Second Sails Op Shop

A Great Supporter of Great Ocean Road Health

Second Sails Op Shop has been a pillar of the Apollo Bay and surrounding communities for more than 60 years. Providing everyday household items, clothing and staples at more than reasonable prices all in the name of raising funds for Great Ocean Road Health and the wellbeing of our great community.

Predominently staffed by a dedicated team of volunteers, Second Sails Op Shop has helped our health service purchase new equipment, supported service expansion, staff training opportunities and helped improve the level of care we provide our residents, clients and community members. 

2025-26 Supported Improvements

 In 2025-26 Second Sails Op Shop supported a number of equipment purchases, services and community sponsorships in partnership with GORH. 

Bus Lease: Second Sails funds the lease of a bus which is used by our Aged Care Residents and Social Support Groups. Feedback has praised the comfortable seats, the suspension and overall enjoyment of the ride. The new bus has hoist capability, wider centre aisle for improved internal moveability, improved safety features including full height handrails with arms that lift and open out at the side door, automatic side sliding door opening system with a slide out step, and a wheelchair lift at the rear door with two secure wheelchair positions and retractable restraints for foldable walkers and wheelchairs within.

Aged Care Furniture Upgrades: New outdoor patio furniture including dining table, chairs and couches, patio heater, café blinds, a clothesline, BBQ and cover and a butter churner have been purchased for our Apollo Bay Aged Care Residents.

Dementia Projector: Second Sails co-funded an interactive projector, specifically designed to assist residents with dementia, this projector offers significant benefits by providing interactive, sensory experiences that boost physical activity, reduce agitation, improve emotional well-being and foster social connection through reminiscence therapy, personalized games and calming visuals, helping residents engage with caregivers, family, and their past memories. It’s a lot of fun!

Aged Care Special Funds: This year these funds have been utilised to provide music therapy for residents. Tiffany Eckhart offers music therapy to Aged Care Residents providing both individual and groups sessions. Music therapy is especially powerful for older adults and people living with dementia because it reaches parts of the brain that remain responsive long after other abilities decline. Here’s a clear, structured breakdown of the benefits, focusing on what truly makes a difference in aged‑care and dementia support.

 Training & Sponsorship: Second Sails proudly sponsored several local community events including the Apollo Bay & Otway District Agriculture Show, Apollo Bay Swim, and Harmony Retreat (celebrating International Women’s Day & Harmony Day), as well as providing a significant donation in support of the Apollo Bay CFA.
We have invested in GORH Staff Training, specifically wound management course for two Registered Nurses meeting an increasing community need for more complex in home care, which previously would have been treated in hospitals. We are also invested in creating additional training opportunities for staff through virtual training. To facilitate these courses, we have invested in two Education laptops and three sets of noise cancelling headsets to create a learning hub in Apollo Bay for staff training purposes.

 Second Sails Scholarship: The 2025 recipient of the Annual Second Sails scholarship was awarded to Odette Goater, to support part-time study of a Master of Occupational Therapy Practice to extend GORH’s allied health specialist services provided, and to meet the needs of the Apollo Bay community, filling a gap in critical need of speech pathology and neuroaffirming care.

Equipment: Investments have been made for equipment upgrades, including a cardiac monitor and attachments for our Urgent Care Unit, a new ECG Machine at the Apollo Bay Medical Centre, foot stools for nursing staff and new water weights for use in Allied Health warm water exercise classes. A new Sara Stedy was purchased to assist with manual handling of clients in aged care and acute care patients. Sara Stedy’s are trusty aids help residents go from sitting to standing and on to wheelchairs, toilets, or beds with confidence. It supports independence, keeps people moving, and reduced manual handling for staff.

 

2024-25 Supported Improvements

In 2024-25 Second Sails Op Shop generously donated over $134,587 in support of the following projects.

