A public submission asking the Glen Innes Severn Council to support a 24/7 hotline of support for people who have health needs was made at last week’s council meeting.
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New Local resident Kelly Foran made the submission asking for the council to support her Friendly Faces Helping Hands foundation by placing a link on their website.
Mrs Foran decided to start the foundation after her own battles with the logistics of handling not only operations and depleted funds, but of finding basic services in a strange environment.
Mrs Foran, who has been a nominee for Australian of the Year and has received the National Volunteers Award 2013, said she speaks to all country councils so that they can help and support their constituents.
“As a foundation we have limited money so we try to get bang for our buck, we do not ask for money but we do ask that they pop a link on the Council site so that people who are in need can find us and we can help,” she said.
“We hope that Council take the time to consider what we do and may in the future financially help and support us to support many Glen Innes local government area people.
“This has been the case with many regional councils helping us with donations because it seems that when Councils and staff hear about what we do and why, they too want to be part of helping so many people and communities.”
Mrs Foran said the Friendly Faces Helping Hands foundation offers support to people through their website, their 24/7 hotline of support, information and advocacy, Facebook and also email support.
“We help people from all over Australia without procedure, it does not matter what age, creed or ailment we help everyone,” she said.
“The aim is to make these trips for medical procedure less traumatic and stressful, therefore supporting people so that mental health does not become another illness to fight because many country people are sent to metropolitan hospitals under duress in emergency situations.
“In the five years since the Foundation’s inception over 50,000 people have been assisted by sourcing information on hospitals and health facilities on our website and by ringing a hotline, which I do answer myself.
Glen Innes Severn Council General Manager Hein Basson said Council was impressed with not only the noble objectives of Mrs Foran’s Friendly Faces Foundation, but also with the passion and empathy displayed by her during her presentation at the last Council Meeting.
“Council has already added a link to this Foundation’s website on its website under the “News” tab, and would like to wish the Friendly Faces Foundation all of the very best with its future endeavours,” he said.
