TotaraTalk - Totara Hospice December 2020 Newsletter

TOTARATALK DECEMBER 2020

your connection to Hospice tou hononga ki Hospice

REMEMBERING NANA ANITA Kia ora, my name is Rosie. My journey with Totara Hospice began at 11 years-old, when it felt like my whole world came tumbling down – the day I found out my Nana had lung cancer.

Nana and Grandad lived next door, and if you couldn’t find me at my house, I’d be at theirs. We would bake, play cards, have makeovers and sleepovers. For me, Nana was my very best friend. She was such an incredible lady.

When Nana’s illness happened, I knew I wanted to make the most of every second with her. But even with Grandad caring for her night and day, things were pretty tough.

“I just don’t know what I would have done without Hospice,” says Grandad Ron. “Their Community Nurses were just terrific – they were always dropping in to help out, reviewing Anita’s medication to help her feel more at ease - nothing was too much trouble.”

This Christmas we are asking you, our community to donate to help keep the Hospice Community Nurses on the road, caring for people like my Nana. By donating you are gifting more time, memories and comfort to the terminally ill – and their wh nau.

It’s even more pressing this Christmas with the financial impact of Covid-19, additionally we have seen a staggering 25% increase in demand for our Hospice services in the community.

The last Christmas with Nana was very special and memorable for our family, as Grandad Ron recalls: “Christmas Day came around and Anita nearly didn’t have Christmas at home. She wasn’t good that morning, but by lunchtime we said – let’s just do it, and we had the family around for Christmas on our deck.

Anita was great, she ate well and spent time with our children, grandkids and great grandchildren.”

It was a wonderful Christmas we are so thankful for.

Grandad Ron reflected, “After Christmas Dr Eileen Brosnan asked me how Christmas was – and I said actually it was good, Anita ate well and it was great. Dr Eileen said well that’s great because Ron, she won’t see another one, in fact she won’t see Easter.”

As she became more ill, I would spend every afternoon after school with her too. Then when Nana’s health started to deteriorate further we were there every night. “See ya later Rosie” those were the last words she whispered to me as I was going home that Wednesday night.

Dr Eileen was right, on 24th March, Nana gained her wings.

At 11 years-old, like most people, I thought a hospice was just a place ‘where you go to die’. But it is actually a really special place, full of amazing people offering comfort, dignity, compassion love and care.

Hospice had a profound impact on me personally. At 15 I was the first Youth Ambassador to volunteer for Totara Hospice. I now write to you as a fundraiser to help ensure that others will get to see their Nana supported with dignity and honour - as a person, not just a patient. And get to whisper special words to their loved ones on their last night.

opportunity. It could mean the world to another 11 year old girl out there.

Thank you so much. Visit www.hospice.co.nz/rememberingnana2 or there is a donation form on the back of this newsletter.

Ng mihi, Rosie, Fundraising, Grants and Events Assistant - Totara Hospice

The last Christmas I had with my Nana was the most special day ever. This Christmas, if you choose to donate your kind gift will go to ensuring other Kiwi families have that same

MEMORIAL GIFTS AT

Totara Hospice presents

TOTARA HOSPICE Heart Padlock

Minimum Donation - $250 Honour someone special to you with a Heart Padlock at Totara Hospice, available in both blue and red, with an attachment personalised with the name of your loved one.

Join us for the grooviest day ever whilst you Boogie in the Vines for Totara Hospice at the stunning

Turanga Creek Vineyard

Enjoy some dancin’, singin’, and movin’ to the groovin’ beats of the fantastic bands Halo and the groovy 80sX! See Michael Murphy perform again at Boogie in the Vines!

Memorial Plaque

Minimum Donation - $1,000 A Memorial Brick Plaque located along a path through the beautiful Totara Hospice gardens, is a perfect tribute to a special friend or family member.