  1. Drug Room Update $36,513.00
    An independent review of our Drug room highlighted our storage, disbursement and infection control did not comply with current standards. GORH engaged National Surgical and BND Locksmiths to provide a solution to better equip the facility with a modern compliant drug storage room. Proposed plans were evaluated and endorsed by our independent VICIP’s (Victorian Infection Prevention Services) Auditor Mark Rigby finding that the new layout met international medication storage room standards for safe storage of medicines specifically appropriate and secure storage of medication, and an increased usability for Clinical Staff. The Apollo Bay Drug Room project was completed in April 2025 and is now compliant with current standards.
    1. Infection Control Sink Installation Works $25,832.25
      Outbreak management is essential in ensuring the health and wellbeing of patients in our care at our facility. The practice of handwashing is an effective way to prevent contamination and disease transmission. Following the COVID-19 pandemic, hand washing has become increasingly important. GORH’s recent hand hygiene audit results highlighted barriers related to improperly designed wards and a lack of equipment specifically in the Physiotherapy Consult Room, Acute Ward 1 and Aged Care Lower Hall, resulting in a decline in hand washing compliance among our staff and visitors to our facilities.
      Increasing accessible handwashing sinks, reducing the distance between the sinks and patients’ beds facilitated better access and promoted improved hand hygiene practices. This project was successfully completed in February 2025.
      1. Aged Care Bus Lease $ 31,473.35
        Following feedback from our Aged Care activities and In Home Social Support group staff regarding the age and state of the Apollo Bay Aged Care bus, a review was conducted and determined that the Bus no longer meet resident and client standards. A lease was entered into to secure a new bus with hoist capability, wider centre aisle and flat floor through to the driver and front passenger seats, full height handrails with arms that lift and open out at the side door, automatic side sliding door opening system with a slide out step, and a wheelchair lift at the rear door with two secure wheelchair positions and retractable restraints for foldable walkers and wheelchairs within. The Bus arrived in May 2025 much to the delight of our Social Support Clients and Aged Care Residents. In June 2025 GORH logo and ‘proudly sponsored by Second Sails Opportunity Shop’ was added to the bus in recognition of Second Sails Op Shop’s contribution.
        1. Aged Care Evacuation Stretcher – $3,400
          An emergency evacuation training exercise and review of our Emergency Evacuation Procedure highlighted a shortfall in our evacuation capabilities for some residents in Laura Pengilley Wing. It was concluded that the safest and most efficient way to evacuate non-able body residents in rooms where their beds cannot exit through the room doors was via an evacuation stretcher. In May 2025 an Evacuation Stretcher was ordered and tested as part of our Emergency Evacuation Procedure Testing.
        2. Aged Care Special Funds – $3,400
          A ‘Special Fund’ was created for Apollo Bay Aged Care Residents to be used as a discretionary fund for entertainment, music therapy, special take away lunches, outings, and discretionary special treats. This fund commenced in March 2025.
          Pictured: Tiffany Eckhardt music therapist with Apollo Bay Residents. Tiffany attends every second week performing to a group and individuals providing welcomed music therapy.
          1. Ultrasound Training – $17,200
            Ultrasound training was provided for 3 GP Registrars and 1 Medical Student to use Ultrasound technology at GORH. This allows these staff members to be able to operate ultrasound technology in their patient consultations at the Apollo Bay Medical Centre and in Urgent Care when they are on call. This type of training is also an incentive for the staff members who are on a limited contract with GORH to continue to promote our services. The training was conducted in May 2025.
            1. Phlebotomy Chair – ABMC
              Having a phlebotomy chair at the Apollo Bay Medical Centre help patients feel comfortable while having their blood drawn. It can also help reduce anxiety and improve workflow for healthcare workers. The Phlebotomy Chair was ordered in April 2025.
              1. Urgent Care emergency Trolley/Cabinet – $2,919.40
                A recent accreditation review highlighted the need for a new Urgent Care Emergency Trolley/Cabinet. Our previous trolley was unlockable and therefore non-compliant (from accreditation). A new Quatro cart was ordered in March 2025, to be used as an urgent care emergency cart.
                1. Ventilator – $6,913.20
                  Fundraising initiatives in 2024 sought to raise funds a Ventilator to assist acutely unwell patients in our Apollo Bay Urgent Care Unit. “A mechanical ventilator is used for lifesaving medical procedures. It essentially assists a very sick patient in breathing or breathes for the patient whilst they are paralysed or sedated” Dr Terence Heng, Great Ocean Road Health. The biggest supporters of this fundraising initiative were the Apollo Bay and District Health Foundation and Second Sails Op Shop. The purchase of this ventilator is a testament to the power of collaboration and community support.
                  1. Second Sails Scholarship – Nicole Hohne
                    The Second Sails Scholarship is awarded on merit, to an employee of GORH, who demonstrates continued commitment to the health outcomes of communities within the catchment of Apollo Bay Campus. The scholarship, to the value of $5000, is to be awarded annually at the GORH Annual General Meeting. The 2024 scholarship recipient was Nicole Hohne. Filling a health gap at Apollo Bay for a permanent female primary health care physicians, Nicole embarked on a year-long journey to offer women’s sexual and reproductive health services, including contraception, cervical screening and unplanned pregnancy services.

                    11. Gift Certificates – $200.00

                    $200 gift vouchers were gifted to local families in need.