General News
3 September, 2026
Donations and lasting legacies secure health service’s future
FAMILY bequests generously given to the East Grampians Health Service Building for the Future Foundation are a meaningful way in which to honour a loved one’s memory as well contributing towards vital capital projects and ensuring a strong future for the health service and its staff.
The Foundation is a charitable Trust established in 2009 with the purpose of providing funding for staff development, special purpose projects and equipment for East Grampians Health Service.
The Trust is governed by seven independent local Trustees who manage the Trust’s assets and the distribution of funding for the sole benefit of the health service.
The current Trustees include Chair David Hosking, Vice Chair Graeme Foster, Geoff Laidlaw, Jill Tivey, Heather Fleming and EGHS Board Directors Sybil Abbott-Burmeister and Megan Shea.
Chair David Hosking said the Foundation funds educational scholarships to staff, assists with purchasing equipment and funds large scale projects.
The Foundation currently manages assets of just over $7.5 million, comprising an investment portfolio and some leased farmland, and consults a financial planner for advice on investment holdings.
Since 2010, the Foundation has distributed $1,280,066 ($536,650 for large capital items – including $200,000 for a new CT Scanner, $100,000 for roof replacement and $50,000 for the renovation of the birthing suite. The remainder is for education disbursements).
The Foundation annually offers scholarships up to the value of $125,000 to staff to enhance and develop their knowledge and learn new skills, thereby ensuring quality of care for the community well into the future.
Since its inception, the Foundation has allocated 83 scholarships including Foundation scholarships along with Laidlaw Family and Epworth Foundation scholarships.
Mr Hosking said a donation to the Foundation via a person’s will ensures the future of East Grampians Health Service.
“The Foundation is looking to attract family bequests donated to the Building for the Future Foundation. One way of doing this would be to consider donating a percentage of a person’s estate to the Foundation. This would be a great way to remember a loved one and have them acknowledged annually and make an ongoing contribution to the community.
“If you choose to donate or leave the Foundation a gift in your will, you can be assured that it will be of immense value to the health service.”
If you would like to consider leaving a donation or lasting legacy in your will, please contact the Foundation via buildingforthefuture@eghs.net.au or phone 5352 9300 and one of the Trustees will contact you.
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