Legacy Plaque

Tickets onsale now at: www.hospiceinvines.co.nz

Sunday 14th February 2021 Turanga Creek Vineyard,133 Whitford Park Road, Whitford

DOORS OPEN 12 NOON - 6PM General Admission $45pp Picnic Packs for two $65 each Exclusive* Fine Dining & Wine Experience $135pp *only 80 tickets available

Minimum Donation - $2,000 An interactive Legacy Plaque on our Totara Hospice Legacy Wall, located in one of Totara Hospice’s gorgeous courtyards, is a unique way to honour the life and memories of someone close to you.

Memorial Ceramic

Minimum Donation - $3,000 Located along the outside of the Totara Hospice building, the stunning Memorial Ceramics are a special way to remember a loved one – you can choose the ceramic style that best celebrates their memory.

Day of Care

Minimum Donation - $1,450 Support Totara Hospice with a Day of Care for a patient in our Inpatient Unit, you can choose the date for your Day of Care that honours a loved one’s memory – to acknowledge and celebrate a special day or anniversary.

To purchase a memorial gift visit www.hospice.co.nz/store or contact Julayne on 09 640 0250 or julayne.jones@hospice.co.nz TotaraTalk with Totara Hospice | 1

GANESH RAJ AND WILL MARTIN DAZZLE THE LADIES! South Auckland Motors Ladies Lunch for Totara Hospice a success for 2020!

After an absence in the community The lunch itself was beautifully due to COVID 19 it was great to finally prepared and donated by local welcome back smiling faces to the Howick restaurant, Daisy Chang. annual Ladies Lunch event. We Their talented chefs created the welcomed over 220 guests to a delicious main dish of Pork and Prawn delicious three-course lunch, hosted Singaporean Noodles. The by the lovely Carolyn Taylor and scrumptious entrée and desserts went featuring our special guest host, down a treat and were prepared in Ganesh Raj from the recent TVNZ house by Café Aroha – the onsite café Show, ‘Eat Well For Less’! Ganesh at Totara Hospice. filled the room with laughter pulling This amazing lunch that raises much people up from the crowd to complete needed funds so support can a fun dumpling making challenge. The continue for patients and their wh nau talented and internationally acclaimed cannot happen without our funding singer, Will Martin then took the stage sponsors South Auckland Motors and and had all the ladies in love after a Resthaven Funerals. breath taking performance!

The Hospice Retail Shop Fashion Show was back this year, which showcased both designer and high street fashion from our Hospice Shops with the stunning models being hospice staff including nurses, doctors and counsellors, some of which pulled out all the moves on the ‘catwalk’!

We also have amazing local community support on the day including, The Gardens School, Alfriston College as well as our amazing Senior Youth Ambassadors.

Thank you to everyone who attended and we hope to see you next year on Friday 12th November 2021.

As mentioned this event would not be possible without our incredible sponsors, so a huge thank you to the following supporters who have been Making Hospice Happen year after year!

Totara Hospice Movie Night

Join us for a fundraising event to support MAKING HOSPICE HAPPEN IN YOUR COMMUNITY while you sit back and enjoy DAWN RAID - a local South Auckland Story!

Thursday 21st January 2021

HOYTS – SYLVIA PARK 6.15pm screening

TICKETS AVAILABLE NOW AT:

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TS

TICKE

$25

www.hospice.co.nz/store

A BIG THANK YOU Thank you to Harcourts Foundation and to Harcourts Blue Rock Realty Ltd for funding of a Shekel Digital Chair Scale for our Inpatient Unit.

Totara Hospice applied for funding to the Harcourts Foundation for a Shekel Digital Chair Scale. A chair scale is a wheelchair with an integrated weighing scale. It allows patients who are unable to stand, to be weighed quickly, easily and with minimum discomfort. The Shekel Digital Chair Scale features movement

compensation technology and can weigh patients up to 300kg.

Patients are weighed as part of their medical care. The clinical team will take a patient’s blood pressure, heart rate and weight for their medical records. At Totara Hospice our vision is to honour living and dignify dying.

Sometimes due to the challenges that patients face, some patients feel uncomfortable doing tasks as simple as getting weighed because they don’t want to feel the embarrassment of them not being able to do so.

