September 2-8 2024 is ‘Include a Charity’ week – and it is during this week that we encourage those who are in the midst of writing their Will, or a looking to review their Will, to consider leaving a portion of their estate to the Monash Health Foundation.
The more people who leave a legacy in their Will to an organisation or cause that they are passionate about, the opportunity to leave a positive impact on society expands dramatically – and we encourage our community to be a part of that impact.
People from all walks of life have chosen to leave a gift to the Monash Health Foundation – you can read more about some of these people below.
Clive and Diane have included a gift in their will Monash Health
In 2006, 11-year-old Kayla was diagnosed with Bronchiectasis, an abnormal widening of the airways.
Kayla’s parents, Clive and Diane elected to have Kayla treated at Monash Children’s Hospital as it was relatively close to home and meant frequent trips to and from her appointments would be a little less stressful.
Despite being concerned about treatment and Kayla’s long-term health, Clive says that “every staff member at Monash were incredibly supportive every step of the way, from nursing and support staff through to her specialists.”
It was that constant communication, reassurance and ongoing support that really made the difference for the family at this emotionally challenging and life-changing time. Kayla was admitted to Monash Children’s 8 times over 2 years, with each stay being for at least 3 weeks at a time, with checkups in between.
“This was of course very tiring for Kayla, both mentally and physically. What made all the difference was that we knew Kayla was in the very best of hands, both medically and emotionally,” said Clive.
As Clive and Diane started thinking about retirement and ensuring their finances were in order, they discussed including a gift to Monash Children’s Hospital in their will. “Kayla was given exceptional care at Monash, and we felt one of the best ways we could say thank you and give back to the hospital was to leave a bequest in our will,” Diane said.
“Kayla is now living a happy and relatively normal life thanks in large part to the staff at Monash Children’s Hospital who went above and beyond.”
Clive, Kayla and Diane.
An ongoing legacy
In May 2023, Monash Health lost a valued member of its community when friend and passionate ambassador of the Monash Health Foundation, Twanny Farrugia passed away.
Twanny was a long-time patient at Monash Health, having received a kidney transplant in 1971.
He lived an incredibly full life despite being, as he said “the healthiest sick person you’ll meet”, dancing, cycling and running for almost 50 years post-transplant – making him one of the longest-surviving transplant recipients in Australia.
“Twanny was highly motivated by the gift of life he received as a young man and was devoted to raising awareness of the work we do here at Monash until the end,” said Professor Peter Kerr, Head of Nephrology Services at Monash Health.
Twanny set up a trust in perpetuity to express his gratitude for the invaluable work of the Nephrology Department to help him live life to the fullest.
Throughout his life, Twanny remained steadfast in his passion for giving back. He strongly advocated for others to consider leaving bequests in their will to benefit future patients in an area of health that is meaningful to them.
On behalf of the Monash Health community, we thank Twanny for his lifetime of support and generous gift.
Twanny and his assistance dog, Lady Val
Safewill – Online Will Writing Platform
We’ve partnered with the Australian Will writing platform Safewill to make it easier for our community of supporters to write their Will from the comfort of home.
While online Will writing may not be suitable for everyone, especially those with complex estates, thousands of Australians have successfully created a valid Willin as little as 20 minutes.
Safewill covers all the essentials of Will writing, including appointing executors, guardians for children and pets, and estate distribution. It also allows you to leave meaningful gifts, compile comprehensive asset lists for your executor, and specify funeral instructions. Every Will is reviewed by a practicing Australian solicitor.
We invite you to take advantage of Safewill at half the normal cost—only $80 for a single Will. As you use this offer, we hope you’ll consider leaving a legacy gift in gratitude to Monash Health.
Special offer to Monash Health supporters – complete your will free from 2-23rd September 2024 – Click here for more information.
