Bear Cottage
Bear Cottage is a children’s hospice located in Manly, Australia and is part of the Sydney Children's Hospitals Network. It provides long-term care to children, including nursing care, music, play and art therapy, and food, cleaning, and counseling services.[1] Bear Cottage is designed to be like a home away from home and as far removed from a hospital environment as possible. Staff do not wear uniforms, and no medical procedures are carried out in the bedrooms, which are designed to be like a normal bedroom.[2]
It opened on St Patrick's Day 17 March 2001[2] after $10 million had been raised from the community to build it.[3] In 2017 its operational costs were approximately $3.7 million per year,[4] with funding coming from the government, clubs and private sector.[5] It is one of only three children’s hospices in Australia.[6] Since 2016 the Cottage has been managed by Narelle Martin.[7] Professor Les White is the Patron.[8]
History
Bear Cottage was conceived in the 1990s by Dr John Yu and Dr Michael Stevens from
The hospice saw a huge increase in growth from 2008.[1]
A community icon
In 2021 radio announcer Ben Fordham publicly thanked Bear Cottage for their care for sick children.[10]
In 2020 Sydney coffee roasters Seven Miles launched a new coffee blend, Bear and the Beard, donating proceeds of sales to the hospice.[11]
In 2014 the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge visited,[12] where the Duchess (who is patron of UK children’s hospice, the East Anglia Children’s Hospice[13]) made a speech.[14] They were reportedly brought to the verge of tears by the plight of a nine-month old baby who had only days to live following a six-week battle with bacterial meningitis.[15]
In 2005 competitors in the City to Surf running race raised funds for the cottage.[16]
References
- ^ a b Corderoy, Amy (30 March 2013). "Child hospice struggling to meet demand". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 5 November 2020.
- ^ a b "About Bear Cottage". Sydney Children's Hospitals Network. 7 January 2014. Retrieved 5 November 2020.
- ^ fpadmin (5 December 2016). "Bear Cottage fundraising event: Superhero Week". Fundraising & Philanthropy Australasia Magazine. Retrieved 5 November 2020.
- ^ Zwartz, Henry (15 April 2017). "NSW government addresses Australia's 'unseen crisis'". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 5 November 2020.
- ^ VASS, NATHAN; PASSEY, DAVID (14 May 1997). "Angry clubs say charities will be $80m worse off". Sydney Morning Herald. p. 6.
- ^ "The cottage that makes moments heartbroken parents will treasure forever". NewsComAu. 27 June 2019. Retrieved 5 November 2020.
- ^ Buckingham-Jones, Sam (26 January 2016). "Palliative care with family focus". The Australian. p. 7.
- ^ "Meet Sydney Children's Hospitals Foundation's Patron - Professor Les White". Sydney Children's Hospitals Foundation. Retrieved 17 November 2020.
- ^ WAINWRIGHT, ROBERT (26 October 1996). "Council threatened over hospice". Sydney Morning Herald. p. 13.
- ^ "Ben Fordham makes heartbreaking announcement". 2GB. 4 October 2021. Retrieved 16 October 2021.
- ^ "New coffee with a cause raises funds for children's hospice | PBA". Pro Bono Australia. Retrieved 5 November 2020.
- ^ "Royals Kate and William meet Sydneysiders, visit Easter show". www.abc.net.au. 17 April 2014. Retrieved 5 November 2020.
- ^ "Bear Cottage's regal visit". www.dailytelegraph.com.au. 4 March 2014. Retrieved 5 November 2020.
- ^ connie.fisher (18 April 2014). "A speech by The Duchess of Cambridge at Bear Cottage". The Royal Family. Retrieved 5 November 2020.
- ^ "Dubbo toddler brings William and Kate to tears". Goulburn Post. 20 April 2014. Retrieved 5 November 2020.
- ^ Quinlan, Heather (5 June 2005). "One inspirational boy and his enduring legacy". Sun Herald. p. 12.
33°48′14″S 151°17′32″E / 33.80375526771629°S 151.29227984448983°E