Lions Club of Orange Canobolas vice president Robert Fabry presented Orange Health Service director of nursing and midwifery Leanne Casey with annual Geoff Hill memorial scholarship worth $5000.

Director of nursing and midwifery Leanne Casey said the funds benefited different areas of nursing education each year.

“Each year we identify as an area of needing enhancement in nursing education,” she said.

“Last year we identified our respiratory care was an area of need.

“We’ve had several nurses go through a short course for chronic respiratory management in an acute environment.”

Ms Casey said there was a focus on the pediatric unit this year.

“This year we’ve identified our pediatric nurses, we’d like to upskill them in resuscitation of children and neonates,” she said.

“We will be sponsoring them through advanced care of children and babies.”

Mr Fabry said supporting nursing was “a wonderful thing to do for our community”.

“It gives them the opportunity to gain more qualifications which is great,” he said.

“They’re frontline for people who look after you when you’re feeling unwell.

“We’ve got to make their life better and easier.”

Ms Casey said the nursing and midwifery units appreciated the support of the Lions club.

“It’s an enhancement to the training we can provide, particularly in specialist nursing areas,” she said.

“It provides greater opportunity to enhance [training] and therefore the greater delivery of care to our patients.”

The scholarship was named in honour of former Lions club member Geoff Hill, who died in 2014.

Mr Hill worked within the Orange Canobolas branch for about 40 years.