Two Charities. One Community. Immeasurable Impact

Raised in 2025

Visitors to Sunflower Day

Charities Supported

Incredible Community

Little Haven Palliative Care

Their Story & Mission

Little Haven Palliative Care was founded in 1980, born out of Gympie resident Mrs Phyllis Little's vision for better care of the dying. Over four decades later, it stands as one of Queensland's leading community-based palliative care providers — recognised nationally as a gold-standard model of care.

As a not-for-profit organisation, Little Haven provides compassionate, professional palliative care and cancer support to people with an incurable illness and their loved ones across the Gympie and Cooloola region. Their service covers a 9,000 km² area and currently supports more than 300 patients and families each year, entirely free of charge.

Partially funded by Queensland Health, they rely on community generosity to bridge the gap — funding the extra nurse hours, the specialist equipment loans, and the wraparound emotional support that makes such a profound difference to families navigating one of life's most difficult passages.

Community Impact

Little Haven is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year. The Gympie local government area has one of Queensland's oldest demographic profiles — with 24.5% of residents aged over 65, compared to the state average of 16.1% — making this service more essential with every passing year. 100% of donated funds go directly to hands-on care and specialist equipment.

What They Provide

  • 24-hour specialist palliative nursing in the home, at no cost to the patient
  • Pain and symptom management in partnership with GPs
  • Free loan of home nursing equipment for as long as needed
  • Trained respite volunteers for carer relief and companionship
  • Complementary therapies to improve comfort and wellbeing
  • Emotional, spiritual and social support for the whole family
  • Ongoing bereavement counselling for as long as families need it

Supporting Chemotherapy in Cooloola Inc.

Their Story & Mission

Supporting Chemotherapy in Cooloola Inc. (SCIC) was founded in 2006 by Marlene Owen — a Gympie volunteer of over 30 years who went on to receive an Order of Australia Medal for her extraordinary, quiet dedication to those in need. Her inspiration was simple and deeply human: cancer patients travelling for treatment shouldn't have to worry about where they'll sleep.

SCIC was established to assist local families facing the effects of cancer by providing a home away from home during chemotherapy treatment in Gympie. The organisation has raised several hundred thousand dollars for the construction of accommodation units — a practical lifeline for regional and rural families who would otherwise bear the additional burden of distance during an already overwhelming time.

Run by community volunteers who give their time freely, SCIC is a reminder of what can be achieved when a community simply refuses to let its neighbours face hardship alone. Every dollar raised stays local and goes directly to improving the lives of people in our region doing the hardest thing imaginable.

Community Impact

By providing comfortable, local accommodation for chemotherapy patients and their carers, SCIC removes a significant practical and financial barrier from cancer treatment. For families in rural and regional Queensland, this means being close to treatment without the cost of accommodation pulling the family apart. The ripple effect of this support reaches far beyond the patient alone.

What They Provide

  • Accommodation units for patients and carers during chemotherapy
  • Comfort items and equipment for those undergoing treatment
  • A welcoming, familiar environment during a deeply challenging time
  • Community fundraising to continually improve facilities
  • Volunteer-led care and human connection for patients far from home
  • Reducing isolation and financial strain during regional cancer treatment

Two Events. One Powerful Purpose

The Sunflower Day and the Long Lunch on Mooloo Farm are more than gatherings — they are acts of community. When you walk through our sunflower fields, share a meal at our table, or simply spend a day on the farm, you become part of something that reaches far beyond the day itself.

Every year, proceeds are divided between Little Haven Palliative Care and Supporting Chemotherapy in Cooloola Inc. — ensuring the money raised stays right here, helping right here, in the Gympie and Cooloola region.