PH: (07) 5445 5794 FAQs :: News and Articles :: Links
 
Bloomhill is privately funded, relying on your support and goodwill. Our funds come from the operation of our Op-Shops and from communiity and business donations.

Target 300
 
Click here to PAY NOW


Click here to view our “Business Sponsor” area if you or your business is in a position to contribute to our efforts by making a fully tax deductible donation.
 

Introduction
Name Raelene Boyle
Role Patron
Biography Raelenes Bio and Involvement here
Name Jenny Carroll
Department Management Committee
Role Committee - President
Biography
Jenny grew up in Bundaberg before moving to Brisbane to complete a Diploma of Teaching (Home Economics) at kelvin Grove Teachers College.
 
On taking up a posting she met husband Bill and they have now been married for 38 years with two children.  
Jenny also held a variety of committee positions in the kindergarten and schools that the children attended, while continuing part time teaching. 
 
On returning to Brisbane in 1987 and purchasing a restaurant, a whole new world of staff and customer management, conflict resolution, team building, cost controlling and marketing had to be conquered.  It was time to move on after 3 years in the hospitality industry, so Jenny took up a position as a Workforce Training and Development Consultant with the Queensland Government.
 
Retirement in 2001 allowed a new focus on, and more time spent with her first grandson Oliver who has since been joined by grandsons Samuel and Nicholas.
 
Jenny and Bill moved to Buderim in 2004 where as a matter of interest they spent their honeymoon in 1969!
Name Paul Donaldson
Department Management Committee
Role Committee - Secretary
Biography
Paul Donaldson
 
Paul's involvement with Bloomhill started when he volunteered to work in the Buderim Op Shop in 2002.  He was elected as secretary in 2005 and has continued in that role to the present day.
 
He and his wife Janice retired to the Sunshine Coast in 1999 after nearly 40 years in the education field.  After 17 years teaching and lecturing in New Zealand he migrated with his wife and 3 children to lecture in Australia.  He retired from Charles Sturt University
in 1998 and worked as an education consultant in mathematics and student welfare services at tertiary level for AusAID in Solomon Islands and Fiji until 2006. For 7 years he was also a visiting Consultant for remote Aboriginal community schools
in the Kimberley region.  His wife Janice plays in local orchestras and has continued to teach violin.
 
Currently, Paul is still a volunteer in the Buderim Op Shop. He is also a volunteer teacher and tutor trainer for Solutions Adult Learning Centre, a non for profit volunteer community organisation, which provides literacy and numeracy tutoring to adults. 
 
Name Frank Gerhard
Department Management Committee
Role Committee - Treasurer
Biography
Frank Gerhard was born in New Zealand and was educated in Christchurch.  After graduating from Canterbury University he served in the Royal New Zealand Navy as an Instructor Officer before joining  Shell in 1957. 
 
Following an assignment in London he returned to New Zealand to take up a senior position.
 
In 1970 Frank was transferred to Shell International based in London before taking up a position as a Director of Shell Nigeria in 1972.
 
In 1975 he joined a UK- based company as Far East Director and spent three years working from the Philippines.  In 1979 he moved to Singapore to set up his own company.
 
In 1991 Frank and his wife, Jeannette, retired to Portugal before settling on the Sunshine Coast in 2005.
 
Having himself survived a major cancer operation Frank is a keen supporter of Bloomhill.  As well as overseeing its financial affairs he is also active in Rotary. 
Name Brett Graham
Department Management Committee
Role Committee - Vice President
Biography
Brett Graham is the director of Ray White Maroochydore, Ray White Buderim and Ray White Coolum.  Within these businesses he also operates a commercial division, two finance businesses as well as one of the largest Property Management divisions on the Sunshine Coast managing over a 1,000 properties with an assets value close on $400 million.

Brett employs over 100 employees and as a major business on the Sunshine Coast,  he and his staff have welcomed the chance to assist Bloomhill not only as a business sponsor but also by adding business expertise where possible into the structure of Bloomhill.

