Mary Potter Hospice

Mr ELLIS (Narungga) (15:10): I rise today to speak on the new Mary Potter Hospice family room, which was officially opened on Friday 21 September at the Ardrossan Community Hospital and which I was honoured to attend.

In collaboration with the Mary Potter Hospice Foundation, and substantial donations from community members and organisations, this stunning and incredibly important new facility was made a reality. It was an exceptionally well-attended opening held in the hospital's entrance car park. Patients past and present, locals, staff and board members filled the area to hear board chairperson, Doug Barton, lead formalities, with director of nursing, Jodie Luke, assisting with presentations and giving a truly heartfelt speech thanking all who had assisted in one way or another to make this family room possible.

During the service, I was both moved and amazed to hear of the incredible community spirit behind the hospital itself. In just one of many examples spoken of at the service, the local ladies guild alone raise and donate more than $70,000 per annum to the Ardrossan Community Hospital—a truly outstanding achievement by a devoted group of country women.

The family room was built and finished by local trades. The room consists of a kitchenette, dining table, TV and lounge area suitable for a couple, family or group. There is also a private entry to an outdoor table setting in the gardens, which are remarkably well maintained by maintenance staff and wonderful volunteers. Skylights let in an abundance of natural light, which truly completes the cosy, modern country-home ambience.

The opening was incredibly moving for many reasons. There were staff who have devoted their longstanding careers to the hospice, family and friends of loved ones who had shared their final moments at the hospital, and family members of those who have left their incredible touch on this remarkable place. One of those families was the Linkes, who were there to represent Letitia, the exceptionally talented interior designer behind the new family room. What makes Letitia Linke so outstanding is that she was not only the remarkable stylist behind this new facility but incredibly well known in this tight-knit community for her fierce advocation for health research and fundraising, and for whom I am proud to stand and speak of today.

Letitia, a local community member who lived not far from Ardrossan on a farming property with husband, Paul, and sons Tom and Ollie, was diagnosed with ovarian cancer in 2014 at just a young 34 years of age. During her battle with the insidious disease, Letitia was passionate, brave and resilient in her mission to educate women about the signs and symptoms of this disease. She was proudly an Ovarian Cancer Research Foundation ambassador, a Witchery White Shirt Campaign ambassador, and was the event organiser for the successful Silver Style Adelaide events, which raised substantial funds towards the Ovarian Cancer Research Foundation.

Through her relentless work, Letitia raised over $100,000 towards research, with her aspiration that one day there will be an early detection test and better treatments for this disease. Sadly, on Wednesday 1 August 2018, Letitia lost her battle with this disease. Her extraordinary legacy will certainly live on in our community, and at the opening, Letitia—who contributed significantly to the success of this room—was remembered with a plaque unveiled by her husband, Paul.

The Ardrossan hospital and community at large are truly blessed to have this wonderful room to remember such an inspiring woman. Attending this event only reiterated to me the exceptional staff, community and volunteers behind this wonderful hospital who, through their relentless hard work, have kept its doors open.

For 16 years, regional health care was significantly neglected, resulting in many closures of hospitals around the state. The Ardrossan hospital is no exception, having their funding withdrawn by the previous Labor government. I was incredibly pleased that the Marshall Liberal government has rewarded this fantastic facility with a commitment of $720,000 over four years from the state budget. Well done and congratulations to the director of nursing, Jodie Luke, board members and the many community trades, donors and volunteers who contributed to making this room a reality.

I would also like to quickly acknowledge the town of Ardrossan, which was recently announced as the overall winner of the 2018 KESAB Sustainable Communities Award, proving yet again what an exceptional community we have within the electorate of Narungga.