes guests to each relay leg and shares news of the world from 1944, when BCS was formed.
The relay will visit 16 locations across NSW and the ACT and each stop on the way there will be a ceremony involving local parliamentarians and civic leaders, along with members of the Board and Executive Leadership Team and staff representatives from local services. Following each ceremony, a thank you lunch, morning or afternoon tea is being provided to salute the great work of our staff and volunteers on the frontline of care.
On the second day of the relay, the baton was taken to the BCS Care Centre – South West Sydney (Bankstown) and then on to the BCS Warena Centre in Bangor, in Sydney’s south. The fourth leg of the relay brought BCS staff, volunteers, clients and supporters from across the Illawarra together at a ceremony and BBQ at the BCS Warilla North Community Centre.
Speaking at the Bankstown event, the Federal Member for Banks, Mr Daryl Melham MP, congratulated BCS on its history and care achievements.
“You have succeeded because you have not only responded to needs, but you have engaged with people’s spirits. You provide wonderful pastoral care and you bring hope into people’s lives. This is just what people need in the difficult times we live in,” Mr Melham said.
At the Warena leg of the relay, the State Member for Menai, Alison Megarrity MP, congratulated BCS’ on going the distance as a Christian care provider.
“You have reached a significant milestone and you have done so because of your commitment to care in the local communities in which you serve,” Ms Megarrity said.
On receiving the baton at Warilla North, the State Member for Shellharbour, Lylea McMahon, said she was honoured to share in the Hands of Care relay because of the wonderful service BCS provided to the local community.