Jim Fagan
It’s six years this week since Katie Rose Cottage Hospice went 24/7 with its no charge, end of life palliative care for Sunshine Coast people and their families.
And it couldn’t wish for a better birthday gift than that from The Warm Handshake Foundation based in Noosa Waters. It has now followed up its original gift of $1,000,000 to buy the house and land in 2016 by donating to the hospice the freehold title to the three-acre property at Doonan.
“It’s an amazing gift. We could never be where we are today without the input of the 99-year lease at the beginning. It really got us up and going,” acting chief executive officer Carol Raye told Noosa Today.
“It gave us a beautiful home to develop our Hospice and, with no rent to pay, we could focus on the ‘end of life’ care service.
“This new gift is unbelievably fantastic. We will be forever grateful.”
Foundation chairman Carol left the board last year after seven and a half years, but has come back to lead the hospice staff, nurses and op shops following the retirement last month of CEO John Gabrielson. Katie Rose is currently interviewing applicants for the job.
“It’s a very unusual role but there is so much more to it. One example is fundraising and overseeing the op shops which are going so well. We are so grateful to the community for its contribution to sales and donations,” she said.
“This continued and appreciated support is vital. The State Government only covers 35 per cent of our nurses’ salary and that’s all. It doesn’t cover our operating costs. The rest of the organisation still has to be funded from opshops, donations and events like our fashion shows, golf day and car show. And, of course, the community support.
Carol said it was expected that in November construction groundwork would start on two new guest units, taking the total to five. The hospice is undertaking a $2million dollar extension and a complete remake of the complex which will almost double its size. It is expected the work will be completed by December next year.
“This is a big project and an exciting one,” Carol said.
“In January 2022 we received a $1.5 million dollar grant from the Federal Government via Barnaby Joyce and Llew O’Brien for the work but with the change in the Federal Government there were delays in receiving the money. Also, cost of living and building construction increases have blown out what we need now to an estimated $2 million.
“We have started now on plans to launch a building fund to help assist with closing that gap of half a million dollars.”
She said Katie Rose would continue to accommodate guests during the work.
“We are building a noise mitigation screen wall so that they will not be disturbed.
“One of my jobs right now is to find a place for our admin team as they can’t stay on site while building is going on. I think I have found one in Noosaville which is also big enough to give us another warehouse.”
She said renovations to the op shops were continuing.
“We started with Tewantin two years ago and Cooroy is next.
“We are giving it a fresh look and a realignment to make it more customer friendly.
Carol said: “Since we started Katie Rose close to 500 people have come to us for end of life care. Beautiful guests and every single one has a beautiful family and a beautiful story.”
FOOTNOTE: The Tewantin Katie Rose opshop is celebrating the hospice’s birthday this Friday, August 23, with discounts on purchases for loyalty card holders and their friends from 5-7 pm. Guests will be treated with bubbles and canapes plus 50 per cent off fashion items.
