PAMELA Menzies has made supporting the hospital a tradition, putting on numerous plays over the years.
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The most recent pantomime performed Santa Comes To Armidale, raised $5000 for the hospital auxiliary group, to go towards new equipment.
“We usually buy the equipment, but this year we thought we would help them out financially,” producer of the production Pamela Menzies said.
Armidale Hospital Auxiliary Group president Maureen O’Grady said the money will go towards a wishlist the hospital has for urgently needed new equipment.
“We weren’t expecting it and were thrilled, Pam’s a lovely lady,” she said.
“We’re very, very appreciative.”
Combined with the money the Auxiliary group had already raised, $14,000 will now be going towards the hospitals wishlist.
The pantomime took three months of hard work before it was performance ready.
“We work with people doing shift work for the hospital,” Ms Menzies said.
“Everybody’s working so it’s not as if they have free time.”
No professional actors were involved in the performance, only local members of the community.
“The whole idea is to get every department in the hospital to contribute to this,” Ms Menzies said.
For last years pantomime local orthopedic surgeon, Robin Diebold wrote the script involving current local and political issues, he even took to the stage himself as Donald Trump.
While rehearsing the play, a real sense of community spirit was raised between the cast and crew.
“The most important people are the cast and crew to me,” Ms Menzies said.
“Everyone has so much fun getting to know each other without the stress of work.
“If they have fun, the audience will enjoy it as well.”
The group has decided to only do pantomimes every second year, and sketches every other.
This is due to the workload of a full pantomime production.
“This is mainly to give us a break,” Ms Menzies said.
Pamela Menzies is currently planning this years fundraiser, a review made up of of five minute sketches titled: Laughter is the Best Medicine, scheduled for this November.