Mark’s Wish was to see the North Queensland Cowboys Play at their local stadium
For local rugby league fan Mark, there was only one possible wish that he could ask of Ambulance Wish Queensland; to see his beloved North Queensland Cowboys play at Queensland Country Bank Stadium one last time.
Mark has done so much for junior sports. An avid supporter of their junior league Northern Beaches Club where his son played, Mark used to run the weekly club BBQ and his wife, Tracey was the first-aid post. In a memory Mark shared with us he recalled how they used to play against Brothers, featuring a young boy by the name of Jason Taumalolo – no stranger to Cowboys fans – and even though it was always a good game, Jason’s ability was clear for all to see and more often than not the outcome “was a bit of a flogging”.
As you can tell they are crazy footy fans and support the Cowboys all the way, so today, in our new Townsville Wish Ambulance, Mark, accompanied by a specialist care team, left Townsville University Hospital Palliative Care Unit for the trip to Queensland Country Bank Stadium. Thanks to the North Queensland Cowboys, Mark and his family members were treated to watching the game in style from their own private suite. And this suite was very special, opening out onto a deck from which Mark had the perfect view and could soak up the atmosphere of a passionate Cowboys crowd. If that wasn’t enough Cowboys’ leading try-scorer in each of the previous five seasons, Kyle Feldt, and former Cowboys great and Queensland Maroon, Gavin Cooper, paid Mark a visit!
At half time Mark and his family were visited by The Hon. Yvette D’Ath MP Minister for Health and Ambulance Services, Jeff Reibel (CEO, North Queensland Toyota Cowboys) and Shyla Mills (CEO Palliative Care Queensland) as this wish showed just how a community can rally round and support the fulfilment of an Ambulance Wish.
As the game progressed and Mark cheered on his beloved Cowboys, it was clear to see that for this footy fan memories forever were created in North Queensland, for Mark, his family but also the staff and spectators of the Cowboys game. And to cap off a perfect evening for Mark, The Cowboys kept up their stellar form, running out comfortable 31-12 winners over The Dragons.
Thank you to our wonderful wish team Lauren Carr, Christie, Peter and Lauren Tenardi, for fulfilling this last wish and creating memories forever.
Thank you to Townsville University Hospital Palliative Care for partnering with us on this special occasion for today’s Wish.
Thank you to Nathan the photographer for the evening.
A special thank you to The North Queensland Cowboys, in particular, Fiona Pelling, Alana Hopkins, Caitlin Tilbee, and Benjamin Wright for making Mark’s Wish come true and for going above and beyond in supporting Ambulance Wish Queensland. From providing a box from Mark and his family to donating tickets to our volunteers and supporters, you are all legends. Go the Cowboys!
Ambulance Wish Queensland is proudly supported by Queensland Government, and we thank the staff and volunteers at both Queensland Health and Queensland Ambulance Service who help our Palliative Care Queensland team to fulfil wishes and create memories forever.
All Ambulance Wishes are FREE, however, the volume of wishes that can be fulfilled is dependent on donations, bequests, fundraising and corporate partnerships.
If you would like to donate to help our charity fulfil more last wishes and create forever memories, please make a donation to Ambulance Wish Queensland via https://www.givenow.com.au/awqtownsville
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