TWEED PALLIATIVE SUPPORT INC. & WEDGETAIL RETREAT
We have been providing award-winning palliative support services in the Northern Rivers since 1998.
OUR STORY
Our origin story began in 1998 with a public meeting in Murwillumbah, NSW. Involved were community members who acknowledged the urgent need for improved palliative care services in the local area. A core group from this meeting established Tweed Palliative Support Inc. (TPS).
The vision for the organisation was to provide support and practical assistance to people diagnosed with a life-limiting condition who wanted to die at home. We began raising funds to train volunteers and purchase equipment, which enabled us to deliver free medical equipment to people's homes. This progressed to providing more emotional and personal care by giving respite to families and transporting palliative care patients to appointments allowing people to remain in their own homes for as long as possible–the vision was coming to fruition.
In 2005, it became obvious that more care was needed for some clients than volunteers could provide at home, and an alternative was needed to a busy hospital. Tweed Palliative Support began investigating options and a community hospice appeared to be the answer. By this time we had partnered with The Bright Side of Life (BSOL) to provide free quarterly award-winning “Sunshine Days” to people diagnosed with cancer. These days entailed a day of pampering, laughter, good food, and education for the person with cancer and a friend or loved one. TPS and BSOL collaborated on many events and created a steering committee when the need for a community Hospice was identified. The partnering of these two organisations was a match made in paradise that would serve the community well.
In 2009, while we were continuing our search for an appropriate property, Gillian Cooper (‘Gil’) the owner of BSOL became very ill and had to sell the retreat centre. We realised that the retreat had already become a Hospice in every way except by name and was the logical place to start our community Hospice.
The History of 12 Wedgetail Court
The peaceful environment and innovative design of the building were the dream of Gillian Cooper, an RN who wanted to create a purpose-built retreat for people with cancer and other life-limiting diseases. She completed the home-like retreat in 2001 and opened the doors of The Bright Side of Life to the community in 2002 helping hundreds of families dealing with life-limiting illnesses to have a much-needed break and reconnect. Many of her guests over the years came back to spend their last days with her. She was very grateful to know that her dream would continue to flourish and expand in the very capable and loving hands of Tweed Palliative Support Inc. & Wedgetail Retreat.
Long-time supporters of Tweed Palliative Support, Doug and Margot Anthony, provided us with a low-interest loan for the purchase price and the dream of Wedgetail Retreat, the only stand-alone adult hospice in NSW was born. The loan was paid off in five-and-a-half years with funds raised through our Op Shop and generous donations from our wonderful community.
People often say that they can finally exhale when they enter Wedgetail, as if the house is hugging them…
Since the moment it was built,12 Wedgetail Court has been serving the Tweed and surrounding regions creating a safe space for people with life-limiting illnesses.
WEDGETAIL RETREAT TODAY
In 2015 Wedgetail Retreat Hospice officially opened its doors and our trained volunteer palliative carers and Registered Nurses continue to provide 24/7 support and care which has already helped thousands of people and their families with both respite and end-of-life support.
Remarkably, we continued delivering high-quality care despite no ongoing government funding. All monies needed to pay our 24/7 Registered Nurses and run the hospice are provided through donations and funds raised through our Op Shops in Murwillumbah.
Located in the peaceful Northern NSW rainforest, our team of trained volunteers assists our Registered Nurses with providing care, comfort, and compassion. We provide end-of-life and palliative respite care to anyone diagnosed with a life-limiting illness. Recently, we have also been able to offer voluntary assisted dying support.
The cost of operating Wedgetail Retreat and providing exceptional end-of-life care in and out of our hospice is approximately $900,000 per year and all funds are raised by Tweed Palliative Support Inc.
Our service is donation-based: those who can donate are encouraged to do so and all donations are gratefully accepted.
A LEGACY OF CARE
Despite lack of government funding, Tweed Palliative Support has celebrated 25 years and Wedgetail Retreat is celebrating 10 years.
Our community service is well known and much loved in the Tweed Shire as well as further afield. We are grateful to all the small and large organisations that support us through promoting our unique service, donating supplies and raising funds to help transform the end of life experience for Australians.
Ours is a unique community-run model in Australia, if you would like to support our mission by partnering with us take a look at our sponsorship and donation opportunities.
OUR PATRON
Margot Anthony was born in Murwillumbah and attended Murwillumbah Public School and Murwillumbah High School before completing her studies at SCEGGS, Darlinghurst, the University of Sydney and the Sydney Conservatorium of Music where she studied piano.
In 2003, after many years of involvement in the world of art, music, politics and family life, Margot was appointed a Member (AM) of the Order of Australia for ‘service to the community for a range of arts organisations, particularly the Tweed Regional Gallery and the Canberra Symphony Orchestra’.
After her husband’s retirement from politics the Anthony family became permanent residents of the Tweed. Continuing her support for music, Margot has been the Foundation Patron of the Tyalgum Music Festival since 1991.
In 1988 Margot was elected as the Foundation President of the Friends of the Tweed Regional Gallery and served as President until 1992. From 1992 to 1996 she held the position of Vice-President, and has been the hard-working Patron of that organisation since 1996.
Margot has served graciously as our Patron since 2004.
