Category Award - Health
Perri Morris - Recipient of the Health Category Award
Nominated by The Cancer Council ACT
Perri is married with a grown-up family and volunteers for the ACT Cancer Council Wig Service (TCCACT Wig Service), based at The Canberra Hospital.
The wig service assists people who have lost their hair through cancer treatment and is available to people from Canberra and the surrounding region. More than 250 people access the service each year.
As part of her volunteering role Perri is involved in running the Wig Service, fitting wigs, washing and caring for the wigs, showing cancer patients different ways to wear scarves and other headwear, assisting other volunteers and promoting the wig service.
Perri is known as a lovely friendly woman who is able to relate well to patients with cancer. She is also a great role model to the newer volunteers who appreciate her experience and many talents. She has a special manner with all patients and is able to support those patients who may be very emotional and occasionally angry. She works to ensure that each patient leaves the wig service feeling comfortable with their appearance.
The work that Perri and other volunteers undertake can be very confronting at times, as they assist women who are of a similar age and younger who may be quite ill or unwell at times.
Perri has been a part of the TCCACT Wig Service for twenty years and generously volunteers her time for 8-10 hours a month.