Cash, kind and time for hospice

Susan Lancaster is helping to beautify the gardens.

By Margaret Maccoll

Just weeks after taking possession of their new home at 199 Beddington Road, Doonan, the Katie Rose Hospice is being flooded with donations and offers of help and will soon welcome its first day hospice guests.
Hospice volunteer director Carol Raye said the sentiment from the community was sounding loud and clear.
“They really want their hospice back and that has been shining through in the way they’re supporting us,” she said.
Carol said assistance had come from all sectors across the community.
A man from Noosa Waters donated a seven-seater van with disabled access.
A team of 15 gardeners including Susan Lancaster are beautifying the outside of the home and a florist has offered to bring fresh flowers.
Many people have donated items including two top-of-range hospital beds, electric lift chairs, a refrigerator, several televisions and ramps.
“A local gentleman has offered to buy most of our furniture for us. He brought an interior designer with him to look at the house,” she said.
“People have been dropping off beautiful artworks.”
The house is nearing completion on two private rooms and requires renovations to convert a bedroom and garage into two more private rooms with ensuites and various alterations to create courtyards and decks.
“A gentleman gave us $100,000 for the renovations,” Carol said.
“And people have been offering services.”
In addition the regular pool cleaners have offered to continue their services. There is a volunteer general manager who is a bookkeeper and a volunteer admin officer.
The hospice has employed a registered nurse and hopes by August to be taking people in.