 
 
Name Terry Bailey
Department Management Committee
Role Committee Fundraising Coordinator
Biography
 My wife Sue and I have two children, Sarah (28), Owen (26), also living in Queensland. We moved to the Sunshine Coast in 2004 to be close to Sue’s mum.  Buderim is now our home and we love living here with its great sense of community, friendly neighbours and climate.

I had a twenty seven year career with an airline in Customer Service and Airport Management, based in Sydney and Adelaide.  Sue and  I went into our own Accommodation Business in Adelaide and then again at Alexandra Headland on the glorious Sunshine Coast.

 It is great to be involved with Bloomhill through the staff, clients and volunteers. Margaret Gargan did a wonderful job in setting up Bloomhill with the idea of supporting people on the Sunshine Coast with cancer and it is a privilege to assist in a small way.

 Golf is an interest that I have enjoyed lately and try and play a few days a week. Sue and I enjoy watching our son play AFL footy with the Maroochydore Roos during the winter months and we continue to follow our AFL team Adelaide Crows. Our daily exercise consists of walking our spoilt dog Byron.

Name Michael Hurley
Department Management Committee
Role Committee Member
Name Dr. Jan Allan
Department Management Committee
Role Committee Member
Biography
 
Jan is a registered general and mental health nurse, with a background in nurse education spanning the last 30 years.  Her tertiary qualifications are in education and social sciences. She has held numerous clinical nursing positions during and prior to her career as an educator, thus enabling her knowledge to remain current.  Her academic position is Associate Professor of Nursing at the University of the Sunshine Coast, where she is the Program Leader of undergraduate nursing and has the responsibility of maintaining the program for about 500 students.  Her particular lecturing interest are in mental health nursing, and in the area of palliative, continuing and rehabilitative care.  The focus of her lectures is 'living with illness' and she draws on the expertise of practising nurses and other health professionals to give her students a holistic view of care.
 
Jan moved (retired!) to the Sunshine Coast from Bathurst NSW in 2004 where she had been Head of the School of Nursing and Health Science at Charles Sturt University, and has been involved with Bloomhill in the role of volunteer since 2005.  In 2005 and 2006 she undertook work in respite care, as a buddy and a driver.  She's also given lectures in the workshops for volunteers working with clients of Bloomhill.  She returned to academic work in 2007 and has been at USC for three years.
 
As she moves towards retirement (again), she has more time to be involve with Bloomhill, and is pleased to be a member of the Management Committee, with a particular perspective on the Care and Volunteer functions of the organisation.  She works closely with Anna Braaten-Pow, Manager of Care and Alex Bert, Volunteer Coordinator and enjoys the professional interactions.
 
Jan's previous volunteering has been with Rotary in Bathurst, including a year as President of the Bathurst Macquarie Rotary Club, and as an active member of various professional committees in mental health nursing.       
 

 

Name Mervat Thompson
Department Management Committee
Role Committee Member
Name Margaret Gargan
Role Founder of Bloomhill Cancer Help
Biography
Margaret Gargan - Founder of Bloomhill Cancer Help in Buderim 1997.
Margaret has been nursing for the past 40 years, specialising in palliative care.  She became involved whilst working for the Blue Nursing Service in 1979 and presented her first paper at a national conference in Melbourne in 1984.  Since then she has had the opportunity to present papers at international (Cancer Nursing Conference in London) and national conferences. Margaret held a position as guest lecturer at the University of Queensland, involved in the education of 1st year medical students.  
 
Margaret along with a team has instigated four models for palliative care: including ward 4B in The Prince Charles Hospital in Brisbane, Karuna Hospice Service in Brisbane along with a Buddhist monk Pende Hawter.
Margaret was the coordinator of Palliative Care Services for the Sunshine Coast District Health Service for four years. 
 2001 - Awarded a Fisher Community Australia Day award.
 2001 - Received a Commonwealth Recognition Award for
             Senior Australians
 2002 - Bloomhill Cancer Help was awarded the Inaugural Des
            Scanlan Memorial Award for the most outstanding  
            community organisation.
 2003 - Awarded a Centenary of Federation Medal for her
             service to health.
 2004 - Awarded an Honorary Senior Fellowship from the
             University of The Sunshine Coast.
 2004 - Awarded a Queensland Regional Achievers Award.
 
