Volunteering his time for the hospital where he first met his wife has been a labour of love for retiring Gayndah Hospital Community Reference Group (CRG) Chair John Zahl.
Born and bred in Gayndah, John recently retired from his position on the CRG after volunteering since 2016. As hospital staff, members of the CRG and Hospital Auxiliary gathered at his farewell event, it was a chance to celebrate John’s significant contribution and reflect on his dedicated service.
During the last 10 years John has been a pillar of strength connecting the Gayndah community and local health services. Through open conversations and advocacy, he has helped to ensure the voices of residents were heard and considered in health planning and service delivery.
Executive Director Bundaberg and Rurals Jan-Adele Hotz said John had been a steady and thoughtful leader of the Gayndah Hospital CRG who always encouraged constructive discussion and collaboration.
“With his wife Lynda having previously worked as a nurse at Gayndah Hospital, John has long recognised and respected the valuable role that rural health staff play in supporting their communities,” she said.
“His appreciation for the challenges and strengths of rural healthcare has helped foster meaningful dialogue between the community and health services.”
John is widely recognised for his strong leadership, generosity and readiness to step in whenever help was needed, often volunteering his time without hesitation and among the first to do so.
“As emcee of the Gayndah Hospital Centenary High Tea events in 2021 he helped the community celebrate an important milestone in the hospital’s history,” Jan-Adele said.
“His achievements are many and throughout the last 10 years he has left a lasting impact.
“We thank him for his significant contribution and wish him the very best in the future.”
John reflected that he has been incredibly fortunate for all that the Gayndah community has given him and emphasised the importance of being active in supporting local groups.
“This community has educated my children and provided them with employment, so it makes it easy to give back,” he said.
“We all have a part to play in health services for our community and need to encourage people to be more involved in committees like the hospital auxiliary, ambulance and LifeFlight.”
John’s volunteer work stretches across a wide range of groups within the Gayndah community. He has been actively involved with Bendigo Bank, LifeFlight and the Gunther Retirement Village, which is currently expanding to deliver more aged care beds for the region. This is an important step in supporting residents to remain in their community as they age.
While these contributions are significant, they represent only part of John’s lasting legacy. His many years of dedicated service to community engagement, health advocacy and local initiatives have strengthened connections between the community and health services, ultimately contributing to improved outcomes for the region.
Interested in volunteer opportunities?
If you’re interested in joining our fantastic team of volunteers you can talk to our volunteer coordinator on 07 4184 1862, or email WBHHS.Volunteers@health.qld.gov.au. More information is also available by visiting our website.