Your will - making a bequest - Alfred Hospital

Your gift to The Alfred.
Making
a bequest.
Caring. With your help.

The Alfred
caring
researching
teaching
At every major emergency in Victoria’s
recent history - Ash Wednesday, the
Longford gas explosion, the Monash
shootings and the Bali bombings - The
Alfred has been there to treat the victims.
Unfortunately there will always
be tragedies, but The Alfred will
always be there to respond.
Your bequest will help us to stand ready.
We will have the best possible equipment
and expertise on hand to cope with any
emergency in the future - with your help.
The hospital’s trauma service is the
busiest in Australia, treating more than
700 major trauma patients each year.
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The Alfred has a stellar reputation as one
of the world’s leading health care providers.
The hospital is the state-designated service
for trauma/critical care, burns and heart/
lung transplants. Our specialist areas
include cardiovascular medicine, oncology
and respiratory medicine.
In leaving a bequest to The
Alfred, you will be investing in our
strength ... investing in life.
The Alfred treats more than one quarter
of a million patients annually. Our clinical
staff are among the world’s leaders and
offer patients a chance of survival and
recovery that is as good or better than
anywhere else in the world. From trialing
a new artificial heart in a global trial
through to researching new and better
treatments for a common condition like
asthma, The Alfred is at the forefront.
Our world-renowned research has seen
The Alfred:
• be the first to use dialysis in Australia;
• perform the first hip replacement in
Australia;
• implant Australia’s first artificial
heart; and
Our commitment to research, teaching and
clinical care “combined with your help” will
ensure The Alfred continues as a centre of
excellence, providing the very best care for
our patients.
• perform the first hospital-based bone
marrow transplant unit in Australia.
Caring. With your help.
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Making a real difference
In 1992, Frank Roberts, a father of four,
was sailing on Port Phillip Bay with a
friend and his youngest daughter Kate.
It was a perfect afternoon for sailing and
Frank had just pulled up the mainsail
when he felt a sudden agonising pain in
his head.
“It felt like a hand grenade going off in my
head – I had never experienced pain like
that in my life before,” Frank recalls.
Frank was rushed to The Alfred where
he was diagnosed with a subarachnoid
haemorrhage – a blood vessel in his brain
had fractured, leaking blood into his head,
causing immense pressure and pain.
Frank was operated on the next day,
undergoing a craniotomy – neurosurgeons
clipped the fractured vessel in his brain
to stop the bleeding. He spent two weeks
in The Alfred and has now recovered
completely, living a normal life.
“It was very severe –
The Alfred saved my life –
it’s as simple as that.”
“It took a while to get back on my feet – it
took three months before I started to feel
ok and six months before I could do any
concentrated work,” Frank said.
“The damage to my life was overcome
by the very quick action taken by
ambulance and Alfred staff - they gave
me back my life.”
Frank decided he wanted to give something
back to the hospital in return. In 1993,
together with Alfred staff, he helped set
up the Neurosurgery Support Group.
Members visit patients who have suffered
similar conditions and provide support to
them and their families.
“The reason I became involved was
simply my life was saved and I was
deeply grateful,” Frank explained.
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“I wanted to help the hospital in
the future. I decided to become
a bequestor because there are
many major new projects in
the hospital that need fi nancial
support and I saw a bequest as
something I could do in a small
way to help.”
Frank, a widower, says his family’s
relationship with The Alfred has been
many things.
“My wife and her sister trained at The
Alfred as nurses, as did my second
daughter Elizabeth. A family member in a
car accident died just on reaching the
hospital. So our relationship with
The Alfred has been happy, sad and
in my case lifesaving.
“The Alfred sees patients from all walks
of life – all treated with the same care
and expertise – it is a wonderful place.”
Frank (right) with Nurse Manager Noel Sceriha.
Caring. With your help.
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Bequests can be lifesavers
Bequests to The Alfred have resulted in many lifesaving pieces of equipment and items of
patient comfort being purchased to assist in the treatment of our patients. By making a
bequest to The Alfred you will be promoting improved community health and saving lives
which is the greatest gift anyone can give.
Margaret’s story
Margaret Danielson was a youthful 78
and under extreme stress when she had
a heart attack. Already anxious about
trying to place her very ill husband in care,
Margaret’s life was turned upside down.
“I believed I was in control of my
life but suddenly I found I wasn’t,”
Margaret said.
“Not only did I have a heart attack but I
became amnesic at the same time.”
Margaret suffered memory loss for eight
hours and woke to find herself in a hospital
gown in the emergency department of
The Alfred. While in this state, Margaret
suffered two heart attacks and spent four
days in critical care.
“I was very fortunate in that the
ambulance took me to The Alfred. My
care was impeccable. I will always be
grateful,” she said.
Margaret Danielson
“Apart from making a small
donation from time to time there
is not a lot I can do to show
my gratitude, except to include
The Alfred in my will, which I
have done,” Margaret said.
“It’s the very least I can do.”
After recovering and returning to a full
and active life, Margaret wanted to do
something to show her appreciation.
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Your will - making a bequest
It is important for all Australians over the
age of 18 to have a current will.
Many people think making a will
is expensive and complicated
and that there is no need for
one if they are not wealthy. This
is not the case. Your personal
belongings will not automatically
be given to your next of kin.
A current will can give you peace of mind,
with the knowledge that your wishes can
be carried out as you would have wanted.
A will is a document in which you can give
gifts. A bequest is a gift communicated
through your will.
A solicitor, trustee company or the
Public Trustees can assist you with the
preparation of your will.
