History of Bloomhill Cancer Help

Bloomhill Cancer Help was founded in 1997 by Margaret Gargan a registered nurse who is a cancer nurse specialist, who had a personal experience of breast cancer in 1997.  At the time of diagnosis Margaret was in charge of a cancer ward at The Prince Charles Hospital in Brisbane.

Margaret vowed right back then that one day she would develop a model of care that supports people how they need to be supported, that is from the time of diagnosis and onwards.  Margaret had set up three previous models of care so knew exactly how to go about developing her ultimate model.  Margaret is passionate about the emphasis being on quality of life and living.

A Haven of Peace and Tranquility...
Bloomhill is a quiet haven of peace and tranquility that offers immediate help to any person going through the crisis of diagnosed with cancer or other life challenging illness.

This help includes physical, emotional, therapeutic and palliative care support and extends to include family members and their carers.

Bloomhill is totally self funded and is an incorporated charity with public benevolence status.

Bloomhill works closely with general practitioners, specialists, nursing services and other health care professionals to help build an holistic approach to cancer care.  Bloomhill is privately funded, relying on your support and goodwill. 

Caring for people
As soon as you enter the grounds of the Bloomhill Cancer Help, the peace and serenity envelop you.  A beautifully restored Queenslander on then acres of lush vegetation in the heart of Buderim, it has been a haven for those diagnosed with cancer for the past thirteen years.  The centre has been the dream and vision of Margaret Gargan ever since she herself was diagnosed with breast cancer eighteen years ago.  Due to early detection, her treatment was successful, but it was a harrowing time and there was no community support.

The experience completely overturned her life. "I was a women possessed", she says, as she began her plans to set up a centre where cancer patients and their families could find the support they needed.

Clients are encouraged to continue their prescribed medical treatment, if they wish to do so, Bloomhill offers a range of complementary services which are comprehensive and tailored to individual needs and desires.  They include Counselling, Massage, Reflexology, Reiki, Meditation and Art Therapy.  These services are also offered to their families, a support group for carers, which include retreats.  The reason for success is simple, they get the support they need.

The centre receives no on-going government funding and is staffed with a professional team and volunteers.  With the emphasis on the integration of different forms of treatment and therapy, an holistic approach to body, mind and spirit health.  Bloomhill represents a unique blueprint for patient care.  Being able to make a difference in people""s lives and give them quality of life.

"Bloomhill is not about death and dying , it's about life and living"