Inspirational Stories

A Tribute to Elsie Tillett

“Through your compassion and selflessness, battling for social justice, you have shown us the courage of your convictions and the ability to translate them into actions. In this you have given new depth to the term ‘Volunteer’”

North Shore Hospice has lost one of its long serving Trustees, and a most treasured supporter. Elsie Tillett has died in the Hospice that she helped establish.

From the first public meeting of the ‘North Shore Hospice at Home’ in 1983, Elsie offered to train as a volunteer. She joined a Hospice Foundation Committee and worked towards establishing the North Shore Hospice Trust. She was on the Fundraising Committee and the Patient Care Committee, and eventually became a member of the Trust Board.

Elsie’s role on the Trust had been to speak for the community and for all the people involved. She was a constant advocate and support for all the Hospice volunteers. The Trustees recognised Elsie’s value and she was elected Deputy Chair for a number of years before she had to withdraw from those demands.

Elsie regularly called into the Hospice to see how things were. This regular contact gave Elsie a knowledge of what Hospice actually did and who did it which was invaluable in representing Hospice at every level, from orientating Trustees, to Local and Central Government.

As one Trustee said, “Hospices throughout NZ have needed some inspired and energetic individuals to bring them into existence. Someone with vision, the charisma to bring others on board and the nouse to get funding from the Community and the Government - for the North Shore Hospice, Elsie Tillett was such a person”.

Elsie was thinking about Hospice to the end and asked for donations to go to Hospice in lieu of flowers.

Elsie’s funeral was held at St. Peter’s Anglican Church Takapuna, on Tuesday 13th January.