Speeches
Friday, 15 July 2022
Reception to acknowledge the word of the Order of St John of Jerusalem and Mary Potter Foundation
Rod and I are honoured to welcome you all to Government House to thank the Order of St John SA Priory for its unwavering 30-years to the day support of the Mary Potter Foundation.
Undoubtedly, a community’s strength relies on the compassion and, perhaps more importantly, the actions of its citizens - those who make a personal commitment to help develop a caring and just society.
That goal is clearly at the heart of the relationship between the Order of St John SA Priory and the Mary Potter Foundation and their mission, where people of faith in one generation have been strongly supporting people of faith in another, particularly to help those who need it.
Support totalling more than $510,000 for the work of the Mary Potter Hospice has provided much compassionate care for those facing one of the most challenging of life’s journeys; that of end-of-life.
The generous support has contributed to:
- Hospice facilities
- Equipment
- Nursing and ancillary staff
- Bereavement care
- The family kitchen, and
- Refurbishment upgrades
But importantly many families have been left deeply grateful for the respectful and compassionate care that their loved one has received whilst in the Mary Potter Hospice.
It is important that the stories of the care, love and the generosity of the human spirit given at what is often a time of great emotional turmoil are shared.
To that end, I am pleased that a picture book of stories reflecting 30 years of care for patients at Mary Potter Hospice has been painstakingly compiled and will later be presented to Professor Tony Woods.
We need look no further than the words of the late Dame Cecily Saunders, the British nurse who helped found the world-wide hospice movement, to understand what is at the heart of the mission of Mary Potter:
You matter because you are you, and you matter to the end of your life. We will do all we can, not only to help you die peacefully but also to live until you die.
It is heartening to know that every year more than 300 men and women receive such care from the staff and volunteers at Mary Potter Hospice, in no small part because of the support of the Order of St John SA Priory.
Just as the Chevaliers in the 11th Century at the time of the Crusades tended to and provided charitable care to Holy Land pilgrims who became ill, the Order of St John of Jerusalem, Knights Hospitaller ever since have maintained a commitment to caring for the sick.
Rod and I thank you all for continuing to uphold the vision of your founders who believed that providing such care is at the core of human kindness.
Thank you all for applying your faith to serve humanity.