Blacktown Hospital volunteer loves giving back to community

Retired Seven Hills nurse Amanda Voets is a volunteer at Blacktown Hospital, helping people while they are being treated in the busy emergency department.

Volunteer Amanda Voets with Peter Howard from Marayong.

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AMANDA Voets is exactly the person you want around in an emergency.

The retired Seven Hills nurse is a volunteer at Blacktown Hospital, helping people while they are being treated in the busy emergency department.

She is a shoulder to cry on. She is the smiling face handing over a cup of tea. She is the person with the knowledge and confidence to follow up with nurses and doctors on a patient’s or relative’s behalf.

“I love helping people, being there for them when they are going through a difficult time,” she said.

“I like being there to support them and give them a shoulder to cry on. I’ve done a lot of hugging.”

The Pride of Australia nominee started her nursing career at Blacktown Hospital when it opened in 1965.

Amanda Voets with a photo of herself in 1965 when the hospital first opened. Amanda was in her first year as student nurse.

She kept in touch with her colleagues over the decades and was part of the hospital’s 50th anniversary celebrations last year.

“I was one of the first nurses who worked there at Blacktown so it has a very special place in my heart,” she said.

“My mother died in the hospital 18 months ago and as I was going back visiting people I felt I really need to be there again.

“I’m a compassionate person who has always wanted to help people.”

Mrs Voets has six children and 20 grandchildren. She said her nursing skills had proven lifesaving on more than one occasion, including once when she noticed her baby granddaughter turning blue from an asthma attack.

“I’m able to quickly identify if someone is not well,” she said.

For her dedication to helping others, Mrs Voets has been nominated for News Corp’s Pride of Australia Awards in the community category.

“I love it,” she said.

“I come back feeling energised and feeling like I’ve helped someone and hopefully made their life a little bit easier.”