Palliative care in New Zealand originated from within local communities, supported by local funding and run by volunteers. Their goal was to provide holistic care for those approaching end of life.
In 1985 the beginnings of Hospice West Auckland were established by the eight founding trustees: Maureen Brooker, Sir Tom Clark, Dr Ritchie Gilmour, Lois Holmes, Dianne Paton, Peter Sinclair, Victor Sunde and Philip Revell.
Beverly Revell was appointed Nurse Coordinator on a part time, voluntary basis and initially operated the West Auckland Hospice HomeCare service (as it was first branded) from her own home. Her dedicated service to Hospice continued until 2001, and she was deservedly awarded the Queen’s Service Medal for Services to the Community.
In 1988 the Henderson Borough Council donated a house in Woodford Avenue to Hospice, which remained their base for the next 17 years.
With support from the Portage and Waitakere Licensing Trusts and the West Auckland community, a purpose-built facility ‘Hospice House’ in Te Atatū was officially opened in September 2005.
