WWW.TOOWOOMBAHOSPICE.ORG.AU
Capitalworksplanningnearscompletion
2026startedonahighnotewithToowoombaHospiceʼsfirsteventbeingthevery successfulannualbusinessluncheonwithguestspeakerMikeHoranAM.
GrahamHealyinterviewedMikeonhisinvolvementin the community where we heard of his involvement in the relocation of the Toowoomba Showgrounds to Glenvalein1985andhiscommitmenttohealthissues, not only in Toowoomba but throughout Queensland when he was the Member for Toowoomba South and Queensland Health Minister and, most recently, the Chairman of the Darling Downs Health Board. Mike was very helpful with advice in the early planning of the Toowoomba Hospice, advice for which I will be forevergrateful.
Lookingahead,wehaveouryearlyfundraisingevents intheplanningstages,andImakementionoftwo:our Mother'sDayHighTeaandHangYaBossOutToDry. I am sure Mark and Virginia would be very happy to hear from you if you can help out by attending or assistingattheseevents
Wearecurrentlyplanningworksandimprovementsat the Hospice with the upgrade of our security As part of the upgrade, we are installing new cameras and other safety measures which will increase the safety ofourstaff,volunteersand,importantly,thewellbeing offamiliesvisitingtheirlovedonesinourcare.Workin thisareaisnearingcompletion.
The carpark will also be expanded to allow for safer parkingforfamiliesvisitingtheirlovedones,aswellas providingextraparkingforstaffandvolunteers.
Thenextpartofourworkswillbetheextensionofour main building. We are expanding the current board roomtocaterforconsultationandtrainingrequiredfor our day-to-day activities. Plans for this are currently with our designer and are nearing completion. With thecarparkingandextension,wehavesoughtadvice fromourdesigner,aswellasanengineerandatown planner.
The Order of St John of Jerusalem will join with the ToowoombaHospicetoraisefundsfortheseprojects. It is very pleasing to see the Order of St John once again supporting us. They have supported us on severaloccasionsovertheyears
I would like to assure everyone that the Management Committee always considers and explores many options when making decisions; decisions that have positive outcomes. At the same time, the safety, care and security of our clients, families, staff, volunteers andvisitorsisparamount.
grahambarronoam I CHAIRMAN
Itisverypleasingtoseethe OrderofStJohnonceagain supportingus.
Theyhavesupportedus onseveraloccasions overtheyears.
‘
Thebroken-heartedarethe bravestamongus theydared tolove
Asafehavenofcomfortandsupport
ToowoombaHospiceisaplacewhereloveisvisibleinitsmostprofoundform. EverydaywithintheHospice,wewitnessextraordinarycourage.Itisnotthe loudorcelebratedkindofcourage,butthequietstrengthshownbypeople navigatingoneoflifeʼsmosttenderanddifficultexperiences.
We see it in families who sit at the bedside of someone they love, holding hands and sharing memoriesandsometimessinglemoments.
We see it in the loved ones who navigate painful memoriesandforgiveness.
We see it in clients who face the reality of lifelimitingillnesswithdignity,humour,andgrace
And we see it in our nurses, personal care staff, andvolunteerswhowalkalongsidepeopleduring these moments with compassion, skill, presence andunwaveringkindness.
Brené Brownʼs words remind us that grief is not weakness Instead, it is a reflection of deep and meaningfulconnection.
Tohaveabrokenheartmeansthatloveexisted thatliveswereintertwined,memoriesweremade, andrelationshipsmattered.
Our role in hospice is not to take away the sadnessthatcomeswithsayinggoodbye
Grief is a natural expression of love, and our commitmentisthatnoonefacesthesemoments alone.
Through compassionate professional end of life care,emotionalandspiritualsupport,andadeep respect for each personʼs dignity, hospice providesaspacewhereclientsandfamiliesfeel safe,supported,andcaredfor
Together, we recognise that the client is a person with a story, a family, a connection to community and a life that deserves honour and respect.
Hospicecareremindsusthatthefinalchapterof lifecanstillbefilledwithmeaning,comfort,and connection.
To the families who allow us to care for their loved ones, and to the staff and volunteers who bring compassion to this work every day, thank you.
Youdemonstratethequietbraverydescribedby Brené Brown the courage to love deeply, even whenitmeansfacingheartbreak.
And in that courage, we find extraordinary humanity.
eugeniecorbett
I DIRECTOROFNURSING
It’sfullsteam
AHEAD!
