Helping Little Hands starts parking fund for parents of sick babies at King Edward Memorial Hospital

A Perth charity is hoping to raise $10,000 in a heroic bid to spare parents of sick babies at a Subiaco public hospital from parking fines.

Helping Little Hands co-founder Joanne Beedie said the group launched the appeal in response to Subiaco councillors last week knocking back the provision of an extra 20 free weekly parking permits for parents of babies admitted to King Edward Memorial Hospital’s Neonatal Intensive Care Unit.

“The council failed to take an action that could have helped,” she said.

“We can all talk and argue about it but someone needs to take the steps to take action.”

Mayor Penny Taylor moved a motion to increase the number of permits provided by the City from 20 to 40 but it was rejected by council, which instead voted for a report that could take several months on the effect of permits on nearby homes and possibility of State Government subsidies.

Ms Beedie, of Wembley, said from today, HLH would “fight” each fine issued by the City for NICU families and use the funds raised to pay for those not rescinded, with the remainder going towards other services including fuel vouchers or transport support.

She said the HLH fund via the My Cause website would help push back against “ongoing bureaucratic processes and filibustering of Subiaco council”.

“We ask everyone in the community — who have been so incredibly supportive to us that it also shows councillors are out of touch with many of their constituents — contribute whatever they can to help us in this fight,” she said.

Nicole Wimbridge, whose daughter Olivia is currently at the hospital’s NICU, said she and partner Shannon Morgan had used a City permit for the past eight weeks and parking would be difficult without it.

“We’ve been lucky in finding a car spot relatively close each day but without the parking permits it would make it a lot harder,” she said.

“You have in the back of your mind ‘oh, I better go move the car’ or ‘am I going to get a fine?’

“To pay for parking and then get a fine on top of that, having to do that every day is another added stress you don’t need during that time.”

Subiaco acting chief executive Cliff Frewing said every motorist had a right to access parking in the area.

“It is for this reason that the City is conducting an extensive review of this issue to ensure that the City’s response is balanced and fair,” he said.

Mr Frewing said the City had “always” received complaints from residents surrounding the hospital, including vehicles overstaying time restrictions, parking on residential verges without permission, blocking driveways, being unable to find parking on their own street and hospital staff parking on residential streets.

Donate to the parking fund here.