Caring. With your help.
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Giving something back
Former patient Ian Nowack says:
“I have been a patient of The Alfred since
1997. I am here every week, sometimes
twice a week, for cardiac treatment. The
medical staff are all so caring and kind.”
“It’s like my second home.”
“I know how important it is for The Alfred
to stay in front with technology and patient
care. This is why I have decided to make
a bequest to further research for the
hospital’s many lifesaving projects.”
So grateful
Ian Nowack
The first contact Mona Wilkins and her
daughter Julie had with The Alfred was in
very difficult circumstances.
“Our introduction to The Alfred was when
my husband (Laurie) was admitted to the
Emergency Department,” Mona said.
“His care was fi rst class.
Sadly he passed away.”
Mona Wilkins
Julie Wilkins
“The hospital staff were so gentle and kind
and we will always be grateful for this.”
So grateful were they for his care that both
Julie and Mona have made The Alfred a
beneficiary in their wills. “We were treated
with such care and compassion during this
traumatic time,” Mona added.
“That is why we have included The Alfred
in our wills.”
“Julie says that every time she comes to
The Alfred she feels her father’s spirit very
strongly.”
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Individual gifts provide
huge benefit for many
The Elsie Lillias Milligan
BEQUEST
A bequest from Elsie Lillias Milligan
in 2003 was used for research into the
prevention, diagnoses and treatment of
heart disease. Thanks to these funds,
patients attending The Alfred’s Heart/
Lung Transplant Unit have been able to
enjoy longer lives, with a marked increase
in their quality of life. We have seen the
amazing difference further research into
heart disease can make to our patients’
lives and the lives of their children, parents
and extended families.
The Anthony Tremayne
BEQUEST
The Alfred’s Infectious Disease Unit
benefited through The Anthony Tremayne
bequest, which has been used to support
Dr Paul Cameron’s work. Dr Cameron is
a clinical immunologist with a specific
interest in many aspects of HIV, including
the cause of adverse drug reactions to
HIV medications. Recruitment of Dr
Cameron to the Infectious Diseases Unit
has been instrumental in developing and
expanding current projects of the unit,
including developing a tissue bank for all
HIV positive patients. This tissue bank will
provide a crucial resource for studies on
the transmission of HIV and working out
the genetic reasons why some HIV positive
patients experience severe side effects from
the drugs and others do not.
Caring. With your help.
The Richard Turner
BEQUEST
Richard Turner was a modest bachelor who
left his entire estate to The Alfred. His gift
was used for research and to enhance care
for cancer patients. The endowment also
funded the Richard Turner Oncology and
Haematology Unit at The Alfred.
In this ward, experienced, compassionate
health professionals care for patients with a
range of life-threatening illnesses including
leukaemias, lymphomas and cancerous
tumours. Thanks to this bequest, we can
ensure our patients are provided with
excellent care and are treated within
surroundings that are comfortable and
soothing. This bequest has resulted in an
improved hospital ward and facilities and
enabled us to purchase medical equipment
including a bladder scanner and pressure
relieving mattresses.
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How to leave a bequest to The Alfred
A residual bequest
The best type of bequest to leave The Alfred is a residual bequest - which is a percentage of
your estate. A residual bequest maintains its value over time.
Suggested wording for a bequest
“I devise and bequeath the whole of my estate (or…% of my estate, or the residue of my
estate… whichever appropriate) to The Alfred, Commercial Road, Melbourne VIC 3004.
Other options
• You can make a bequest to The Alfred
to take effect after the death of your
partner. Your partner would have your
estate for as long as he/she lived, then
the indicated portion would pass to
The Alfred.
• You can give a nominated amount of
money to The Alfred. This does not allow
for changes in your circumstances or for
inflation, which may erode the value of
a specific amount. If you wish to do this,
however, the wording would appear as:
“I devise and bequeath the sum of (the
actual amount written here in figures) to
The Alfred, Commercial Rd, Melbourne
VIC 3004.
• You can make a bequest to The Alfred
through a perpetual trust that will
provide ongoing financial support.
Specific purpose bequests
It is preferable that bequests are designated
for general use, as areas of need within the
hospital change constantly. However, it is
possible to specify that your gift be utilised
for a specific purpose, for example:
For treatment and care of patients:
“To be used for treatment
and patient care at The Alfred.”
For research and education:
“To be used for the purposes of
research and education.”
One of our specialist bequest staff members
would be very happy to visit you and discuss
the options further - contact Diane Deeming
at The Alfred Foundation on (03) 9276 3222.
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Caring. With your help.
Do you have any questions about making a bequest to The Alfred?
For a confidential discussion, please contact:
Diane Deeming
The Alfred Foundation
Telephone: (03) 9276 3222
The Alfred Foundation is the bequest and fundraising arm of The Alfred.
Caring. With your help.
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The Alfred Foundation
The Alfred
Commercial Road Melbourne VIC 3004
PO Box 2021 Prahran VIC 3181
Telephone: (03) 9276 3222
Fax: (03) 9276 2775
Email: foundation@alfred.org.au
Website: www.alfred.org.au/foundation
ABN 27 318 956 319
Bayside Health Service (VIC) trading as The Alfred is endorsed as an income tax exempt charitable entity.
DESIGNED & PRINTED BY WWW.FRESHDESIGN.COM.AU
This guide to making a bequest was prepared by the bequests and fundraising arm of The Alfred.
This information is provided as a general guide only and is not provided as legal advice. We suggest individuals obtain
their own advice in relation to making their own will.
Details current at August 2005