Shirl's Place a sanctuary from breast cancer

Kay Taaffe on the verandah of Shirl's Place at Rosevale

BREAST cancer patients from around Australia have been finding sanctuary at a tranquil Rosevale property, thanks to the incredible generosity and dedication of two local women.

But the dream of Madeleine Luck-Grillon and Kay Taaffe to set up a place where cancer patients could `recharge and regenerate’ was nearly killed in its infancy when they suffered a terrible accident just two months after their retreat’s official opening in 2003.

The women narrowly escaped death when a tree collapsed on their car while they were driving on the Sunshine Coast.

Each sustained serious injuries. Madeleine was bedridden for three months with a crushed leg, both her hands were broken and she suffered horrendous cuts.

Kay had head injuries – the second time the former nurse had sustained such a catastrophic blow – and the pair had to rely on friends for their day to day needs as they embarked on a long road to recovery.

Their dream of offering breast cancer patients a free country break at `Shirl’s Place’, a purposebuilt cottage on their 200-acre property, had to be held in abeyance for 18 months.

“There were times as we recovered when we wondered if we should just sell up, but we knew there was a need for a place in the country where women with breast cancer could come to restore and rejuvenate, and we held onto our dream,” says Kay.

The dream began when the women were living in Darwin and a Canberra friend, Ruth Ederle- Munger, affectionately known as `Shirl’, told them of the `wonderful’ property at Rosevale owned by some Swiss-born friends.

“She told us about the lovely stone house and that it was for sale,” says Madeleine. She said we should buy it, and a phone call later we had,” says Kay.

She began supporting breast cancer for a few years - through organisations such as the Breast Cancer Network and, later, Dragons Abreast – when Madeleine lost her mother, sister, partner and her partner’s mother to cancer in one short period.

“She wanted to turn the sad memories into something positive that could make a difference,” says Kay.

Shirl had been locked in her own long battle with breast cancer and her two friends thought it would be lovely to build a cottage far enough away from their own house for privacy, but close enough should their guest need help.

While it was initially built for Shirl, they could see it could also become a sanctuary for other breast cancer patients.

They contracted Boonah’s Abbotsfield Country Cottages to build Shirl’s Place, but sadly the woman who inspired it died before it was completed.

But many other women have since benefited from the incredible generosity of Kay and Madeleine who offer accommodation at Shirl’s Place free of charge.

“Primarily we offer it to women who otherwise could not afford a holiday, who need time on their own while they are having treatment like chemotherapy, after treatment or when they are in remission, to rest, regroup and revitalise,” says Kay.

She says recent renovations have added two more bedrooms to the cottage so women who are sick can bring a carer or support person.

“We don’t see it as a place for family holidays because if the kids are there then mum won’t rest and have time for herself.”

The women say they do what they do because they can and because they want to share their beautiful property with people who can benefit from its special ambience.

“It is natural bush, fenced so cattle do not destroy it. It is dedicated as Land For Wildlife and there are beautiful steep hills and rugged gullies.”

The women grow a lot of their own food, keep eight `retired’ cattle and two pensioned-off horses and say their special guests always leave feeling better.

“So many women carry on working as they fight breast cancer, usually because they have no choice, while others still have to care for their children,” says Kay.

“After a break at Shirl’s Place we see them glowing and looking more confident they can face the future.”

Most guests find out about Shirl’s Place and the wonderful hospitality on offer through breast cancer support groups and organisations such as Dragons Abreast and the Kim Walters Foundation.

Contact Kay and Madeleine on 07 5464 9155.

[Article Page 10 - Heartbeat, May 2007 - www.boonah.qld.gov.au ]