A passion founded on experience

OFTEN those who have experienced tragedy first hand are the most passionate and dedicated when it comes to committing their time, energy and money to charitable causes.

Co-founder of the Great Southern Timber Company in the mid 1990s, Helen Sewell, who sold much of her share in the business in 2001, is a case in point.

Ms Sewell, whose daughter died of cancer 15 years ago, has become increasingly focused on charity work, principally through her involvement with the Malcolm Sargent Cancer Fund for Children.

This year she donated $3 million of her own money to fund the construction of an adolescent cancer ward, the Johanna Sewell Adolescent Oncology Unit, the only ward of its type in the world outside of the UK.

Ms Sewell said that when her (then) 17-year old daughter was ill with cancer she had been admitted to Sir Charles Gardner Hospital, because she was considered too old to be treated at Princess Margaret Hospital for Children.

“Johanna was a teenager in an adult hospital and there was nowhere that really catered for her needs and the family’s needs – it was very difficult,” Ms Sewell told WA Business News.

Ms Sewell’s donation is fully funding the construction of a facility she said was lacking when her family needed it.

“All the other States in Australia will see the treatment ward at PMH and hopefully they will do the same thing,” she said. “The reason a lot of people don’t do things is that they don’t understand the need.

“It is unfortunate that you have to go through it first, but it is extremely satisfying to know you will make others’ lives better.”