http://www.thebelindamcgowanfoundation.org.au/

Belinda McGowan Foundation, 26B Wood Street, Warwick (2026)

18/06/2026

End-of-life care doesn't only belong to the elderly.

It's a reality many of us prefer not to think about, but every year families find themselves facing unimaginable circumstances far sooner than expected.

Parents have laid beside children they never imagined saying goodbye to.

Partners have held the hand of the person they thought they would grow old with.

Sons, daughters, siblings and friends have spent precious final hours trying to make every moment count.

At The Belinda McGowan Foundation, we believe that in those moments, no one should have to face them alone.

Our cuddle beds provide families with the opportunity to remain close, offering comfort, connection and dignity during some of life's most difficult chapters. They allow loved ones to lie beside each other, hold hands, share stories and simply be together when time is most precious.

As we approach the end of the financial year, we're asking for your support to help us continue delivering cuddle beds to hospitals and healthcare facilities across Australia.

Because end-of-life care isn't about age.

It's about people.

It's about family.

And it's about ensuring that when the time comes, no matter how unexpected, those who matter most can remain close.

If you'd like to support our work, please consider making a tax-deductible donation before 30 June.

Together, we can help create more moments of comfort, dignity and connection for Australian families.

See more about the foundation here - https://thebelindamcgowanfoundation.org.au/

15/06/2026

✨ Meet Our Young Ambassador – Siobhan Sweeney ✨

We are incredibly proud to introduce Siobhan Sweeney, a passionate young woman helping to carry forward the values and vision of The Belinda McGowan Foundation.

Currently studying a Bachelor of Law/Bachelor of Business, Siobhan balances her studies with working as a paralegal in a personal injury firm and teaching ballet in Canberra. Her dedication, compassion and commitment to helping others make her a wonderful addition to our Foundation family.

Siobhan's connection to the Foundation is a special one. Her mother, Jess Carr, served alongside Belinda in the RAAF, creating a meaningful link to the legacy that continues to inspire our work today.

Earlier this month, Siobhan attended her first cuddle bed presentation in Toowoomba, where she spoke beautifully on behalf of Beck's family, in whose memory the bed was donated. Her words reflected the compassion, empathy and heart that are at the core of everything we strive to achieve.

As an aspiring lawyer, Siobhan is passionate about making a difference and is eager to contribute to improving outcomes for families in regional and remote Australia.

We are so grateful to have such a thoughtful, driven and community-minded young woman as part of the Foundation and look forward to seeing the impact she will make in the years ahead. 💜

11/06/2026

Where does your donation go?

It's a question every donor should ask.

At The Belinda McGowan Foundation, the answer is simple.

100% of community donations go directly to funding our cuddle bed and syringe driver program.

Not administration.
Not wages.
Not overheads.

Every dollar donated by our community is used to purchase, deliver and install life-changing equipment into hospitals, health services and aged care facilities across regional, rural and remote Australia.

This commitment was inspired by Belinda herself.

Belinda believed that community donations should create real, measurable impact and never be diluted by unnecessary administration or bureaucracy.

That's why all administration, operational and running costs of the Foundation are independently funded by our founding benefactors, allowing every community donation to deliver maximum impact where it matters most.

Whether it's a cuddle bed helping families stay close during end-of-life care, or a syringe driver providing comfort and dignity to patients, your support directly changes lives.

As we approach the end of the financial year, we invite you to consider making a fully tax-deductible donation.

Together, we can continue bringing comfort, connection and dignity to families when they need it most.

Donate today and be part of the difference.

10/06/2026

A simple conversation has helped bring a cuddle bed to Dubbo.

Recently, the team at Walanmarra, part of Dubbo Health Service, identified a need for a cuddle bed to support patients and families during end-of-life care.

Nurse Unit Manager Natasha Davis and Jade O'Brien, Health Service Manager for Voluntary Assisted Dying at Western NSW Local Health District, shared a vision of creating more opportunities for comfort, connection and dignity for patients and their loved ones.

Jade knew exactly who to call.

Several years ago, Jade met Bruce McGowan after his mother-in-law accessed Voluntary Assisted Dying during her battle with Motor Neurone Disease. Through that experience, Bruce witnessed firsthand the compassion, dignity and support that can make such a profound difference during life's final days.

When Jade approached Bruce about the possibility of bringing a cuddle bed to Dubbo, he didn't hesitate.

Today, that bed has been installed at Walanmarra.

While the original conversation centred around supporting patients accessing Voluntary Assisted Dying, the impact of this donation will extend far beyond that. The cuddle bed will be available to palliative care patients and their families, creating precious opportunities for connection, comfort and closeness when they are needed most.

We're incredibly grateful to Natasha, Jade and the entire team at Dubbo Health Service for their commitment to improving end-of-life care, and we're honoured to play a small part in supporting families throughout the region.

We'll be sharing more about this special donation and the people behind it at an official presentation in the coming months.

08/06/2026

52 families.

That's the number that stood out during Friday's cuddle bed presentation at Toowoomba Hospital.

Just a few months after being installed in the Oncology Unit, the cuddle bed has already been used by 52 families.

52 times loved ones have been able to lie side-by-side.

52 times partners have been able to hold each other close.

52 times children, parents, siblings and friends have shared precious moments together when they mattered most.

When Acting Nurse Unit Manager Georgie spoke about the impact the cuddle bed has already had on patients and families, it was a powerful reminder that these donations are about so much more than equipment.

They are about connection.

They are about dignity.

