by Tom Sasvari
MINDEMOYA—As she has now moved to Sudbury, Judy MacKenzie, a long-time member of the Mindemoya Hospital, is going to be missed for all her efforts.
“I would like to take this opportunity to thank you, Judy for your years of service with the hospital auxiliary, as well as being a member of the hospital board and for your tremendous work in fundraising over the years,” Dennis McGregor, chair of the Manitoulin Health Centre Board, told members of the board at a recent meeting. “We wish you all the best. We will miss you.”
Mr. McGregor had explained at the meeting that Ms. Mackenzie and her husband Ralph had sold their house (and they since have moved to Sudbury).
Ms. Mackenzie, who was the previous president of the Mindemoya Hospital Auxiliary told the MHC board, “it has been an honour and a privilege, and a learning process over the years.”
She told The Expositor after the meeting that she and her husband were moving to Sudbury, where they had bought a condominium. The couple are moving to be closer to their daughters and medical specialists.
“How long have I been president of the auxiliary? Forever,” quipped Ms. Mackenzie. “I have been with the hospital auxiliary for 15 years, and as president for eight years and on the hospital board for eight years as well. Leila Thureson was auxiliary president for a long time until she moved up into the provincial hospital auxiliaries.”
Ms. Mackenzie said that the hospital auxiliary members have always stepped up to help the Mindemoya Hospital, noting members like Marilyn Holmes, Leila Thuresdon, Elaine Blackwood, Carol Gilmore and others who have contributed so much. “The auxiliary members are always thinking about ways to help support the Mindemoya Hospital.”
“And the Manitoulin community has also stepped up every time there is a need,” said Ms. Mackenzie. She said the auxiliary receives a lot of donations from people using Canada Helps.
The Mindemoya Hospital Auxiliary held a meeting earlier this year, and Ms. MacKenzie was presented with “a great big gift basket with chocolates, flowers, mugs, earrings, all kind of Manitoulin Island things. Carol Gilmore presented me with an apron she made. Years ago, someone had donated material to the auxiliary to use for tablecloths and aprons. She made me an apron with ‘Mindemoya Hospital Auxiliary’ on it.”
