The Hospice Team

Our Staff

We employ over 40 staff (which equates to 17.4 full time equivalents), in various areas of the organisation.

Our Volunteers

Volunteers are involved in all areas of Hospice and contribute to every service we provide. In addition to practical assistance in the Guest Wing, volunteers work in the office and reception areas, fundraising, kitchen, and in the maintenance of the building and grounds.

Board of Directors

The elected Directors come from a diverse range of professional and community backgrounds, and have a hands on approach to ensuring that Hospice provides a centre of excellence for terminally ill people, their families and bereaved members of the community.

Melinda Parcell
Director, Chair

A Health Care Executive, Virtual Health Transformation Specialist, with 30 years of experience in nursing and midwifery. Is passionate about healthcare and the provision of clinical services that are consumer focused. Has served on several health service and community not-for-profit Boards and committees in the local region.

Pat Evatt OAM
Director

Worked as a psychologist in the disability sector before moving into the corporate sector where she specialised in organisational psychology. Pat was Director of Livingstones Australia for over 15 years and has held numerous Board positions in a variety of organisations, including West Moreton Medicare Local and the West Moreton Hospital & Health Services Board.

Cheryl Kermond
Director

A proud lifelong resident of Ipswich, Cheryl is recently retired with 20 years’ experience in the local commercial real estate sector. A local business owner, life member and past President of the Rotary Club of Ipswich North/Ipswich, she has also served on the Board of the Ipswich Hospital Foundation and contributed to numerous community and sporting organisations.

Dr Robert Illingworth
Director

A General Practitioner working in Pain and Musculoskeletal Medicine in private practice in Brisbane and as a Senior Medical Officer at the Princess Alexandra Hospital Pain Management Clinic. Rob has been a Visiting Medical Officer for Ipswich Hospice since 2019 and continues to be involved in the Ipswich medical community.

Rosie Laidlaw
Director

With over 50 years in healthcare across two states, Rosie came to Queensland in 1995 and worked at Ipswich Hospital for 18 years in Nursing Services before moving to the Metro South team. She has a broad and diverse clinical background with specialties in cardiac, intensive care, studies in palliative care and gerontology. Rosie has travelled widely with health including being part of a World Health team researching diabetes. In the later years of her career, she introduced Advance Care Planning into the health arena in Queensland.

Pam Lane
Director

Was the District CEO of the Darling Downs West Moreton Health Service District and held senior leadership positions within the public health system for 17 years. Pam has a clinical background in Nursing and Midwifery and a commitment to the continuous improvement of the quality of health services. Has also been involved in many community activities and a Member of the Zonta Club of Ipswich since 1995.

Julie McNeill
Director

Julie has over 40 years of experience working in healthcare with a clinical background in Physiotherapy. In more recent years, Julie has worked in senior health management roles within West Moreton Health, predominantly in Ambulatory Care services and is passionate about improving patient access to quality, safe and equitable health care services. Julie has always lived in Ipswich and has been an active member of many community associations including the Ipswich Girls’ Grammar School Old Girls Association.

Gerard Pender
Director

Is a former partner in the region’s largest legal firm, Walker Pender Group, and has been actively involved in community affairs for many years, participating in numerous community organisations. He is a former Councillor with the Ipswich City Council and has been the President of the Rotary Club of Ipswich North. Gerard has held Board positions on a number of organisations. He has a passion for and strong interest in community affairs in the Ipswich region.

Paul Saba
Director / Treasurer

Retired from a career in public accounting that spanned almost 35 years. Commencing as an employee in local and Brisbane based firms before commencing as a sole practitioner in the Ipswich area and then merging his practice with RW Ramsey & Co where he became a practicing partner for approximately 17 years. Paul brings business and accounting knowledge together with an ethic of service to the community through his membership in Rotary for over 40 years.

Dr Daniel Toft
Director

Born and raised in the Ipswich region, Dan grew up on a small cattle farm in Marburg and graduated from James Cook University in Townsville. For the past 10 years he has lived and worked in many towns throughout Queensland including Townsville, Mackay, Burleigh Heads and Cairns. Now back in Ipswich, he enjoys all aspects of general practice, with particular interest in Paediatrics and Geriatrics. Dan has extensive experience managing end of life care and for the past 6 years has consulted one day per week at two local nursing homes.