Blog

A year long research project on Little Haven’s unique Model of Community Based Palliative Care, done by the UniSC team has resulted in the publishing of a paper in leading and respected peer reviewed international medical / palliative care journal.

After 16+ years with Little Haven Carolyn Mandersloot is heading to Charleville and her new role as Palliative Care Clinical Nurse Coordinator with South West Health Qld. Watch her video.

Let me tell you a story that illustrates how a holistic view of a patient’s mind, body, and soul can positively impact their end-of-life story. We had a patient with advanced end-stage renal failure.

Doing it for “Toots” Charity Golf Day to be held at Gunabul Homestead Golf Course & Country Club on Sunday the 22nd of October.

The 2018 – 2019 Little Haven Palliative Care Annual General Meeting was held on Wednesday the 25th September 2019 with 59 guests in attendance. You can find the full annual report here. Below are some photos from the night.

“Dying is everyone’s business, and although every person dies, the majority of Queenslanders have a very poor understanding of advanced planning for a quality end of life, palliative care or the process of dying. “

” You probably have some idea how much this means Thank you Steven Miles MP and the Qld government for this recognition of our community based palliative care service and recognition of the massive contribution over many years of everyone involved. Today marks the day we can finally let go of the day to day

TODAY- Commencing at 2pm at The Wesleyan Methodist Church, Exhibition Road, Gympie. Service followed by releasing of doves and afternoon tea. The annual Little Haven Memorial Service provides a chance for the community to reflect on the memory of loved ones and pay tribute to the patients we have cared for over the past year.

Taking a leaf from 10 year old Tasmanian boy Oliver’s brilliant idea to help Hobart’s homeless “Free on a tree” campaign Little Haven decked our Winter Tree on Mary with a selection of warm coats. With the temperature dropping to around 2 tonight we hope like Oliver “that people who need the coats will take

July 15th – July 22nd Each year Little Haven Palliative Care and Cancer Support celebrates our proud service to the Gympie community providing the best model of dignified end of life care for the terminally ill, support for chemotherapy patients and counselling and follow up for the bereaved. 2018 represents 39 years of developing compassionate

The great gift of human beings is that we have the power of empathy. Standing in someone else’s shoes, feeling with his or her heart, seeing with his or her eyes. So it was this week when the QAS was tasked with the responsibility of transporting our palliative patient from their home of 40 years

It is with sadness we acknowledge the passing of Dr David Nimmo – Little Haven Palliative Care life member Dr Nimmo was a well known and highly respected long-term Gympie GP and a tireless community supporter.  Including being the first president of Gympie’s Meals on Wheels, long-time member of the Lions Club and life member of

Happy New Year to all our Volunteers, Patients, Carers, Staff and families. The latest Little Haven Newsletter is out now. My new years resolution is to publish newsletters more regularly again! To put that into perspective I also resolved to avoid eating the many sweet treats we get here from grateful families – 4 hours

Yesterday it was so lovely to see Kelly (our energizer bunny) with our newest member of staff Gary, heading out the door to begin their patient visits, both looking so bright and colourful.  I had to take a picture to share with you all. What a pleasure to have Gary join our team, having experienced

The Little Haven Pop Up Shop is now open for it’s 4 week stint July 3rd – July 28th  at 177 Mary Street (formerly Dick Smiths). Open Mon – Fri  8am – 4pm and Sat 8am – 12 noon. Eftpos facilities available Plants, furniture, craft, books, clothing, crockery, electrical goods, mobility aids, homemade cakes &

Thank you Annie Gaffney and ABC Sunshine Coast Radio for the opportunity in National Palliative Care Week to speak about Little Haven’s model of care and the frustrations this demonstrated model of care does not receive equitably funded. Nor does QHealth have any appetite  to adopt our model in other areas of Qld that do not have

Gympie has a model of palliative care that ticks all the boxes – early access to palliative care, true 24/7 access to professional nursing care and support, a model that values the pivotal role our local Doctors play in the initial diagnosis, treatment and ongoing care of their patients with a  terminal illness and access

Registrations are now open for Little Haven Palliative Care’s Gratitude Walk and Fun Run Sunday 16th July, 2017. Register now and Start Fundraising to be in the mix for some great prizes! Whether your pace is slow or aerobic in cadence come along and enjoy the pleasure of movement, the warmth of Gympie’s winter and

“The important people in our lives leave imprints. They may stay or go in the physical realm, but they are always there in your heart, because they helped form your heart. There’s no getting over that.” It is with great sadness I pay tribute to our dear friend and volunteer Sue Turner  – Sue leaves

Little Haven is featured on the Community Wall at The Compassionate Communities Symposium currently underway in Sydney. Compassionate Communities is an international movement that aims to support communities to recognise the needs of people who are approaching the end of their lives, and develop initiatives to support them during this important stage of life. I’d

Here we are, days away from Christmas and soon to farewell 2016. Phew! I know many will be pleased to put it to bed. A year that’s seen a surge in admissions, a frenzied fundraising effort and a swathe of challenges for volunteers and staff, testing our mettle. As they say “we can’t direct the wind,

Vale Phyllis Moran – Foundation Member of Little Haven Palliative Care 28/12/1923 – 13/09/2016 I’d like to start with this message from Kathy Walker posted on The Little Haven facebook page Dear Phyl, She was beside Mum (Phyl Little) right from the start, fundraising and spreading the palliative care message. She kept the fight going

