1. science
2. medicine
3. medical research

a lasting
gift...
A simple and practical guide on how to make a gift in your Will
to Westmead Medical Research Foundation
“ One of the greatest contributions you
can make is to help provide answers
for future generations.”We live in extraordinary medical times…and each
and every one of the advances we take for granted
today are the direct result of medical research.
Scientists have mapped out the human genome: decoding a master
blueprint of our bodies that has untold implications for future advances
in medical care.
As a result, we are living longer and healthier lives.
Many of us are surviving what were once ‘terminal’ illnesses, or avoiding
diseases altogether thanks to the fruits of preventative medicine.
Across the globe, men, women and children are recovering from
debilitating accidents and injuries thanks to more effective diagnostic
measures in those first crucial hours post trauma.
Sight, hearing, and mobility are being restored through revolutionary
procedures.
Babies in the womb are being cured of defects through microscopic
foetal surgery that increases their chances of survival and quality of
life.
Yet there is much more to be done.
Imagine there is no cancer, diabetes,
heart disease, mental illness...
Westmead Medical Research Foundation relies on the support
and goodwill of the community to help fund medical research
and find improved methods of treatment and care for patients.
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you can change
the future
By making a bequest to Westmead Medical Research Foundation you
have the opportunity to make an enduring contribution to world
class medical research at Westmead Millennium Institute for Medical
Research, and the care of patients at Westmead Hospital. The gift will
honour you, your family, your friends, and future generations.
Your bequest may be allocated to a particular area of research (such as
cancer or heart disease), or more broadly to research generally. You may
choose to support the education and development of young medical
researchers, doctors or nurses through scholarships, or to support the
purchase of life saving devices and medical equipment.
No matter how big or small, your contribution counts and we encourage
you to take action now. Please keep us informed of your intentions so
that we can acknowledge your decision in a manner that suits you.
In 1982 after more than 40 years of service caring
for the community, Miss Betty Schofield OAM
retired as Matron of Parramatta District Hospital,
a role that she had held since 1966.
Betty knew about the importance of caring for patients and was
committed to medical research. Her beliefs were demonstrated in
a very practical way through Betty’s decision to include Westmead
Medical Research Foundation in her Will.
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our vision
Westmead Medical Research Foundation believes that everyone who
is ill deserves access to the best possible treatment and care, based on
the most recent medical research.
A gift to Westmead Medical Research Foundation in your Will is a
tangible way to ensure that everyone has access to treatment and care
and that ground breaking medical research continues.
Westmead
Millennium
Institute
for
Medical
Research
has
more than 450 highly motivated
medical researchers working to
unlock
medical
mysteries
including cancer and leukaemia,
diseases of the heart, lung,
kidney, pancreas and liver,
infection and immune diseases, neuroscience and
vision research.
The success of these researchers is being translated into new life saving
treatments right next door, benefiting current and future patients. This
bench to bedside partnership is unique to Westmead.
Westmead Hospital treats more than 1
million patients every year. Every
patient is treated as an individual and
with respect. The hospital has over 8,000
staff to provide specialist services - like
cardiothoracic
surgery,
chemotherapy,
transplants and neonatal intensive care to
people in Sydney’s West, patients from rural NSW and across Australia.
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meet
Rhonda...
A family history of cancer, including breast and lung cancer, prompted
Rhonda, from Colyton, to visit her doctor for a check-up. And just in
time! In 2010, the 57 year old was diagnosed with early stage ovarian
cancer; a deadly and aggressive cancer.
Rhonda says it is thanks to researchers at Westmead that the potentially
lethal cancer was detected in its early stages. She and her husband
Ray were able to celebrate their 40th wedding anniversary with their
children, grandchildren and friends.
““Ten years ago it wouldn’t have been possible. But
I know the Westmead researchers have been working
hard on early detection methods for ovarian cancer.””
Around 1,200 Australian women are diagnosed with ovarian cancer
each year. Each and every one of them will benefit from the work of
Westmead’s cancer researchers.
fighting
cancer
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Stuart’s
story
Greenkeeper with Blacktown Council, Stuart was diagnosed with Type
1 diabetes when he was 10 years old. By the time he was 30, the father
of three was injecting insulin several times a day.
In 2009 Stuart received a call to say a suitable range of islet (donor)
cells had been isolated and that he could undergo a pioneering Islet
Cell Transplant at Westmead Hospital.
Thanks to this breakthrough made by researchers at Westmead
Millennium Institute for Medical Research, Stuart has effectively been
cured of his diabetes through the transplant of these cells into his
pancreas.
This means his body is now able to produce its own insulin for the first
time since his childhood. Stuart’s life has changed for the better.
breakthrough
in type1
diabetes
Page | 5
babies Ellie
and Isaac
The first 48 hours of little Ellie’s life were touch and go. Born premature
at just 26 weeks and weighing only 715 grams, Ellie also had chronic
lung disease and could not breathe without a ventilator.
