Mission Statement

to be the caring home away from home for families with seriously ill children receiving treatment at the children's hospital at westmead.

purpose

To provide accommodation for families while their child undergoes hospital treatment.

Ronald McDonald House, Westmead is located in the grounds of the Children's Hospital at Westmead, in Redbank Road. It is a Registered Charity under the name of Arnold Tink House Inc (No Y2142547).

Chairman: Peter Meadows

General Manager: Adrienne Pearson

House Manager: Simone Daher

Community Liaison Officer: Margaret Emery

Ronald McDonald House, Westmead is run by a voluntary committee. The Committee comprises representatives from The Children's Hospital, at Westmead, McDonalds Australia and the community. These people make up the Board of Arnold Tink House Incorporated.

The day to day management is the responsibility of a small group of dedicated staff, helped by a large group of volunteers, who are an essential part of the House.

There are 18 rooms plus 5 units which total 78 beds.

During 2002, 17649 people were accommodated in the House.

The House opened in 1981 at Camperdown and was relocated to Westmead in 1995 when The Children's Hospital was moved to Westmead.

Here is a Profile of a family who has stayed in Ronald McDonald House, Westmead.

Rosie was 3 when she was first diagnosed with Wilm’s tumour in 1998 and since then she has returned to Ronald McDonald House Westmead with her family a staggering 38 times to date. The family live in rural New South Wales, slightly less than 200km from Sydney, but far too far to travel home each night.

Ronald McDonald House Westmead is in the gardens of the Children’s Hospital and has been designed to provide a warm and homely atmosphere. Rosie’s Mum Kerry sums it up by saying, “Ronald McDonald House is a warm, caring and supportive environment for families like us who have children suffering from a serious illness”

Doctors agree that children need to have emotional support during times of great stress so being together for a family is vitally important. “ It has been our second home, providing normality during the times we are forced to live away from home while our child undergoes this specialist treatment. It allows us to stay together and help each other through the hard times” says Kerry.

The House is a haven and a ‘home away from home’ where there are no needles, treatment or medial staff. Rosie can come back to the House after a day in hospital to play with her friends, have a home cooked meal and have a good night sleep surrounded by her parents and sister. There are lots of children facing the same challenges and difficulties that Rosie can socialise with and gain strength.

The emotional support available to Rosie’s parents comes from being in the company of other families facing the same ordeal. “The House also provides an outlet to talk, express your feelings and share your experiences with other families and this in itself is another form of healing. It helps you to come to terms with what you are facing, as you realise that there are many more children and families going through the same thing. It’s like the House is there for us and we are there for each other,” says Kerry.

David, Rosie’s Dad tries to keep working, but the strain on him is tremendous. Not only does he have to cover the cost of the family home, but he also has to try and contribute to the cost of accommodation for his family in the House. The families are asked, if they are able, to contribute a portion of the cost, but many just cannot afford to keep 2 homes running. Considering that the closest motel/hotel accommodation would set the family back approx. $130 a night it is easy to see how families can get into serious financial difficulties without the assistance of Ronald McDonald House.

Rosie was successfully treated for her original tumour, but to the shock of her family and the medical team the success of her treatment had a terrible side effect and Rosie went on to develop Leukemia. This was an absolutely huge blow to the family.  They faced an agonising ordeal having to watch Rosie’s treatment change and her battle with cancer to begin at the very start once again.

Rosie and her family remained at Ronald McDonald House Westmead from the middle of December 2000 until early March 2002 and now continue to make the trip back to the House once a month.

Ronald McDonald House Westmead certainly hasn’t taken away all the stress that comes with life threatening illness, but it is providing a supportive and caring environment, which enables families to deal as well as they can with their situation.

The final word goes to Kerry “ As you travel this emotional roller-coaster ride of childhood cancer, it is reassuring to know that Ronald McDonald House Westmead is there to help take the stress out of day-to-day requirements of living away from your family and local support groups. We could not have coped without Ronald McDonald House Westmead”

(Names have been changed)

From the General Manager's Annual Report

Period ending December 2006

Without the fantastic support we receive every day of the year from our many generous and thoughtful Corporate, community and individual donors, the "House that Love built!!" just simply could not continue to happen in the way that it does. The benefits that families receive by having the support, safety and security of the House during an incredibly difficult time of their lives are immeasurable. We are proud to have been of service to so many for another year.

Adrienne Pearson

General Manager

Tuesday 19 June 2007