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Remembering our Life Governors
March 7, 2025
In Very Special Kids’ formative years, we were fortunate to have many supporters championing our cause. Sadly, two of these advocates, who went on to become Very Special Kids Life Governors, have died in recent weeks.
David Jones AO OBE KStJ died on Monday 24 February, aged 88 years old.
David was an instrumental partner with Sister Margaret in Very Special Kids’ early days, in building the case to get permission to build the first hospice.
David led Tattersalls for many years and facilitated a significant donation from Tattersalls for $5m over 5 years to help establish Very Special Kids. He then commissioned Rod Bennett from Badjar Consulting to develop a fundraising campaign that would ensure financial sustainability beyond the Tattersalls commitment. This campaign became the iconic Piggy Bank Appeal which still exists to this day.
David also was Chair of the Melbourne Cricket Club Board and a long-term member and president of the Rotary Club of Melbourne, an affiliation that lead to an influential Rotarian sitting on Very Special Kids’ Foundation Committee ever since.
David’s death follows soon after that of Professor Glenn Bowes AO on Thursday 16 January.
Glenn was a well-respected professor of paediatrics and worked alongside Sister Margaret to combat resistance in the medical community and forge the pathway to acknowledge the need for the first children’s hospice in Australia.
Both David Jones and Professor Glenn Bowes, along with the other Life Governors, resonated with Sister Margaret’s vision for the first children’s hospice in Australia, and the need for better support for families caring for a child with a life-limiting condition.
We are indebted to their resourcefulness enabling the realisation of Sister Margaret’s dream, a legacy we are proud to continue.
Our thoughts are with David and Glenn’s family and friends.