“Ellie kept pulling her tubes out, and the nurses would have to perform
CPR with their index fingers to get her to breathe again,” her mother
Leonie remembers. Because of the delicate condition of premature
neonates, Ellie and her twin brother, Isaac, spent the first six weeks of
their lives in intensive care for constant attention 24/7 by specialist
nurses and doctors.
More than 5,000 babies a year are born at Westmead Hospital and many
of them need specialised emergency care. The neonatal intensive care
unit at Westmead Hospital cares for more premature babies than any
other hospital in NSW.
“The nurses at Westmead are just the most amazing people. They
do so much, and they always give 120 percent support, all the way.”
baby Issac wearing
his Dad’’s
wedding ring
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your
gift
All gifts to Westmead Medical Research Foundation are received with
heartfelt thanks and are truly appreciated. There are several types of
gifts in your Will that you may like to consider:
A Residuary gift
After making provision for family and loved ones; after payment of any
outstanding debts including funeral expenses; and after naming any
specific gifts, you may choose to give a portion of or the balance of
your Estate to Westmead Medical Research Foundation. Such a gift is
commonly stated as a percentage of the residue.
A residual gift is by far the most popular choice because it allows you
to look after your family and friends, before your chosen charities in a
way that maintains relative value over time.
Specific items
Any item of value, such as property, shares, jewellery, a life insurance
policy or works of art, may be specifically named as a gift to Westmead
Medical Research Foundation in your Will.
Specific amount of money
This form of bequest allows you to
nominate a specific amount of money.
Remember that a specific sum of money
will lose its value over time because of
inflation, enhancing the need to review
the amount on a regular basis if you wish
to retain the original value of your bequest.
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Betty served on the Board of Westmead Medical Research Foundation for six
years, guiding her fellow Directors on how funds should be applied to the
benefit of patients at Westmead Hospital, continuing her passion for medical
research and care.
the Betty Schofield Society
Medical research and patient care were very close to her heart. Sadly Betty
passed away in 2000. In her Will she left a lasting bequest to Westmead
Medical Research Foundation. With the approval of her family we have
formed the Betty Schofield Society and an invitation is extended to you to
join this group of special supporters.
We sincerely thank all our supporters who leave a bequest to Westmead
Medical Research Foundation.
We know that you share our vision that everyone who is sick deserves access
to the best possible treatment and care based on the most recent medical
research.
Membership of the Betty Schofield Society is open to all people who advise
us that they have left a gift to Westmead Medical Research Foundation in
their Will. It is our way of thanking you for your decision to leave a bequest.
The late Miss Betty Schofield OAM was a remarkable and visionary woman
who was an inspiration for all who worked with her or knew her. Trained as
a nurse, Betty served the people of western Sydney for more than 40 years.
Betty was the Matron of the Parramatta District Hospital from 1966 until
her retirement in 1982. Betty was there when the Granville train disaster
happened, rallying the nursing troops in support of those that had been
injured.
Betty shared the vision of providing better health and hospital services in the
Greater West and was a great advocate for the establishment of Westmead
Hospital and improved teaching and research facilities.
Throughout her nursing career Betty cared for so many ill people who could
have been further helped, if only science and medical research had the
solutions. Betty supported medical research in her own way giving donations
whenever she could.
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Thank you for considering making
this special gift and helping us
continue to improve the health of
our community.
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Will wording
It is important that your bequest intentions are worded correctly, thus giving clear
instructions to your Executor(s) for your wishes to be carried out in a timely manner. We
strongly suggest that you have your Will prepared by a qualified solicitor experienced in
the preparation of Wills. Seeking such advice will give you peace of mind.
The following wording is offered as a guide only and we recommend that you seek
professional advice so that your wishes are expressed accurately and unambiguously.
Medical Research
“I give to Westmead Medical Research Foundation ABN 89 050 329 925
a.
b.
c.
d.
e.
The rest and residue of my estate OR
[insert percentage or proportion] of my estate OR
The sum of $_______
The whole of my estate OR
[insert description of asset (e.g. all my interest in the property known as (street address) being (title details); all my shares in (company name); all my interest in
specific artwork or jewellery)]
For the purpose of medical research (or a specific area of medical research) and I declare
that the receipt of the Executive Director or other authorised officer for the time being of
the said Foundation shall be an absolute discharge to my Executors and Trustees.”
Highest Priority Needs
“I give to Westmead Medical Research Foundation ABN 89 050 329 925
a.
b.
c.
d.
e.
