Charlie's Angels

The Foundation greatly appreciates our volunteers who help with our raffles, assist with administration in the Foundation office and help to distribute material and support around the hospital.  Particular appreciation goes to the lovely Charlie's Angels who turned 30 in 2008.

The inaugural meeting to form the hospital auxiliary, the forerunner to the current Charlie's Angels volunteer organisation, was held in November 1978.  It all started when retired Matron, Mrs Jocelyn Clarke, decided something must be done to help the residents of the Jacaranda Nursing Home.  Helped by Eileen (Bindi) Walker and members of the Red Cross, the Auxiliary was formed.

Edna Howth joined in March 1983, and with 25 years of service to The Prince Charles Hospital as a volunteer, is one of the longest serving members of Charlies Angels.  Alice Sheldon was one of the founding members of Charlie's Angels and at 96 years of age was able to recount much of the history of the volunteers.

“The Charlie's Angels got their name from the then popular sitcom,” she recalls, “and written permission had to be obtained from the United States of America for The Prince Charles Hospital volunteers to use it”. 

The distinctive yellow polo shirts we see around the hospital today, worn by the ever-helpful Charlie's Angels, started as early uniforms identical to those worn by the nurses (pale yellow) which members bought for themselves at a cost of $40.00.  Around 1994 -1995, the Charlie's Angels started receiving enquiries from gentlemen wanting to join but not wanting to wear the yellow dresses! So initially yellow shirts, and then the yellow “polo” shirts, became the official uniform.

Today our active serving volunteers range from Amy Bugden, aged 22, to Ted Harris, aged 83, and we thank the Charlie's Angels who are co-ordinated by Bruce Proud and Jenny Schulter for their great work in providing support to patients, staff and visitors of The Prince Charles Hospital.