Stawell’s ambulance service have a fresh batch of trauma teddies to comfort children being treated in emergencies thanks to a donation from the Country Women’s Association of Victoria’s Stawell branch.
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Tens of thousands of trauma teddies are given out each year across Australia to help reduce the suffering of children who are affected by fire, floods or other disasters.
The initiative started in 1990 when Richard Hamilton, then superintendent of Campbelltown (NSW) ambulance service saw a teddy bear given to a child being treated by the ambulance service in Camden.
He was impressed by the calming effect the bear had on the child and through his mother Vera Hamilton, asked Red Cross to assist in providing more bears for children treated by the ambulance.
Stawel CWA member Mary Frencham heard about the initiative and immediately sprung into action, knitting trauma teddies for needy children in the region.
Every trauma teddy must pass a strict quality inspection before distribution, undertaken by Red Cross Trauma Teddy Coordinators.