For
The rest and residue of my estate OR
[insert percentage or proportion] of my estate OR
The sum of $_______
The whole of my estate OR
[insert description of asset (e.g. all my interest in the property known as (street address) being (title details); all my shares in (company name); all my interest in specific artwork or jewellery)]
a.
b.
The highest priority needs of the said Foundation OR
The purpose of [insert other purpose (e.g. the purchase of hospital equipment by the said Foundation)]
And I declare that the receipt of the Executive Director or other authorised officer for the
time being of the said Foundation shall be an absolute discharge to my Executors and
Trustees.”
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contact us
This is a simple form for you to let us know if you have decided to include
Westmead Medical Research Foundation in your Will.
As a member of the Betty Schofield Society you reflect the foresight,
generosity, and commitment of individuals that are such an integral part of
the history of the community at Westmead.
q
I confirm I have made a bequest to Westmead Medical Research Foundation in my Will and therefore become a member of the Betty Schofield Society
q
I would like to be acknowledged on the Betty Schofield Society Roll of Honour and/or Annual Report under the name of:
q
I prefer not to be acknowledged on the Betty Schofield Society Roll of Honour
q
I prefer not to be acknowledged in the Annual Report or other
publications
q
I prefer not to be invited to special events
I would like to confidentially discuss making a bequest to Westmead Medical
Research Foundation. Please contact me on:
The best/day time to call me is:
………………………………………………
Name ………………………………………
Address ……………………………………
………………………………………………
………………………………………………
Telephone number…………………………
Please return this advice to:
Westmead Medical Research Foundation
Reply Paid 74
WESTMEAD NSW 2145
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areas of support
Acute intervention medicine
Adolescent mental health
Aged care
Allergy research
Allied health
Alzheimer’s disease
Anaesthetics
Annorexia
Arrhythmia
Asthma
Attention deficit disorder
Brain injury
Brain function
Breast cancer
Cancer
Cardiac disease
Cardiac services
Cataract surgery
Chicken pox
Chronic and continuing care
Community health services
Cystic fibrosis
Cytomegalovirus
Dental research and care
Depression
Diabetes / Endocrinology
Doctors
Drug metabolism
Eating disorders
Emergency services
Encephalitis
Epidemiology
Food allergies
Gastroenteritis
Gynaecology
Haematology
Hay fever
Hearing disorders
Heart disease
Hepatitis
Herpes simplex virus
HIV
Human genetics
Immune system deficiencies
Infectious diseases and microbiology
Intensive care
Kidney cancer
Kidney disease
Leukaemia
Liver disease
Liver cancer
Lung cancer
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Macular degeneration
Maternal and foetal research
Melanoma
Meningitis
Mental health
Multiple sclerosis
Myocardial infarction
Neonatal care and research
Neurological disorders
Nuclear medicine and ultrasound
Nursing scholarships
Nutrition
Occupational therapy
Ophthalmology
Oral health
Ovarian cancer
Palliative care
Pancreatic disease
Parkinson’s disease
Pathology
Post traumatic stress disorder
Premature babies
Preventative medicine
Prostate cancer
Psychiatry
Public and community health
Radiology
Rehabilitation
Renal disease
Rheumatoid arthritis
Respiratory medicine and research
Schizophrenia
Sensory loss
Sexual health
Skin cancer
Sleep disorders
Snoring
Social workers
Speech pathology
Stroke
Surgery
Systemic lupus
Tissue banks
Transplant surgery
Urology
Vaccinations
Virology
Vision research
Women’s health
a simple
step by step guide
Step1 1
Discuss your intentions with you family and friends, and/or your Executor(s),
as appropriate.
Step 2
Discuss your intentions in absolute confidence with the Bequest Officer at
Westmead Medical Research Foundation so that we understand your wishes.
Step 3
Obtain the correct wording for your Will from Westmead Medical Research
Foundation.
Step 4
Speak to your trusted qualified solicitor and ask for help in preparing your
Will.
Step 5
Advise Westmead Medical Research Foundation of your decision and how
you would like your bequest to be acknowledged.
Step 6
Keep your Will in a safe place.
Step 7
Advise Westmead Medical Research Foundation of any changes in your
arrangements, as appropriate.
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Westmead Medical Research Foundation
believes everyone who is ill deserves access to the
best possible treatment and care.
We help make this possible by raising funds to buy state-of-the-art
medical equipment, support important new research and
improve patient services for two world class organisations:
Westmead Hospital and Westmead Millennium Institute for Medical Research.
Find information from this brochure online at
www.wmrf.org.au/donate/leave-a-bequest
ABN 89 050 329 925 CFN 16180
PO Box 74 Westmead NSW 2145
Telephone (02) 8836 4000
Toll free 1800 639 037
Facsimile (02) 9635 4466
Email [email protected]
Website www.wmrf.org.au/donate/leave-a-bequest