Thanks to Harcourts Blue Rock Realty Ltd, (Harcourts Papakura and Karaka) we are now able to eliminate these challenges, and transfer patients safely to and from the scale and get accurate results.

Thank you Harcourts Foundation and Harcourts Blue Rock Realty Ltd for helping Honour Living and Dignify Dying for our patients and Making Hospice Happen in your community.

Ng mihi nui ki a koutou – A big thank you to you all.

JOIN OUR FRIENDLY TEAM OF VOLUNTEERS Do you have some spare time and want to make a difference?

We are seeking volunteers to work in various areas to support the work of Totara Hospice.

Retail – Help turn pre-loved donated goods into much-needed support for our patients and their families. We are looking for volunteers to help in our five Hospice Shops – Manukau, The Gardens, Takanini, Pakuranga and Howick – and in our Takanini Distribution Centre. If you have an interest in providing positive customer service and want to do some good in your community, then we want to hear from you.

Please contact our volunteer services team on 09 640 0025 or email volunteerservices@hospice.co.nz

Hospitality and Catering Volunteer – We need your smile and positive attitude here in our whare; help make Hospice patients, their wh nau, and all guests to Totara House feel welcome and at home through food and hospitality.

Become a part of Team Totara as a Hospitality Volunteer working within the kitchen Choose from two shifts per day.

Please contact our volunteer services team on 09 640 0025 or email volunteerservices@hospice.co.nz

FARMERS MAKING A DIFFERENCE IN OUR COMMUNITY Farmers stores were busy again this festive season raising funds for hospices throughout the country with the Trees of Remembrance campaign.

Offering customers the opportunity to make a donation at the counter to receive a remembrance tag. Write a message to a loved one, then hang it on the Tree of Remembrance in store.

The stores supporting Totara Hospice again this year are Farmers Papakura, Pakuranga, Manukau and Botany.

Farmers is also selling a 2020 collectable Christmas bauble; this year’s bauble is Comfort by Hospice. Comfort by Hospice was inspired by a group of people in Christchurch who generously shared their experience of their loved one’s death, supported by hospice. Whilst each person’s situation was unique to them and their family and wh nau – they were united by the guidance hospice provided, the empathy and understanding and clinical expertise of the hospice team that allowed good memories to be possible.

The baubles sell out every year, and all proceeds are donated to support your local hospice services.

Please help to make this year the best yet by making a donation at your local Farmers store, and be sure to say a thank you to the team at Farmers for supporting your local Hospice.

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Forget Me Not Field Leave a virtual flower for your loved one… whilst donating and Making Hospice Happen Go to: www.hospice.co.nz/forgetmenot WHY YOUR SUPPORT MATTERS We really value feedback from our patients, family members and carers. It shows us what we’re doing well and helps us continually improve our services.

Here’s a small selection of the comments we’ve received recently, which really show how valuable our services are and why we need your support to continue providing them.

We wanted to extend our deepest gratitude for the amazing care you all provided for our beloved Papa.

We wish you knew how much it meant to our family that we could put our trust in you – thank you! ~ Family member

A heartfelt Thank You for all the unconditional care given to my sister & the support given to her family when it was needed most. ~ Family member

CAFÉ AROHA – YOUR LOCAL NOT FOR PROFIT CAFÉ! elicious barista made coffee D open Monday-Friday 8am-2pm Tasty new menu available now! ave your order ready H and waiting by pre-ordering online at cafearoha.mobi2go.com isit us today V 140 Charles Prevost Drive, The Gardens

Smoked Chicken, Cranberry and Brie Roll

Butter Chicken Curry

Zucchini & Mussel Fritters Revamped prawn cocktail served with Kawakawa with Sesame Lemon mayo, Mayonnaise & salad avocado & prawn crackers

Smoked Salmon Springtime Salad

As Café Aroha is located within Totara House, it simultaneously provides a friendly environment for patients and families, whilst welcoming in our neighbours and the general public. When you visit Café Aroha for a hot drink and breakfast or lunch, you are also helping to sustain our Hospice into the future, as all proceeds from the café support our work to continue delivering care to terminally ill patients and their wh nau in your community.

