A Legacy That Continues to Grow
By Zoe Waters, Barwon Health Foundation, Executive Director
More than half a century ago, the McKellar sisters gifted the land that would become one of Geelong’s most important centres for rehabilitation and aged care. Their donation laid the foundation for something far greater than bricks and mortar - a place dedicated to promoting health independence.
Since that time, the McKellar Centre has continued to evolve. Not in one grand moment, but steadily - shaped by changing models of care and clinical innovation, as well as the quiet generosity of individuals who believe in giving back.
One of those contributors is Leslie ‘Les’ Dawber.
Les was not someone who sought recognition. He lived simply, valued community, and gave his time generously. For more than 43 years, he served as a volunteer with the local CFA, protecting the region he proudly called home. Service was not something Les spoke about often - it was something he lived.
Following serious health challenges, including a leg amputation, Les spent extended periods as a patient at University Hospital Geelong and later at the McKellar Centre. Throughout his care, and through ongoing support from Barwon Health staff in his home, Les developed a deep respect for Barwon Health and the people who supported him through some of the most difficult chapters of his life.
When Les passed away in 2023, he left his Leopold estate to the Barwon Health Foundation - an extraordinary act of generosity, motivated not by recognition, but by gratitude. It was his way of giving back to a health service he trusted, and of supporting people he would never meet but deeply understood.
That gift is now becoming part of the McKellar Centre’s continuing story.
In the coming weeks, patients, families and staff will be welcomed into the newly completed McKellar Centre Rehabilitation Garden. Made possible through Les’s bequest, the garden has been thoughtfully designed to support healing, rehabilitation, reflection and connection. It will feature shaded seating beneath a pergola, a central tree surrounded by circular seating, areas for therapeutic gardening activities, and practical elements to support patient recovery.
Healing gardens offer more than beauty. They support recovery and create moments of calm and purpose within a clinical environment. Through this garden, Les’s legacy will continue - offering comfort to patients on their rehabilitation journey and a restorative space for the staff who care for them.
Legacy is often thought of as something intangible. But at the McKellar Centre, it can be seen and felt - in the land that was gifted all those years ago, in the buildings that have grown over time, and now, in a garden that will flourish for generations to come.
If asked what the most special part of the garden is, I would say it is the bench seat - quietly positioned, proudly bearing the name of a selfless man. A place to sit, to pause, and to reflect. Much like the legacy Les has left behind.
Thank you, Les.
