The South East Region would like to acknowledge Confrere Stuart Rowland KMG who recently retired from Eastern Palliative Care (EPC), having completed fifteen years as one of the South East Region (SER)’s members of the EPC Association and as member of EPC’s Committee of Management.

Stuart provided invaluable service to EPC in a number of vital governance capacities over the years. He faithfully served as Chair of its Ethics Committee, judiciously steering EPC’s ethical discernment and decision-making. The Voluntary Assisted Dying (VAD) legislation in Victoria was a particularly demanding challenge, to which Stuart gave very generously of his time and expertise. Both the EPC Ethics Committee and the Clinical Governance Committee (chaired by Confrere David Kissane AC KMG(Ob)) gave very careful consideration to the full range of issues involved with VAD. Consequently, EPC confidently articulated a position of not being involved in the processes of VAD, but of not abandoning our clients and continuing to provide specialist community palliative care to them. The VAD legislation prompted an updating of EPC’s Code of Ethics to which Stuart also contributed significantly.

In addition, Stuart served on EPC’s Building Committee, providing helpful advice on matters pertaining to property leases and, most recently, EPC’s involvement in the major redevelopment of Caritas Christi Hospice, Kew. The redevelopment is currently nearing completion and both EPC and SER will soon be moving into their new premises there.

EPC continues to grow and to thrive. It now provides care to 500 – 550 clients at any time in its community-based palliative care program. Stuart has played a most valuable role in EPC’s development and growth. Heartfelt thanks to you, Confrere Stuart.

The Order of Malta and Eastern Palliative Care (EPC):

The Order of Malta, together with St Vincent’s Hospital, is a key stakeholder in Eastern Palliative Care, an organisation providing important care to persons facing end of life. Members of the Order of Malta in Victoria Australia have been involved in home based palliative care services in Melbourne since 1992 and are currently partners in the Easter Palliative Care Association (EPC). EPC provides both terminally-ill clients and their families with medical and nursing services, psycho-social (social work, counselling, volunteers, music and massage therapy) and spiritual support.