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Potted Raspberry Cheesecake

What an incredible organisation you are, words will never express my deep gratitude for the wonderful care you gave my late husband, for the last 5 weeks of his life. ~ Family member

At the end of last year, you lovingly cared for our beloved husband and father. He had been determined to stay at home during his final days, but after a hard two weeks, came in to your inpatient care. He said not long after coming “I wish I had come sooner.”

We would like to thank you for your care, kindness and support throughout the two weeks, just spending time with him, rather than being full-time carers and not being able to fully ‘be there’ for the last part of his journey. ~ Family member

You made my father’s last day on earth so comfortable.

He passed away peacefully with dignity and in a beautiful sanctuary. Even though you had just met him, I’m sure he carried your memory with him to Heaven, because of the love and kindness you showered upon him. My family will always be grateful unto Totara Hospice and the amazing staff. ~ Family member

Totara Hospice is made up of many links from our community that Make Hospice Happen, here are some of our Totara Hospice whānau sharing what Christmas and Hospice means to them.

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1 Judy – Volunteer

I became a Volunteer 3 years ago it’s such a pleasure, I always leave feeling good, some people find this strange when they hear where I volunteer, but it is so rewarding.

I became a Volunteer as 16 years ago my mother needed Hospice support, and I wanted to be involved since then.

Helen – Staff

On Christmas Day there will be many generations of our family together enjoying a Champagne and Pancake Brunch spent at the beach, which will be new for us this year. I have been working for Hospices over the past 35 years, people think Hospice is just for dying I love it when our patients learn that it’s about Living Every Moment.

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4 Linden – Clinical Volunteer Support

Christmas will be family and food at my parents with Secret Santa for my extremely large family. I love working at Hospice and find it really rewarding when I can connect patients with volunteers that can help them with driving etc. Wishing all whānau a Meri Kirihimete and Happy New Year.

7 Wangs – Patient

6 months ago I was referred to Hospice, before then I had been in hospital. I have just moved to this area and I am really enjoying life at the moment. I love meeting all the new people that I am around now. This Christmas I am going to celebrate with the people that got me here.

Wayne – EmbroidMe East Tamaki

We will visit family in the Manawatu for Christmas. We have a child with special needs and my wife recently connected with a Grandma at my child’s school who subsequently used Totara Hospice services. I’ve always sponsored a hole at the BNI Golf Tournament and after 10 years we’ve become a naming sponsor. Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

3 Timi – Patient In 2017 I was told I had 5 weeks to live, I have now been coming to Day Hospice for 3 years. It helps a lot, I haven’t needed other support services due to the wellbeing program, I have learnt how to help myself. In this day and age I hope everyone stays safe, be well and happy.

6 Gail - Inpatient Unit Charge Nurse

I love everything about being part of the Totara Hospice team, the families, the patients and staff, and the whole environment! Christmas is usually quiet with family and spending time with Mum; we’ve already had our Christmas Tree Party with friends and mulled wine to decorate the tree.

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8 Charlie Watson – Totara Hospice Cat

This is my 7th Christmas at Totara Hospice. I love spending time with all the patients and families and sometimes – well often, I get lots of extra treats and pats!

I hope everyone has a nice Christmas and thanks for all the love that you guys all share with me too.

Jo - Events & Hospitality Fundraiser

I enjoy meeting those who come through the doors and engaging with the community and supporters of Totara Hospice and the cause. This Christmas I’ll be with close family and then spending a few days at the beach over New Years. Take care and look after each other, respect each other and be there for each other these holidays.

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He aha te mea nui o te ao What is the most important thing in the world?

10 Alan – Volunteer Driver

This Christmas will be a bit different as we have sold the house, and it will be our last one there with all the family coming. I was the primary care giver for my sister when she was sick, and learnt about Hospice then back in 2003.

Now I love driving patients and meeting interesting people.

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Andrea - Team Leader Community & Ambulatory Services Here at Totara Hospice I coordinate patients who are visited by the nursing team within their homes. It’s a wonderful difference the team, and Totara Hospice, can make to patients in the community. Thank you to all those who continue to support our community and have a safe and peaceful Christmas.

