CAIRNS Hospital staff have been provided with free meals at work, courtesy the Far North Queensland Hospital Foundation.
Cairns based philanthropists Alex and Violetta Sekler have donated a total of $6000, providing 600 meals for staff at the hospital, over six afternoons.
The hearty meals, which included roast pork with crackling, vegetables and apple sauce, roast beef, Caribbean chicken, yellow vegetable curry, barbecue curry, border chicken, felafel and salad, and Mexican beans, were prepared by chefs at the Foundation’s Dcafe.
The generous donation is the couple’s third to the foundation, following a $80,000 donation they provided in November to finalise the endoscopy campaign, and $600,000 to launch the foundation’s COVID-19 fundraising campaign in March.
Foundation CEO Tony Williamson paid tribute to the generous family, who are now Cairns residents, and their community support.
“Alex and Violetta are originally from Russia and have been watching what’s been happening around the world. They wanted to give thanks to their local health workers, and this has been an incredible way for them to do that,” Mr Williamson said.
“We’ve also had almost $3000 donated in our #shoutthemacoffee campaign, initiated by Carly Rutherford. This equates to 600 coffees donated to staff at Cairns Hospital,” he said.
Staff feedback regarding the meals has included:
Please pass on to the Sekler family that the meals provided were fantastic and a great morale booster for staff. Some of my nursing colleagues at Cairns Hospital commented that it was very much appreciated including myself and please thank them for their kind generosity!
Corrina Thatcher
Just wanted to say thank you for preparing meal yesterday, it was delicious! Even to have had a vegetarian option a real treat! May you pass on a thank you to the family whom donated the monies to enable this initiative to occur, it is much appreciated.
Louise Maher
I would like to thank the Sekler family and the Far North Queensland Hospital Foundation for the lovely meal I received while working late on a Friday. These gestures go a long way in these unprecedented times. The meal was truly appreciated and absolutely delicious!
Lucy Gallop
It was such a lovely surprise to be given a free meal today! The prepared food was fresh and tasty and was a welcome alternative to the can of tuna I had brought for my dinner tonight. Please give my thanks to the Hospital Foundation and the Sekler family for providing this initiative – it is much appreciated.
Catherine Larsen
Yum yum yum
Had the vegetarian veg and quinoa last night it was delicious. I was working in the COVID clinic until 7pm so it got me through.
Very generous and kind of the Sekler family, Thank you.
Christine Magarry
Just wanted to thank the Sekler family for the staff meals provided. It shows us that our efforts are being appreciated by the Cairns community and motivates us to work harder.
Akanksha Bhosle
Photo: Foundation Commercial Operations Manager Steve McGuiness and café manager Gavin O’Sullivan serve some of the free meals to Cairns Hospital staff.
