On Wednesday the 31st of July, Oak Tree Retirement Village on Baker St in Toowoomba hosted a high tea event in support of Toowoomba Hospice.
The event was driven entirely by the Baker Street residents, united by their community spirit and deep appreciation for the amazing work the Toowoomba Hospice does!
There was an incredible 90 people in attendance, and an impressive spread put on of gourmet sandwiches, cakes, and slices, all baked by our talented residents. Everyone sipped their tea from beautiful matching china and spent the morning laughing, sharing their personal connections to the cause, and simply enjoying each other’s company.
In attendance was Amy Goldsmid, the Administration and Events Assistant for Toowoomba Hospice. Amy assisted with the main event of the day – the raffle which had over 30 prizes to be won, each with a minimum value of $50 and generously donated by local businesses as well as Oak Tree residents. At Oak Tree, we are deeply passionate about community connection and partnering with smaller local businesses when we can!
In total, the raffle raised an extraordinary $3625, with all proceeds going to the Toowoomba Hospice.
“It’s touching to see our residents and the local community coming together to support such a worthy cause”, says Narelle Byrne, Village Manager of Oak Tree Baker Street.
“It really showcases the remarkable power of community, connectedness, and what we can achieve when we all share a common goal.”
As the Toowoomba Hospice is operated by volunteers and reliant solely on donations, the Oak Tree Baker Street residents are incredibly dedicated to supporting this wonderful facility to ensure it can continue the amazing work it does for people in the local community.
Founded by Sr Frances, the Toowoomba Hospice is an independent, non-denominational community facility designed to provide holistic, palliative care to adults aged 18 and older. They provide specialist care that is focused on nurturing the physical, psychological, emotional, spiritual, cultural and social requirements of the individual and their families.
“For me, it is a sacred call to demonstrate lovingly the sanctity of every moment of life, and to reach out in compassion, in a practical way, to alleviate suffering and give support to those who care for and love the terminally ill”, says Sir Frances.
“Our ultimate goal of care is to manage symptoms, provide comfort, and preserve dignity while respecting the individual wishes, of those with a life-limiting illness.”
At Oak Tree, supporting charities and meaningful causes is very important to us. In the upcoming months, we’re hosting a Fashion Parade at Oak Tree Coffs Harbour in support of the Pink Silks Trust, and a Royal High Tea at Oak Tree Warwick in support of Life Flight.
These events would not be possible without our incredibly dedicated residents and the generous local businesses we partner with.
Oak Tree look forward to continuing to show our support for worthy causes by hosting engaging, enjoyable community events for many years to come.
