FOUNDERS of the new Katie Rose Cottage hospice have been busy getting prepared to welcome their first patient as early as January and are already opening three charity shops throughout the shire.
Katie Rose Cottage chairperson Carol Raye said the organisation had received its charity licence and was excited to look to the future.
“We’ve been working really hard and the community support has been amazing,” she said.
“(The charity licence) will now allow the charity to proceed immediately with the opening of the op-shops in Cooroy and Tewantin, to provide funding for the new hospice.”
Carol was busy helping volunteers set up their Cooroy op-shop on Tuesday (6 December) before helping with the fit-out of the two Tewantin stores.
Carol said she expected the op-shops would open next week, and thanked the community for their invaluable support.
“At Katie Rose we recognise that it is an honour and a privilege to support someone at the end of their life ‘when every moment matters’,” she said.
The Katie Rose Cottage should be able to receive patients from early next year, but they hope to offer outreach and counselling services before the end of this year.
The current hospice facility near Cooroy will offer two ensuited guest rooms along with outreach, counselling services and administrative services.
The Katie Rose Cottage board plans to open a four to six-bed hospice and is currently working to raise funds to secure a suitable property.
“Our task is to raise and provide funds for palliative care services to continue sustainably and we will be opening the Cooroy and Tewantin op-shops next week and plan to open at other sites in the future.
“This will be supported with a sound strategic fund-raising plan which will be implemented in the New Year,” Ms Raye said.
“Our Cooroy op-shop is in Emerald Street, opposite IGA, a bright large shop that our volunteers have been busy preparing.
“In Tewantin our two op-shops are in the Atrium and are also supported by a team of volunteers who are very excited to be preparing it to open.
“Please call in to meet our friendly volunteers, find a bargain and support our work.
“Any donations of quality saleable products will be gratefully received at both locations, or if you wish to become a volunteer please contact us at admin@katierosecottage.org.au or pop in to one of the shops and talk to one of our friendly volunteers!”
Ms Raye said she had no words to express her gratitude for the community support the hospice had received.
“We thank all of them (the community) for ‘stepping up’ to support a vision based on the original Katie Rose model that was introduced by the original co-founders,” she said.
“From right across the Sunshine Coast, the community have given their whole-hearted support and we are indebted to them.
“There are so many people and organisations to thank and we plan to hold a ‘thankyou’ event for the new year.”
For more information on the shops, donations or becoming a volunteer contact John Gabrielson, general manager at johng@katierosecottage.org.au
