In 1989 a public meeting was held to assist  in palliative care for community nurse, Francis Green, as it was felt there was a gap that needed  filling.

The meeting was well attended and after some discussion there was strong support for the idea of a  local hospice.

A committee was formed with Rob Fisher elected president, Margaret Hindmarsh, treasurer and Elizabeth Fisher, secretary.

Then the daunting task of fundraising began.

Over the years events such as Trash and Treasure mornings, pie drives, Ccassical music concert,  Bull'n Bush sing-a-long concert, fashion  parades, Jazz by the Lake, garage  sales and a collectors’ fair were all  part of the fundraising.

In 1993 Rob and Elizabeth visited State Parliament to meet then NSW Health Minister, Dr Andrew Refshauge.

He was sympathetic to the  idea of a local hospice and made vague promises of support.

However, confusion as to whether it was a State or Commonwealth responsibility rather clouded the issue.

In 1994 Rob and Elizabeth were invited to visit Calvary Hospital and Hospice in Sydney.

Both were envious when they saw these facilities.

They met the chief  fundraiser who had many large organisations to call on for financial help.

Calvary Hospital, Kogarah head nurse, Sr Christina, Mater Hospital, Newcastle volonteer co-ordinator, Sr Kate Monro and Baptist Care Kularoo Gardens, Forster manager, Wal Rose were  guest  speakers at another public  meeting in 1995.

The  appointment of a  community palliative care nurse that  year was an important  step  forward as she  saw the need for a hospice because of the area’s aging population, many of whom had no  family living  nearby to  provide  support.

Presbyterian Church Pastor Lance Jackson took on the role of president in 1995.

Later that  year Laurel Cottage was  purchased in Short Street, Forster close to the local hospital .

This was an exciting time  –  last Rob felt  he was  getting  somewhere.

Management  and  auxiliary meetings  could be  now  held at the  cottage.

Open days were  planned so the public could visit.

The local Lions Club gave many hours of  labour in and  around the  building.

The following year Rob and Elizabeth again  met with  the Baptist Church hierarchy in Ryde, but some months later disappointed to learn they could not see a way of  including Great lakes Cottage Hospice (which was the original name  used) in their development at Kularoo Gardens.

The reason behind this was that an application for a Commonwealth Palliative grant was not  successful.

The cottage in Short Street became the focus.

It was  furnished thanks to many generous donations from individuals and community organisations and opened with nurse Marlene Kernick as sister-in-charge of the cottage.

The first patients were  admitted under Marlene's care, but there was always the nagging question:  ‘how to obtain  the on-going  finance to enable the  cottage to meet the needs of the  community’?

Many letters were written to the NSW Department of Health and the Federal Minister.

The  problem was  that  the cottage only had three beds, and after a visit from an official from the Department of Hospital Licensing the  minimum accepted size for a hospice was nine beds or  more .

Laurel Cottage closed its doors in July 2000.

One door closed and another opened,as an offer was made  by chairman George Perkins and  Cape Hawke Community Private Hospital committee to make three palliative care beds and a  quiet room available at the  hospital.

The Laurel Wing opened in 2001.

Unfortunately changes to hospital ownership over the years it is no longer there.

Rob said the Matt Nixon Memorial Golf Day, held at Forster Golf  Club every year since 2002 and organised by the Nixon family and the late Matt's friends has donated more than $160,000 to  Great Lakes Hospice.

The hospice has been able to continue many of their  services using the money from this  generous donation  alone.

The former Great Lakes Council in  2008 made a donation and the auxiliary continue to organise events during the year to continue funding  services. 

These include extra nursing and domiciliary care,  financial assistance for medications, respite  care, the loan of specialised equipment to enable patients to remain in their own home  for as long as possible and oncology services.

Rob was awarded a Centennial Medal for his volunteer work in the Great Lakes  in 2003.

Through the many changes that have occurred over the years, Great lakes Hospice Management committee president, Deidre Stokes said: “Rob has been  steadfast in his determination to provide palliative care support for the people of the Great Lakes.”

 He held the position of membership secretary on the management committee prior to his  retirement.