They are about ensuring no one has to navigate some of life's most difficult moments alone.

As we celebrated the presentation of our 25th cuddle bed, we were reminded that behind every bed is a story, behind every donation is a family, and behind every act of generosity is an opportunity to make a lasting difference.

A quote Georgie shared captured this sentiment beautifully:

"Bury your sorrows in good deeds."

For us, this is what the cuddle bed program is all about - creating moments of comfort, connection and compassion for families across regional Australia. 💜

05/06/2026

Today was one of those days that reminds us exactly why we do what we do. 💜

There were tears. There was laughter. There were hugs. And there was a beautiful sense of love, community and connection.

Today, alongside Beck Johnson's family, friends, healthcare staff and supporters, we proudly presented our 25th cuddle bed to Toowoomba Hospital's Oncology Unit.

This special donation was made in honour of Beck — a remarkable woman whose courage, compassion and generosity touched so many lives.

At just 43 years of age, Beck faced a bowel cancer diagnosis with extraordinary strength. Despite the challenges she endured, she became a passionate advocate for others, serving as the Regional Cancer Centre Ambassador and using her voice to help people feel less alone.

Today's presentation was about so much more than a bed.

It was about a wife, mother, daughter, sister and friend whose legacy continues to make a difference.

It was about ensuring families facing some of life's hardest moments have the opportunity to sit close, hold hands, share stories, shed tears and simply be together.

It was also a special moment to have former Darling Downs Health Chair Mike Horan officially present the cuddle bed. Mike played an instrumental role in helping facilitate the very first cuddle bed delivered to Warwick Hospital in 2022, making today's milestone all the more meaningful.

To Beck's family, thank you for allowing us to honour her in this way.

And to Beck, we hope you somehow know your kindness, courage and advocacy continue to create comfort, connection and dignity for others.

Your legacy lives on. 💜

04/06/2026

A huge thank you to Clifton Pharmacy & Gift Gallery for hosting a community raffle in support of The Belinda McGowan Foundation.

Every ticket purchased will help raise funds so we can place a cuddle bed at Clifton Community Health Services, providing comfort, connection and dignity for local families during some of life's most challenging moments.

🎟️ Tickets available now from Clifton Pharmacy & Gift Gallery
🎁 Prize valued at over $2,000
💗 Supporting a cuddle bed for Clifton Community Health Services

We are incredibly grateful to Clifton Pharmacy & Gift Gallery and the many generous local businesses who have donated prizes to make this raffle possible.

We would also like to sincerely thank the many local businesses who have generously donated products, vouchers and prizes to help create this incredible raffle package. Your support, kindness and community spirit are what make initiatives like this possible.

If you're in Clifton, pop in, grab a ticket and help us bring this important piece of equipment to our community.

Together, we can make a meaningful difference. 💗

01/06/2026

In our experience, one of the most requested pieces of equipment by end-of-life care nurses isn't always the most visible.

It's a syringe driver.

To date, The Belinda McGowan Foundation has donated 21 syringe drivers to hospitals, aged care facilities and health services across rural, regional and remote Australia - helping ensure patients have access to the comfort and symptom management they deserve.

Syringe drivers are small, portable devices that deliver a steady flow of medication over time, reducing the need for frequent injections and helping maintain consistent symptom control.

For patients receiving palliative care, this can mean:
✨ Greater comfort
✨ Improved mobility
✨ Better symptom management
✨ More quality time with loved ones

While cuddle beds often provide the visible connection and comfort families remember, syringe drivers play an equally important role behind the scenes - supporting both patients and healthcare teams during some of life's most challenging moments.

This was a cause close to Belinda's heart. Having experienced firsthand the challenges faced by smaller regional hospitals, she wanted to help ensure patients, families and care staff had access to the equipment they need, regardless of where they live.

Your end of financial year donation helps bring that vision to life. 💜

01/06/2026

🎉 Huge Raffle Alert! 🎉STARTS TODAY JUNE 1ST!

In honour of The Belinda McGowan Foundation Ltd, Clifton Pharmacy is hosting another massive raffle – with tickets also available at other local Clifton businesses!

Thank you to our amazing supporters for your generous donations to this incredible cause. Keep an eye out and grab your tickets!" 🩷

Clifton Post Office 4361 Club Hotel Clifton O'Shanley's Irish Bar and Restaurant Binny Bowe Boutique Gillies Meats, Clifton Millys By Design RAFF Group The Little Flower Shop Allora Ruby T Gift Shop Pursehouse Rural Clifton Blossom Cafe & Post, Greenmount

28/05/2026

As we approach the end of financial year, we’re asking for your support to help us continue providing comfort, dignity, and closeness to families during life’s most difficult moments 💜

At The Belinda McGowan Foundation, 100% of every donation goes directly towards funding Cuddle Beds and Syringe Drivers for rural, regional, and remote hospitals and aged care facilities across Australia.

These are more than pieces of equipment - they create space for connection, comfort, and precious final moments together.

✨ All donations over $2 are fully tax deductible
✨ 100% of donations go directly to equipment funding
✨ You can even choose a specific location we're currently fundraising for via our PayPal donation page

Every contribution, big or small, helps us continue Belinda’s legacy and support families when they need it most.

Thank you for helping us make a difference 🤍

Donate here - https://thebelindamcgowanfoundation.org.au/about-us/

Belinda McGowan Foundation

18/06/2026

15/06/2026

11/06/2026

10/06/2026

08/06/2026

05/06/2026

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28/05/2026

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