By JOLENE OGLE
THE community has rallied together to raise funds for the Sunshine Hospice following news reports the facility was doomed and would have to close its doors.
Sunshine Hospice board chairman Frank Lewins said such media reports weren’t true and as a free community service that relied on donations from the public, its financial situation was always on a “knife-edge”.
“It’s not something we’ve tried to hide,” he said. “Our AGM reports show our financial situation and all that information is on the public record. I’ve visited seven local organisations to accept donation cheques in the past few months and each time I deliver the same message over and over again; we’re on a knife-edge.”
Mr Lewins said emergency funding received from the government on Monday would help the facility to keep operating for the time-being until further funding could be secured.
“This funding gives us breathing space and we can continue our negotiations with the government to secure more funding,” he said.
“If we stand still and do nothing, we will be in the same situation by March next year. We know we won’t get a second bailout.”
Member for Noosa Glen Elmes worked hard with the hospice board and Health Department to secure the funding and said the “reasonably-sized sum of funding” should help the hospice in the short-term.
“The hospice is now open to take patients thanks to the funding and it will allow them to operate for some time,” he said.
“The hospice can now go back and negotiate more funding with the government.“
In a rare piece of praise for Labor, Mr Elmes said Senator Claire Moore had played a vital role in helping secure the funding.
“When Senator Moore heard about the issue, she went and spoke to people in Queensland Health,” he said.
“She did a great job.“
In an effort to support the work of the community hospice, locals have rallied together to raise funds for the facility.
Locals Donna Brumby and Donna Frey held their annual Shop Till You Drop coach trip to Brisbane’s DFO centre earlier this month, raising over $3000 on the day for the hospice.
“When we found out Katie Rose Hospice got no government funding we realised the importance of such a caring, beautiful and private service to be offered to those at the end of their lives,” Mr Frey said. “We were extremely proud to support such a vital service in our community.”
The Riverdeck Restaurant in Noosa Marina has also put out a call to support the hospice through their Facebook page, calling on locals to donate to the “beautiful facility with incredible people taking care of our loved ones”.
Drysdale Funerals Tewantin have also planned a fund-raiser in January with their staff set to walk for 24 hours in a bid to raise money for the hospice.
Location manager Christine Sterlson said the staff wanted to raise money for the community service because they saw the good work carried out.
The walk will take place at 24hour Fitness, Noosa Civic Shopping Centre, Noosaville, on Friday 15 January from 12noon.
If you would like to support the hospice, visit their website www.sunshinehospice.org.au or phone 5479 0881.
