Celebrating 40 years of crucial support in Geelong

HOPE Bereavement Care will mark 40 years of supporting people through grief with a fundraising breakfast at Truffleduck on July 29.

Geelong Cats premiership player Jeremy Cameron will be the guest speaker, with Roxie Bennett to MC the event. Cameron will speak about his AFL career and life beyond football.

Corrina Eccles and Janina Lear will also share their lived experiences of loss, helping to highlight the importance of HOPE’s work in the Geelong community.

HOPE Bereavement executive officer Jacinta Bourke said she hoped attendees left the event with a deeper understanding of the organisation’s impact.

“It’s also a chance to network with others who support HOPE and know they’re part of a really big, inclusive family that wraps around what we do,” she said.

Ms Bourke said reaching the 40-year milestone as an unfunded not-for-profit was an extraordinary achievement.

“It’s been unfunded for 40 years. The board and our amazing supporters, including the Gatgens Golf Day, have kept this service going in the community,” she said.

“It gets harder every year – costs are rising, there are changes in policy and regulation, and there’s more demand than ever for grief support.”

All funds raised from the breakfast will support HOPE’s work in helping people impacted by grief in Geelong. Truffleduck has donated the venue, allowing all proceeds to go directly to the organisation.

Ms Bourke thanked the community for their long-standing support.

“We are so grateful for the generosity of the people of Geelong and beyond who’ve supported HOPE over the past 40 years,” she said.

“I don’t think the anniversary should pass without acknowledging the incredible commitment of our chair Bernie Jenner, who founded the organisation in 1985. He started it – and he’s still here.”

She also thanked Pam Virgona, who launched the original sports breakfast 20 years ago to help keep HOPE’s doors open.

Tickets to the fundraising breakfast are available via Eventbrite.