General News
26 November, 2025
Not-for-profit keeps giving
MORE than $3.2 million has been raised to improve health care, advance medical research and education and upgrade hospital facilities across the region – thanks to the efforts of the Far North Queensland Hospital Foundation.
The foundation’s annual report 2024-2025 also reveals that the foundation spent $1.5m on health care this year, including $1.19m for equipment and $319,775 for research and education.
Since its inception in 1997, the foundation has contributed more than $29m to strengthen local health care services.
This year’s projects included vital medical equipment upgrades in hospitals from Cairns to the Cape, including new ultrasound systems, patient monitors, chemotherapy chairs and cardiac outreach tools.
A fully-equipped cardiac outreach vehicle and portable diagnostic equipment now service the Far North, ensuring remote communities receive world-class care closer to home.
Foundation chief executive officer Gina Hogan said thanks to the success of their social enterprises, including the Cairns Hospital car park, Sea Breeze Café, dCafé and vending, the foundation once again covered all operating costs, ensuring every dollar donated went directly toward improving health across the region.
“Our vision has always been simple – to make sure every Far North Queenslander has access to the best possible health care without having to leave the region,” foundation chairman Dr Ken Chapman.
“This year, we’ve taken another big step toward achieving that,” he said.
Nearly 1000 volunteers, affectionately known as the ‘Purple Angels’, dedicated more than 26,000 hours of service this year, powering patient support programs, fundraising events and local initiatives.
The foundation’s 11 Friends of the Foundation groups raised $584,045, helping fund
$454,000 in hospital equipment for regional communities.
The Donate for DaNi campaign surged ahead during the financial year, reaching $3.53m of the $4.3m target to fund a cutting-edge surgical robot for Cairns Hospital.
Major fundraising highlights included the annual dinner ($839,000), Trinity Advisory Christmas lunch ($411,000), QSuper Cardiac Challenge ($327,000) and NuNu Restaurant Melbourne Cup ($120,000)
The Foundation’s Containers for Change initiative also doubled its environmental impact.
