Continuing a story that began in 1849
By Zoe Waters, Executive Director Barwon Health Foundation
Last week, over tea and conversation, we spoke about something that began more than 170 years ago.
A small group gathered at the Hughie Hughes Community Hub, the home of the Barwon Health Foundation, for a Malloy Society High Tea.
The afternoon brought together a group of people who share a quiet, enduring commitment to this region, people who understand that the future of healthcare is shaped steadily over time, often through acts that ask for little recognition.
The Malloy Society exists because of a story that began in 1849, when a local man, Tim Malloy, made a decision in his final hours that would outlive him in ways he could never have imagined. His bequest, modest in size, extraordinary in intent - helped lay the foundations for what would become a hospital that we now know as University hospital Geelong. It is a story we return to often.
Legacy is not really about the past. It is about a line of sight into the future.
Every person in that room last week is, in their own way, are part of that same line. Some have already made the decision to leave a gift. Others are still considering what their legacy might look like.
There was, of course, also conversation about the future. The vision for Barwon Women’s and Children’s, a Victorian Government funded project that will support care for women and families across our region, sparked thoughtful discussion. Barwon Health’s Associate Professor David Fuller, Clinical Director the Women Children and Families Directorate, spoke about what this project will mean for our region, and its impact on the care available for generations to come.
But what stayed with me most was not a single presentation or statistic. It was the sense of continuity in the room.
In the willingness to listen, to learn, and to engage deeply with the possibilities ahead.
As a Foundation, we often speak about impact in terms of projects, milestones and outcomes. These are, of course, important. But moments like this remind us that impact also lives in relationships, in conversations over tea and delicious sandwiches and in stories passed between generations.
Tim Malloy could not have known the full impact of his gift.
But sitting in that room last week, it felt very clear that the legacy he began remains in thoughtful, steady hands.
It is a genuine privilege for the Barwon Health Foundation to continue to celebrate and honour the legacy of local pioneers, even 170 years after their gift was made.
We warmly welcome members of our community who are considering a gift to Barwon Health to join the Barwon Health Foundation’s Malloy Society - and to see your legacy in action.
