All ESA members have a strong bond to each other due to their compassionate nature and desire to help their neighbours. In doing this, they have succeeded with many state-wide fund raising projects. You will find that all the members have quite different strengths and when they are joined together, they become a national contributor of good deeds.
Follow the links below to discover ESA Australia’s role in assisting these organisations.
Branch Contributions
Every branch is located in very diverse areas from one another. ESA members have the liberty to use their gifts in the manner that pertains to their community’s wants and needs. Therefore; each branch has the freedom to use their own originality and interests to assist local level charities.
A sample of local community organisations that ESA Australia supports.
Deception Bay Neighbourhood Centre
Driver Reviver
Francis of Assisi Nursing Home
Gin Gin Girl Guides
Gin Gin High School Bursary
Gin Gin High School Driver Ed Program
Gin Gin Junior Football
Gin Gin Kindergarten
Gin Gin Little Athletics
Gin Gin Pony Club
Gin Gin Schools Chaplaincy
Gin Gin Scouts
Kolan Swimming Club
Mackay Base Hospital Oncology Unit
Mackay State Emergency Service
Mater Hospital Palliative Care Unit
Red Cross
Redcliffe Hospital
Redcliffe Lions Club
Redcliffe RSL
Salvation Army
Sarina and Mackay Meals on Wheels
St. Vincent’s De Paul
At the 1974 Annual Convention, it was decided to adopt Cancer Research and other cancer related projects as ESA Australia’s State Philanthropic project. This decision lead to the development of their relationship with the Cancer Council of Queensland (then known as the Queensland Cancer Fund) and it still continues today.
As the first major fund-raising event, they conducted the Ride For Life bike ride, in 1975, which covered a distance of 1200 miles from Cairns to Brisbane. This bike ride was so successful that it was held annually until 1984. In 1985, the annual Art Union was established which has been held every year since.
From the proceeds of the Bike Ride, $10,000 was established for the Cancer Research Travel Scholarship to be awarded annually for a suitable and qualified person. The scholarship’s purpose is to further their studies abroad in the prevention, detection, treatment, and care of Queensland cancer Patients. The recipients were chosen by the Queensland Cancer Fund’s Medical Advisory Team. The first scholarship was awarded in 1978 to Hilliary Heindorf who furthered her studies in Canada and England. The scholarship has run its course and is no longer offered.
Apart from the research scholarship, Cancer Council has supported other cancer related projects in various ventures which include:
Supporting accommodation and cancer patient services at:
ESA Village accommodation for the Leukaemia Foundation – Dutton Park
Sunland Clem Jones Leukaemia Foundation Units – Nathan
Gluyas Rotary Lodge and Freemasons Leukaemia Village – Townsville
Oncology Enrolled Nurse’s Bursaries
Establishment of Queensland’s first Bone Marrow Transplant Unit
Mater Hospital Baby Cord Blood Bank and Research Centre
Promoting Daffodil Day by selling Cancer Council daffodil merchandise
Many other local charities throughout Queensland
The most recent venture is the sponsoring of the ESA Wig and Turban Service. To date, more than $650,000 has been raised for Cancer Council Queensland.
In 1983, the Redcliffe Branch established a Princess Quest with proceeds to be donated to the Leukaemia Foundation of Queensland.
Over the next 10 years, many of the ESA Australia branches joined Redcliffe to successfully and tirelessly assist with fundraising. The aim of the Quest was to raise funds and assist the Leukaemia Foundation of Queensland while establishing Queensland’s first Bone Marrow Transplant Unit at Royal Brisbane Hospital.
Due to the extreme success and growth of the campaign, by 1993, the ESA Quest was handed over, in its entirety, to the Leukaemia Foundation.
The strength and dedication, starting from ESA Australia’s Redcliffe Branch and eventually growing state wide, proudly resulted in raising over $27,000,000.00.
In recognition of ESA’s dedication to the Foundation, the accommodation centre at South Brisbane was opened and named ESA Village. In 2012, ESA Village was relocated and rebuilt in Dutton Park.
LEUKAEMIA FOUNDATION – ESA VILLAGE
ESA Village at Dutton Park, Brisbane
Facilities
ESA Village includes 30 two and three bedroom fully furnished units within a multi-storey complex located in the new Boggo Road Urban Village, Dutton Park. The centre is built around a large grassed courtyard and is set among landscaped gardens. Covered walkways provide wheelchair access and link the comfortable, spacious and air-conditioned units.
ESA Village has a shaded children’s playground, a gym and spa, barbecue facilities, auditorium and undercover security parking for residents. The family/games room is an ideal informal meeting place and has a television, books, magazines, board games and children’s toys.
Staff
ESA Village is staffed by highly trained professionals who are available to assist you and your family with any concerns you may have regarding your diagnosis, treatment, and any other issues which you may be feeling anxious about. Caring support staff is on hand and always willing to provide assistance.
History
ESA Village was opened in 1994 at the Raymond Terrace site in South Brisbane. This $4 million 21 unit complex was built 100 metres from the Mater Hospital Campus. Due to the development of the Queensland Children’s Hospital, ESA village was relocated and rebuilt, with the assistance of Queensland Health, in Dutton Park in 2012.
ESA village is named in honour of the tireless fundraising efforts and enduring dedication to the care of patients and their families by the ESA International members particularly through their involvement with the Princess Quest, later known as the Leukaemia Foundation Quest.
Patient and Family Accommodation
ESA Village is just 300 metres from the PA Hospital in Brisbane.
Brisbane and Townsville are Queensland’s only two cities where medical treatment for blood cancers is provided.
ESA Wig and Turban Service
Since 2013, ESA International Queensland has proudly sponsored the free ESA Wig and Turban Service which enables Queenslanders affected by cancer to borrow a wig or turban, free of charge, for the duration of their cancer treatment.
Each of the Cancer Council of Queensland’s offices and accommodation lodges across the state, including Brisbane, Mackay, Townsville, Cairns, Toowoomba, Rockhampton, Gold Coast, Bundaberg, and the Sunshine Coast are equipped with a Wig Loan Library comprising of a selection of wigs and turbans.
The service is made up of a passionate community of volunteers and donors who dedicate their time, energy and goodwill to help those in need, ranging from people who sew turbans to those who share a wig they no longer need.
The wig Loan Libraries are warm and friendly environments where individuals come for an appointment with a fully trained volunteer, enjoy a coffee and chat then walk away having had an enjoyable experience with a wig or turban that is perfect for them.
For more information (on borrowing wigs and turbans) or to support the ESA Wig and Turban service please call Cancer Council Queensland 131120
or visit
Online ESA Wig and Turban Service
Email: WATS@cancerqld.org.au
ESA is proud to support Hummingbird House. It is Queensland’s only children’s hospice and one of only three children’s hospices in Australia. They provide short break stays, family support services, creative therapies, and care at the end of life and after death, for children with life-limiting conditions and their families. Hummingbird House is a special place where kids can be kids, families can reconnect and precious memories can be created. Hummingbird House is a joint initiative of the Hummingbird house Foundation and Wesley Mission Queensland.