16 Dawn – Hospice Shop Distribution Support Christmas will see 27 of my whānau head to Te Kuiti, due to Covid-19 we won’t be doing Christmas Presents this year but we will come together for a traditional Xmas Celebration.

I love the way that Hospice respects the wider person and whānau, I wish I had known about it when my dad had cancer.

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Meg - Community Nurse

I’m loving coming to Hospice each day, I love the pats and smiles from everyone and visiting the garden. I support the nurses who visit patients in the community with my beaming smile and visit the Inpatient Unit when I can. This Christmas I’m wishing for Santa to bring me a new ball to chase.

18 17 Deana - Head of People & Capabilities

I joined Totara Hospice on Day 1 of Lockdown and enjoy working somewhere that’s close to my heart and a part of a team that provides such a valuable service to the community - it makes me proud. Being from the UK it still takes getting used to summer at Christmas time but I love it & spending time at the beach!

Sasha – Junior Volunteer Fundraiser

I’ve asked Santa for some leopard print stationary for all my art and I can’t wait to play the fun present stealing game on Christmas Day. At Boogie in the Vines I like helping take the fundraising buckets around to all the people.

23 22 Christine – Patient

I have been coming to Day Hospice for 10 months now, I enjoy the interaction with people the same as me, so I don’t feel so alone. I can’t wait for Christmas Day, I won’t be overdoing it, but I am looking forward to spending it with my 3 kids and 12 grandkids.

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Alakoka - Senior Youth Ambassador

I am connected to hospice as my late uncle Manu, shared his last moments through hospice with his family. And now I support them by volunteering my time. For Christmas we will be having a quiet and intimate family lunch with my great grandma and nana, before going to evening mass.

Dr. Bart - Lead Medical Officer

My role gives me the opportunity to make a significant impact for families; and challenges too as the medicine is never straight forward and requires out of the box thinking to help patients. One of my most important things at Christmas, is to bring the family together.

He tāngata, he tāngata, he tāngata It is the people, it is the people, it is the people Māori proverb

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Vanessa - Kids in the Kitchen

I’ve held a market stand at the previous Christmas at Hospice events, wow what an amazing event at an amazing organisation, with such devotion to their work. This Christmas I hope people will be kind; be present; and leave technology behind - as my husband tells me it will still be there in the morning.

Mitara, Moe & Rachel - Patient & Daughters

I was referred in September this year, at the time it was overwhelming, emotional and a huge adjustment. I really like coming to Day Hospice, arts and crafts are my thing and I love the activities. Moe & Rachel added that this Christmas we hope everyone doesn’t take their loved ones for granted and take time to reflect, celebrate and enjoy with each other.

15 Jess - Senior Youth Ambassador

I started volunteering 6 years ago and I really like the community feel as I’ve been supporting for so many years and gotten to know so many people. I enjoy volunteering because no matter the task, you know it’s going to make a difference. I hope everyone gets to spend their Christmas with loved ones and friends.

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Warren – Patient

I was referred to Hospice 12 months ago, communication is top rate, and I have been overwhelmed with the amount of services that Totara Hospice provides to us. This Christmas is going to have family at the house with our grandchildren, they give me a laugh a minute and I am very fortunate to have them.

Felicity - Pharmacist

I’ve worked with hospice for over a year now and am pleased to be a part of making the journey easier for a patient and their family - it’s a privilege to walk the journey with people.

This Christmas remember to be kind to everyone as you never know what they’re going through or coping with.

Ollie - Step-Up Fundraiser

What I’m looking forward to most about Christmas is getting presents (Bumblebee & Optimus Prime) and seeing my cousins on Christmas Day. This year I raised lots of money by walking far with my Mum, I got more than $500 to help people.