Name Beth Aldrich
Location Bloomhill Centre
Department Administration
Role Administration - Office Manager
Phone 07 5445 5794
Biography

Hi, my name is Beth Aldrich and I have been at Bloomhill for almost six years, the last four as Office Manager.  I hadn't been living on the Coast for long when I decided to do some volunteer work.  I rang Volunteering Queensland who told me about Bloomhill  and the work they do.  This struck a cord with me as I have lost several family members to cancer so I arranged a meeting with the Volunteer Coordinator.  I started as a volunteer in the office two days a week.  As Bloomhill grew and the office became busier I was employed part-time to assist the office manager.  After twelve months the office manager left to travel Australia and I was promoted to my current position.

 Working at Bloomhill is like no other job I have ever experienced.  We have the honour of joining our clients on their journey with cancer and the  challenges they face, many with positive outcomes.  The reception is always buzzing with clients popping in for therapies, support groups or just a cuppa on the deck and it is really nice to meet and great them as they arrive and make them feel part of the Bloomhill family. 

Name Gail Lamb
Location Bloomhill Centre
Department Administration
Role Administration Assistant
Phone 07 5445 5794
Biography
   My name is Gail Lamb, my position here at Bloomhill is Administration Assistant. 

After moving from Melbourne to the Sunshine Coast, I was drawn to Bloomhill as a volunteer just over 5 years ago.  Whenever I  drove down Ballinger road, past the Bloomhill sign, I was curious to find out - 'What was going on down the driveway' and 'Where does it lead too'?  I was fortunate enough to find out through a friend; who was a volunteer and enlightened me to the wonderful happenings at Bloomhill.
 
Having had many years experience as a Personal Assistant in the Melbourne Corporate world, followed by a career in advertising  promoting and selling advertising space in a popular business magazine,  I was ready to take on a new challenge and Bloomhill called.    

 

I knew from the very first day I arrived at Bloomhill that I wanted to stay.  I commenced by volunteering one day a week in Administration, a vacancy came available I applied for the position and was overjoyed to secure a place in this peaceful haven. 

Working in an environment with people, who genuinely care and help each other.

 

My position is full time, covering a multitude of diverse administration duties; including meeting and greeting clients, communicating with sponsors, fundraising events, raising funds that are needed to carry on the wonderful work here at Bloomhill. We endeavour to create a relaxed and caring, Special Place  

 

Bloomhill is staffed by a professional  friendly  team, caring for people diagnosed with cancer, their families, carers and friends.  

 

  

 

Name Paul Ward
Location Bloomhill Centre
Department Maintenance
Role Maintenance Manager
Phone 07 5445 5794
Biography  
Name Anne Braaten-Pow
Location Bloomhill Centre
Department Support Team
Role Support Team - Manager Patient Care
Phone 07 5445 5794
Biography

My name is Anne (pronounced Ana) and I am the Manager of Care at Bloomhill.  This means I coordinate the care that we provide for our clients.  I am a registered Nurse and have extensive experience from cancer nursing - both in Norway and Australia.

Together with the other RN’s; Kamura, Janine, Diane and Rhonda I do the initial assessments with our clients when they first come to Bloomhill.  We chat about their situation, looking at in what way we can support them and make a plan.  We will refer the right therapies/services that are needed and continue to coordinate their care.

 I also facilitate the support group meetings, with assistance from a registered Nurse or our Counsellor.

 I have worked at Bloomhill for 3 years and thoroughly enjoy it.  I love being part of a highly professional team, together we are able to make a big difference in people’s life when going through their cancer journey. 

 

Name Rhonda Sinn
Location Bloomhill Centre
Department Support Team
Role Support Team - RN
Phone 07 5445 5794
Biography
   
I was born in Laidley Queensland, grew up and was educated in Gympie.  My general nursing certificate was also obtained at Gympie Hospital, my maternity certificate in Melbourne and I spent 15 years in Perth after doing an Intensive care Certificate at the Royal Perth Hospital.  I worked in Silver Chain doing Cancer Nursing and Palliative Care.
After caring for my Mother who passed away from Malignant Melanoma and my sister falling ill and sadly dying, I returned to the Sunshine Coast in 1993.
 
