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Celebrating Jean Frost our Yass Valley Citizen of the year

Beloved Yass local Jean Frost was awarded 2023 Citizen of the Year at last week’s Australia Day Awards at Riverbank Park. Our journalist Tim Warren caught up with Jean moments after receiving her award to discover a humble and industrious individual who takes joy in giving and encourages others to have fun while volunteering…   

Well-connected in the community, Jean Frost has displayed years of devotion and investment within the Yass Valley, she has been a part of many committees, boards, charity organisations and auxiliaries, in many different roles.

Can Assist volunteers Ruth Thompson and Jean Frost serving up some welcome ice cream at the recent Community Carols event.

Jean is currently sitting in the Presidency role for the Yass Hospital Auxiliary and has held the same position for the past 7 years. Under Jean’s presidency the Auxiliary has achieved the following – orchestrated the purchase and installation of a mobile Sonosite Ultrasound Unit for the Yass Hospital Emergency department, the purchase of a Bladder Scanner (in co-operation with Bookham Hospital Auxiliary), Bilirubin Instrument and weighing scales for Infants for the Midwife outreach service, obtained a state government grant for the purchase of the external pergola at the Hospital, along with annual Christmas Patient Gift Packs.

Yass Soldiers Club President Ross Webster and Yass Hospital Auxiliary President Jean Frost presenting equipment to the hospital

Jean is at the forefront of all the Auxiliary fundraising efforts including their latest Melbourne Cup Luncheon and Fashion Parade held at the Golf Club and their monster garage sale – raising $6650 between both events. 

Along with the Auxiliary Jean has played a key role in the establishment and continuation of Yass Can Assist since 2004 – Jean is a prominent member of Can Assist in the role of patient liaison officer offering support and guidance to patients and families during their difficult times. 

Jean is also at the forefront of all fundraising efforts, you will often see her picking up sausages from the local butcher and bread from Woolworths in preparation for fundraising BBQs – as well as setting up, cooking and cleaning. She is well respected and held in high regard by all.

Jean spoke to The Times following the exciting announcement of her Citizen of the Year award.

“I found out I was nominated, but I wasn’t expecting it. I’m very glad that Can Assist got the Community Group of the Year award because they deserve it. I’m very proud of Can Assist, I think we do good work and help lots of people,” Jean said.

“We also have a lot of fun doing barbeques and various events. We work pretty hard and are pretty exhausted by the end of the year with everything because the hospital auxiliary has quite a few functions, so we have a full calendar.

“The members take the initiative and go off and organise things, you couldn’t ask for a better group of people. They are fantastic, strong friendships form, it’s not all work. We all have a lot of fun with each other and help each other through life dramas as they come by because you get to become very good friends with people you see week in and week out. 

“The general public is amazing, the Yass community is so generous. They support both the hospital auxiliary and Can Assist all the time. It’s just amazing.”

Jean said she was happy to get out and enjoy the Australia Day Awards with the community.

“It’s great. The my new venue has worked really well. The kids look happy over there on the jumping castles. It should be a great day and a lot more space for the little ones to run around. I think it’s been really good change of venue.”

Inflatable jumping castles and slides were appreciated attractions at the new Riverbank Park Australia Day venue for 2023

Jean wanted to thank the Yass community for their help and support of the charities. 

“I’d like to thank the whole community for supporting all the charities because without the charities and their support, maybe a lot of things will fall apart around the town. There’s not government support for everything,” she said.

“It’s good to be able to help the patients at our lovely little hospital. It’s going really well and we aim to provide things that might provide extra comfort for the patients and the staff that have to work there.

“Sometimes that includes a piece of equipment that might mean the patient hasn’t got to travel so far to have a scan or whatever.

“The community really loves Yass Hospital. With Can Assist we must’ve supported over 380 families in Yass since its inception in 2004 and as time goes by we tend to support more and more people these days.

“It’s a nice feeling to be able to take some of the stress away from people with a diagnosis of cancer. It’s normally the most stressful times of their lives. So if we can help a little bit by taking some financial pain away, it’s rewarding.”

Tim Warren 

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