Tzu Chi Brisbane receives volunteer
award
(Translated by Ted Hwang, Northern
California)
Among all the countries
in the world, the population of Australia has the highest
ratio of volunteers. To celebrate the UN International Year
of Volunteers, the Queen Elizabeth II Hospital in southern
Brisbane, Australia, invited representatives from the Tzu
Chi Brisbane office to receive this year's volunteer award.
Two organizations received the award on August 28: the Red
Cross and the Tzu Chi Foundation.
Two years ago, Tzu Chi people in Brisbane
developed a good rapport with the QEII Hospital bearing in
mind the words of Master Cheng Yen: "All lives are equal
and deserve equal respect. Wherever there is suffering, if
we can get there then we must reach out our hands." Over
the last two years, Tzu Chi volunteers have helped the hospital
with office work, kept up the environment, and served as assistants
and translators for Breastscreen Queensland. Each year during
the hospital's Health Week, Tzu Chi volunteers also organized
fundraising bazaars and performed sign language songs.
Australia has a well-developed medical
care program, and most citizens are concerned for others and
are eager to serve society. They are proud to be volunteers
and have great respect for volunteers. The QEII Hospital is
happy to have Tzu Chi volunteers helping at the hospital.
The staff hosted an orientation session to train the volunteers,
and they even provided them work accident insurance. Tzu Chi
is very grateful to the hospital for its sincerity.
With the yearly fundraising bazaar to purchase
new medical equipment and the twice-a-week volunteer work,
the selfless giving and diligent manner of Brisbane Tzu Chi
people have earned the commendation of the QEII Hospital and
the local community.