Meri Kirihimete

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Wishing you a wonderful festive season with your loved ones

Thank You

Know you have helped make a difference in the lives of many, thank you for your generosity of time and donations over 2019

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CHANGE IS CONTINUAL AND THAT’S OK

OUR WISHLIST

Kia ora tātou, Kia Orana, Talofa Lava, Malo e lelei, Fakaalofa Lahi Atu, Ni sa Bula Vinaka, Namaste, Ní hăo, Hola! Greetings All

Are you able to donate any of the following items to support the work of Totara Hospice?

Can you believe that we are near the end of the calendar year? I can’t believe it either.

As the festive holiday period begins and we are soon to turn the page to a new year, we can reflect on how extraordinary the last 12 months have been.

The challenges we all faced with pandemic response, did however also bring many silver linings.

We enjoyed simpler pleasures, many of us had more time with family and friends. We saw great strengths in our community as people reached out to each other in new ways.

• Instant coffee for patients, visitors and families • Wine & beer for our drinks trolley • Soda Stream machine and syrups to serve cold drinks to our patients • Canned spaghetti for serving to patients from the Totara House kitchen

At Totara we had to learn to adapt very quickly, we endured some blows, but with great teamwork and your ongoing support, despite many hurdles, Hospice kept happening and importantly we kept patients and their loved ones connected.

• Canned peaches, apples, and fruit salad for serving to patients from the Totara House kitchen • Large New Candles for the Inpatient Unit, which families light when a loved one passes

So as we look to a more settled 2021, on behalf of all at Totara Hospice, I want to take the time to say a very big thank you to all of you for your support and wish joy, peace, happiness for you and yours.

If you can help please contact rosie.kennedy@hospice.co.nz or 09 640 0280.

Kindest regards, Tina McCafferty

Please do contact Rosie before purchasing.

Thank you for your support.

Tina McCafferty Chief Executive

EmbroidMe East Tamaki Charity Golf Day Thank you to BNI Howick for holding the Totara Hospice Charity Golf Day on the 25th November at Pakuranga Golf Club.

Another sold out golf day resulted in a record breaking $54,500 raised for Totara Hospice! Thank you BNI Howick and Pakuranga Golf Club for Making Hospice Happen.

Wayne Strong (EmbroidMe) presenting the cheque to Totara Hospice

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Shout out to the 2020 Gardens School Youth Ambassadors Our Youth Ambassadors haven’t been able to be at Hospice as much this year, but here they are for the end of the year cleaning up our gardens for summer! They also helped setup for the Ladies Lunch Fundraiser event and other occasions during the year.

BNI Metro Step Up For Totara Hospice Our November Step Up Virtual Walk raised over $8000 with over 22 Fundraisers and teams joining in. Jeff Watkins part of the BNI Metro team raised $1910.00 and biked 210kms – a pretty amazing effort to do in one weekend!

Gardens School students getting their hands dirty in the Totara Hospice garden!

Jeff out on his 210km bike ride raising funds every kilometre!

YES! I would like to donate to help Hospice support patients and their families. It’s easy to donate!

Donate online

Visit www.hospice.co.nz to donate please enter reference NL1220

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Internet Banking

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ASB 12-3032-0715880-02 Particulars: Surname/Company Code: First Name Reference: NL1220

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Call

Mail the donation slip below to Totara Hospice PO Box 75560, Manurewa 2243

(09) 640 0250

Please accept my donation of:

If you wish to pay via credit card:

❑ $30

Please debit my: Visa

❑ $50

❑ $100

Surprise Us: $______________________ DETAILS: First Name:

Mail

Mastercard

Amex

Card Number: Expiry (mm/yy):

/

CVC code

Surname: Address:

Cardholder’s name Signature

Phone: Email:

Please make cheques payable to Totara Hospice. All donations over $5 are tax deductible Charities Commission number: CC21683

❑ ❑

The Privacy Act of 1993 requires us to advise you that we keep contact information of supporters on file to help us with fundraising. If you do not wish us to keep your information, please advise us. If you wish to check the details that we have on your file, you are welcome to enquire. Please notify us if you wish to be removed from our mailing list.

I’m interested in learning more about leaving a gift to Totara Hospice in my Will I’d like to receive communications from Totara Hospice

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