I worked with Blue Care for 13 years and helped to set up the Palliative Care Team which provided a quality of care to our clients in partnership with Bloomhill, of which I will always be proud.  It was my special privilege to work with the compassionate, professional nurses on that team.
 
I have now been especially blessed given the opportunity to work as a permanent staff member of the Bloomhill Family where love and support abounds and the term "holistic" is truly applied in a very real and special way.   
Name Janine Massoni
Location Bloomhill Centre
Department Support Team
Role Support Team - RN
Phone 07 5445 5794
Name Stephen Quinlan
Location Bloomhill Centre
Department Support Team
Role Support Team- Counsellor
Phone 07 5445 5794
Biography
My name is Stephen Quinlan and I came to counselling at Bloomhill with a diverse professional background having had more than 30 years working in law, academia, management and social sciences.  I hold clinical membership with Queensland Counsellors Association and am registered (No: 21477) with the Psychotherapy and Counselling Federation of Australia.
 
While still practising as a solicitor, I first trained as a volunteer crisis counsellor with  Lifeline in 1995.  Then I undertook post graduate Masters level study in counselling, retiring from my legal practice in 2002 to work in the community sector in relationship counselling, post-separation family dispute resolution and employee assistance counselling.  This has led to my current work with Bloomhill clients.
 
Counselling at Bloomhill provides many professional challenges and engaging in therapeutic work with clients and their families at the many different stages of their cancer journeys is very rewarding and stimulating.  I approach this work from a humanist and existential perspective.  I have a deep belief in the ability of all individuals to make wise, effective choices about how to best live a meaningful. purposeful and productive life and I am strongly committed to assisting clients to achieve this, whatever their age, health or stage of life might be.
 
Away from Bloomhill I enjoy:  time with my wife and our families; music, especially classical; reading and being in a book club (for over 20 years); gardening and growing things; and pursuing my private practice as clinical supervisor to other professionals and practitioners. 
Name Juliette Kalifa
Location Bloomhill Centre
Department Support Team
Role Support Team- Counsellor
Phone 07 5445 5794
Biography
Counselling
 
Children and adults
.    One on one
.    Relationships
.    Creative Arts Therapy
.    Play Therapy
.    Sand play
 
FACILITATION
 
Groups
Corporate and community Workshops
 
Juliette will design and facilitate experiential workshops that rely on collaborative and creative processes, to suit the needs of your organization and your employees:
 
>    Vision and goals exploration
>    Team building
>    Self care for support workers
>    Work related issues
>    Exploration of themes 
 
Juliette Kalifa has a Masters in Creative Arts Therapy and has run a counselling private practice for over 10 years.
 
She teaches and supervises Post Graduate students for The Melbourne Institute of Experiential and Creative Arts Therapy, and offers session work in diverse organizations.

 

Name Tania Harold
Location Bloomhill Centre
Department Support Team
Role Support Team- Lymphatic Massage Therapist
Phone 07 5445 5794
Biography
Hello my name is Tania Harrold and I am very passionate about bringing healing and wellbeing to the human body.  My interest in Natural Therapies began several years ago when I became aware of the powerful effect of my untrained massage on family and friends.
So it began... my exploration into the amazing world of healing, tactile therapies.
I work intuitively; fully supported by the knowledge I've gained from intensive training in both Remedial and Cancer Massage techniques.  The Massage, Cancer and More Therapist training I received at Petrea King's Quest For Life Centre in NSW is an invaluable 'tool' in my 'tool box'.  Reiki also plays an important part by bringing deep relaxation and peace to the massage experience.  My belief is that our bodies are whole when we have equilibrium between our emotional and physical states and I strive to ensure you feel that balance within at the end of your treatment.  I would love the opportunity to discuss further the treatments available as they can be designed to meet any specific therapeutic needs.
                                 I look forward to meeting you .......  Tania
Name Sharon Grant
Location Bloomhill Centre
Department Support Team
Role Support Team- Massage Therapist
Phone 07 5445 5794
Biography

 Hi my name is Sharon and I am one of the Remedial Massage Therapist’s you will meet at Bloomhill.   I have been massaging here for almost 3 years every Wednesday, my qualifications include a Diploma in Remedial Massage therapies, Swedish Relaxation, Deep Tissue, Reflexology, Aromatherapy, Manual Lymphatic Drainage – Vodder technique, Massage for Lymphedema and a Blue Card to work with children.

