Australians help in their own little way

By ALICE GREGORIO-NICOLAS

Australians working in the Alfred Hospital also contributed from their own pockets to help the victims of the recent calamity in the Philippines. Thanks to Filipino-Australian Ampee Alvizo-Marshall, who works in the Hospital’s Engineering Department. She approached her co-workers from the Biomedical Engineering, Supply Department and Major Projects and explained to them the typhoon tragedy. Some heard the bad news from television and radio. “It feels good that Australians and other nationalities are compassionate in helping and showing they care by donating,” Ampee told The Philippine Times. The recent tragedy has affected her as she comes from Mindanao. “It is heartbreaking to see so many families and children missing and killed,” she added.

Ampee will still collect from her workmates until end of this week. She said when she approached them, they showed sadness and emphatised with the families and victims. “And they even thanked me for asking them to donate,” said the Alfred Hospital staff who has been with the hospital for 22 years now.

Ampee admires her workmates’ random act of kindness and their willingness to help, “It also feels good that I have organised and helped our fellow countrymen and I really care for them. I want to help my kababayans because I appreciate how lucky I am to live in Australia. I do not forget the less fortunate in the Philippines and some of them are suffering. It really touched my heart,” she relates.