Outpouring of appreciation for healthcare workers

In the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, Australians are
showing their appreciation for frontline healthcare workers like never before.

Doctors and nurses at Epworth Geelong were delighted to
receive a huge delivery of flowers from the Geelong Flower Farm, and at the
Peninsula Private Hospital in Melbourne, the local Domino's pizza store dropped
off a dozen free pizzas to hungry medical staff.

Staff at Melbourne's Chris O'Brien Lifehouse knew they were
appreciated when residents living across from the hospital placed a huge banner
on their balcony reading, "Thank you amazing health staff."

Dr April Wong said the sign was a wonderful show of support.

"It was a pleasant surprise to see a message of
encouragement outside our window while operating," she wrote on Facebook.

"The world is facing a crisis. This is also happening now on
our own soil, where lives are lost and there may be more.

"It's time to show the world we can work together. We are
staying at work for you, please stay home for us."

Dr Wong finished the post with a quote from Lee Alexander McQueen: "There comes a time in your life when you focus solely on what you believe is right, regardless of what everyone else is doing."

Staff at many private hospitals around the country have
posted online messages, thanking people for their support and encouraging the
general public to stay home.

At St Vincent's Private Hospital Sydney, staff said they had
been inspired by the messages coming from hospitals around the world and were
pictured holding up a sign saying, "We stay here for you, please stay home for
us".

A number of Facebook pages and GoFundMe accounts have also
sprung up in support of medical staff.

Campaigns include "Buy Them A Coffee" where members of the
public can purchase coffees for medical staff – an initiative that helps local
cafes stay in business, as well as keeping doctors and nurses caffeinated.

In major cities, there are a number of Facebook groups for medical staff looking for babysitters and the Adopt A Healthcare Worker campaign connects doctors and nurses with people in their own community who can help with groceries and other day to day tasks.

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