 Should you choose to come to Bloomhill you will immediately feel at home – it’s a very special place you can be sure to get the care and support you need, not only for yourself but also for your loved ones.  I look forward to meeting you.

 

 

Name Debbie Myers
Location Bloomhill Centre
Department Support Team
Role Support Team- Massage Therapist
Phone 07 5445 5794
Name Aideen Lewis
Location Bloomhill Centre
Department Support Team
Role Support Team- Massage Therapist
Phone 07 5445 5794
Name Nadia Watkins
Location Bloomhill Centre
Department Support Team
Role Support Team- Reiki Therapist
Phone 07 5445 5794
Name Alexsandra Bert
Location Bloomhill Centre
Department Volunteers
Role Volunteer Coordinator
Phone 07 5445 5794
Biography

 Alexsandra Bert is the Volunteer Coordinator at Bloomhill Cancer Help, who has extensive experience in hospital and community environments.  Her initial contact with Bloomhill Cancer Help Centre commenced over two years ago through her connection with Blue Care. Alexsandra works 4 days and manages the coordination, recruiting, training and supervision of volunteers who support the clients, family and friends of Bloomhill Cancer Help.

 
With an extensive background in social work, Alexsandra has worked with volunteers for a number of years in her professional career; both in Australia and overseas.  She maintains volunteering is an extremely rewarding and enriching experience and people involved gain many benefits for their efforts.

 Volunteering is a gratifying, life changing and inspiring experience; if you’d like to know more about the opportunities available, please phone Alexsandra at Bloomhill Cancer Help, as she would love to hear from anyone with an interest in volunteering.

Name Val Dreghorn
Location Bloomhill Centre
Department Volunteers
Role Volunteer Dept Administration Assistant
Name Graham Murray
Location 105 Brisbane Rd
Department Mooloolaba Op Shop
Role Op Shop Manager
Phone 07 5452 5677
Name Christine Farrell
Location 1/10 Endeavour Drive Kunda Park
Department Distribution Centre Kunda Park
Role Distribution Centre Manager
Phone 07 5445 6858
Name Tom Salsbury
Department Op Shops
Role Op Shop and DC Coordinator
Name Bryan Leggett
Location Shed 1/12 Rene Street Noosaville
Department Noosa Op Shop
Role Op Shop Manager
Phone 07 5474 4402
Name Leanne Painter
Location 25 First Ave Maroochydore
Department Maroochydore Op Shop
Role Op Shop Manager
Phone 07 5491 1911
Name Nicole Croft
Location 41 Main St Buderim
Department Buderim Op Shop
Role Op Shop Manager
Phone 07 5445 2625
Name Estelle Bramley
Location 87 Bulcock St Caloundra
Department Caloundra Op Shop
Role Op Shop Manager
Phone 07 5491 1911
Name Kathy Haslam
Location Cnr Hospital/Blackall Terrace Nambour
Department Nambour Op Shop
Role Op Shop Manager
Phone 07 5476 1779
Name Faye Murray
Location 41 Main St Buderim
Department Buderim Op Shop
Role Op Shop Manager
Phone 07 5445 2625
Name Elaine Funch
Location 41 Main St Buderim
Department Buderim Op Shop
Role Op Shop Manager
Phone 07 5445 2625
Name Sue Poultney
Location 25 First Ave Maroochydore
Department Maroochydore Op Shop
Role Op Shop Manager
Phone 07 5475 4477
Name Frank Morello
Location 1/10 Endeavour Dr, Kunda Park
Department Distribution
Role Driver
Phone 5445 6858
Name Max Holland
Location 1/10 Endeavour Dr, Kunda Park
Department Distribution
Role Driver
Phone 5445 6858
Biography Bio
Copyright © Bloomhll Cancer Help 1996 - 2010