Community Based Palliative Care – Little Haven a working model. I am incredibly nervous about addressing a group of health care professionals with better credentials in palliative care than I, and nervous that my emotions will overcome me. Because currently my mum’s glioblastoma multiforma, diagnosed 14 months ago, is catching up with her and my

October 29-30, 2016 The Gympie Rotary Quilt & Craft Spectacular is quickly gaining recognition as a “must-do” event. Biennially, it boasts a diverse collection of inspirational quilts and patchworks, the textile arts, fibres & basketry, papercraft, embroidery, lacework, freeform knitting, woodwork, pottery, spinning and more. Immerse yourself in this spectacular showcase, handcrafted by artisans from throughout SE Qld and

741 Shadbolt Road Cedar Pocket Saturday 10th September 2016 1.30 – 5.30pm Springtime at Springhalls is a step back in time to a more refined era with pimms, games on the lawn, high tea, live music, fashion, market stall shopping, raffles, goodie box, auctions and a most fashionable hat competition!  

Little Haven holds regular informal bereavement support group meeting at our centre that are open to anyone who has experienced loss and grief. Participants may attend whenever they wish free of charge. Coping with loss is discussed in a supportive and confidential environment, facilitated by experienced bereavement support staff Sally and Lisa. Topics shared may include dealing with

The Peaceful Garden – A Bereavement Support Project With our ‘earth mother’ Sally taking over the bereavement support reins in 2014 it was suggested she might like to consider a bereavement garden project for everyone to enjoy. In the blink of an eye with the support of Leuwin and Qld Health giving us the green light, Sally

“A Tree stands strong not by its fruit or branches, but by the depth of its roots” Anthony Liccione Business Managers Report  2014/2015 As I sit trying to write this Report, having recently been told the devastating news my mum has an aggressive brain tumour I’m just a daughter terrified for what lies ahead for

You will find something for everyone on the first weekend in May as the Gympie Garden Expo once again promises to shine with fascinating plant displays. It hosts one of the states largest collection of orchids with Gympie’s annual competition. There are informative talks, with the ever popular plant clinic and market stalls offering plants,

Viktor Frankl survived the extermination camps of the Second World War. He wrote that “the last of human freedoms” was the ability to “choose one’s attitude in a given set of circumstances”. This encapsulated what one of our primary aims in Palliative Care must be….. to guide and nurture the movement of hope towards realistic

The Springtime Garden Party held biannually is always a lovely way to spend the afternoon but this year was exceptional …. Gorgeous spring day, gardens looking magnificent, large crowd, beautiful hat parade, Delicious sweet treats stalls and a happy and supportive crowd. The Auction of quality craft items and other goodies donated by local businesses was

After a VERY successful 3 week stint the Little Haven POP UP shop closed last Saturday and the Marketeers can now enjoy a well earned rest. They do an amazing job and we are very lucky to have generous donations come in the door nearly as fast as they go out. Thank you to all involved.

Little Haven Massive Shed Sale Saturday31st  May 7am to 1pm with Sausage Sizzle 12 Chapple Street Sheds (Opposite Railway Workshops) Furniture Galore Potted plants Clothes Books & Videos Linen, odds, sods and everything in between All goods sold at a very reasonable price. Delivery by negotiated price can be arranged. All donations gratefully accepted at

With the busy festive season just around the corner, we offer our thoughts and prayers to our  patients and their families who may not be feeling terribly festive.  This Christmas may be a time of mixed blessings and emotions. Hold your loved ones tight and create the moments in time, that will be cherished memories

  Saturday 21 September 2013 7am – 2 pm with Sausage Sizzle 12 Chapple Street Sheds                                          Opposite Railway Workshops Furniture   Potted plants Clothes Books & Videos Linen odds and sods and everything in between

This week August 17–25 is Seniors Week and I would like to take the chance to thank whole heartedly the wonderful seniors who are the backbone of our organisation. Little Haven’s volunteers hit well above the 65 + average age but prove age is no barrier with their ability for hard work and enormous sense

“How would we live our lives if we were fully aware that we are mortal. What if we realised that we were going to die sooner than we think. What if we accepted it ….” In this wonderful 5 min video from ehospice  Dr. Alejandro Jadad speaks about Acceptance http://vimeo.com/58946248

Community Volunteers Morning Tea The Civic Centre, Mellor Street Gympie Tuesday 23 July 2013 10:30am Annual Community Volunteers Morning Tea ~Tuesday, 23rd July Our way of saying thank you to our 120 volunteer members who give their time and expertise across a range of services – from fundraising to providing respite care for families Little

>Little Haven Week 2015 Friday 10th July to Sunday 19th July followed by The Pop Up Shop opening on July 20th Please join us for Little Haven Week 2015 as we celebrate another year of providing quality end of life care and cancer support to residents of the Gympie and surrounding region and kick start

Saturday 20th July 2013 from 12.30pm Christmas need not come but once a year, celebrate with all the trimmings at The Little Haven Palliative Care Lunch. Scrumptious three course traditional Christmas Lunch with Great Entertainment by the ever popular Tom McCahon for just $35 adults or $20 children (5-12) Entree Pumpkin Soup with Crispy Roll