Hospice volunteer awarded first Annette Knight medal

Published on Monday, 29 January 2024 at 1:17:41 PM

Barbara Thomas has been awarded the inaugural Annette Knight Community Leadership Medal in recognition of her 24 years of service to Albany Community Hospice.

The Medal is awarded by the City of Albany to a voluntary community leader who exemplifies the vision, passion, and commitment to volunteering that the late former Mayor of Albany embodied.

Barbara's service began in 1999 when the Hospice was situated in a two-bedroom cottage on Princess Royal Drive, volunteering alongside clinical nursing staff and engaging in hands-on palliative care support for patients which included bathing, preparing meals and feeding.

From 2001, Barbara focused on providing emotional support to patients, maintaining a constant presence and offering companionship and comfort, and since 2005 has also been volunteering as the manager of the Butterflies Op Shop which generates proceeds for the Hospice.

Mayor of Albany Greg Stocks said Barbara’s unwavering commitment to community service is an inspiration and he was proud to announce her as the first winner of the Annette Knight medal.

“Barbara's two-plus decades of dedication to the Hospice is a legacy of compassion and support for those in their end-of-life journey and a fine example of the positive difference volunteering makes in our community,” the Mayor said.

“She is incredibly deserving of this recognition and I thank her for everything she has done and continues to do to support this wonderful community-run service.”

Barabra was presented with the medal by the Mayor and Annette Knight’s daughter Jo May.

Annette Knight epitomised what it means to be a community leader with a list of accolades that demonstrated her unwavering passion for the Albany community.

As well as Mayor, she held many esteemed roles including WA Tourism Commissioner, Member of the Order of Australia, WA Citizen of the Year, Constitutional Convention Delegate, and Freeman of the City.

She was also awarded the Business and Professional Woman of the Year in 1995, the Governor’s Award for Regional Development in the WA Citizen of the Year Awards and Telstra Business Woman of the Year in 1996, the Centenary Medal for service to the Albany Community in the Australian Honours Awards in 2001, and was inducted into the WA Women’s Hall of Fame in 2016.

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