Iʼmhappytosaywearewell andtrulyputtingtheFUNbackinto FUNdraisingin2026!
Weʼve already had a great Business Luncheon and a fantastic Eumundi Markets BusTrip,andthereisplentymorecomingup.
Motherʼs Day High Tea is just around the corner,HangYaBossOutToDryhitsinJune, Race Day in September, plus a few more surprisesalongtheway.
There is never a dull moment—just the way welikeit!
Have you ever thought about running an eventfortheHospice?
A morning tea at work… a golf day… a sausage sizzle… a bowls day… a raffle… or somethingcompletelydifferent?
We need to raise around $900,000 every year from our local community and we canʼt doitwithoutyou.
Your workplace, your friends, your family, your club, your community group… everyone canplayapart.
Ifyouʼvegotanidea,giveusacallorsendus anemailandwewillhelpshinealightonit!
markmunro I BUSINESSMANAGER
HangYaBossOutToDry issetforFriday5Juneand thisisyourofficial‘nudgeʼ toGETINVOLVED!
Knowabosswhodeservestohangout foragoodcause?
Knowamanagerwhoneedsalittle friendlypayback?
Knowacommunityleaderwhois agoodsport?
Jumponlineandsignthemuporreach outtoVirginiaat events@toowoombahospiceorgauorme atmanager@toowoombahospice.org.au andwewillgetyousorted.
Andfinally donʼtforgettofollowour socialmediapagessoyoucankeepup witheverythinghappeningattheHospice!
Buckle up for this year’s Hang Ya Boss Out To Dry! Friday 5 June 2026
TheHospicereception,kitchen,flower arrangingandgardeningtasksarenow benefitingfromthetouchofsome newandvibrantpersonalities!
A big thankyou to volunteers Gerry and Graham who have been slowly refurbishing the outdoor furniture.
Thiscameaboutafteragenerousdonationtothe Hospice from the Queensland Country Womenʼs AssociationMiddleRidgeBranch.
With our Motherʼs Day High Tea coming up at Gipʼs, we are looking for some keen volunteers toassistwiththeeventonWednesday6May.As always,itwillbeawonderful,fun-filledevent.
Please contact me on 07 4659 8500 if you are interestedinhelpingout.
judymaker-field I VOLUNTEERCOORDINATOR
Speakingofvolunteering,wearealways happytowelcomenewmemberstoour team!
Ifyouʼrekeen,orknowsomeonewho wouldliketojointheHospicefamily, pleasecontactmedirectlyorapplyon thewebsite.
Ashoutouttoour longstandingsupporter ToowoombaFlowerMarket and,morerecently, DaisyMaeFlorist, forprovidingfreshflowers weeklytotheHospice.
HospiceVolunteers(l-r)Maggie,Noelene,Charmaine,Judy,Rosi,MarleneandLyn
judymaker-field
CelebratingourfriendsatPureLandLearningCollege
ToowoombaHospiceenjoysawonderfulpartnershipwithPureLandLearning College.Since2003,wehavesupportedoneanotherandourlocalcommunity.
InMarch,PureLandrepresentativesandvolunteersfromtheMulti-FaithMulticultural CentreToowoombagatheredattheHospicewithourmanagementcommittee, leadershipandpastoralcareteamsformorningtea.
Overthesummer,Ireflectedontheturbulenttimesintheworld aroundus-andwiththeevents,evenonourlovedBondiBeach, itseemsthatsuchterribleeventsarenottoofarfromus.
Current conflict in the Middle East is on our newscontinuously.
Our spirituality–whatever that may be for you–can help ground us when life is stormy around us.
It is very easy to get caught up in watching and hearing the distressing events on a local, nationalandinternationallevel.
While it is important to acknowledge current events, it is also important to look after ourselves, both in a personal as well as professionalway.
We may need daily “time outˮ away from multiple distractions to breathe, relax, be mindfulofthepresent,andbegratefulforwhat wehave.
This can help the feeling of being overwhelmed, and how we spend our “time outˮcanbeasindividualandasshortoraslong aswewouldlikeittobe.
The Pastoral Care team wish you a peaceful year.
Weareheretosupportourfamiliesshouldyou wishtocontactus.Blessings.
louisebuttsworth I PASTORALCARECOORDINATOR
Actsofkindnessand generosityconsistently inspiremeinmyroleat ToowoombaHospice.
Ifeelprivilegedto encountersomany thoughtfuland compassionatepeople fromacrossour communityandbeyond whobringtheirunique touchtothevitalwork oftheHospice.
virginialambert I