Grandmotherly comfort for unwell kids

Hummingbird House
Committed. Compassionate. Conscientious.

Tilly (Norma) Brasch dedicates herself to children with life-limiting illnesses and their families.

Every Tuesday for the past two years, the 77-year-old has volunteered at Hummingbird House, Queensland's only hospice for children.

Around 400 children and their families come to the house each year for short breaks, support or end-of-life care.

Tilly works hard to create a home-like environment and is often seen nursing babies, playing dress-ups and games with siblings or providing care alongside nursing staff.

Having lost her only son, Tilly has the most profound empathy for the families and is always the first to respond to a call-out for volunteer assistance.

"I do for them what I would do for my own family," she says.

"I feel the children, their parents, carers and staff are extended family to me."

Nothing is too much for Tilly, who assists at events, memorials and funerals, pitches in with foodservice and clean-up and helps with fund-raising.

"It's all a labour of love for me, whether I am trying to settle an unwell little baby, going down the slippery slide with a child on my lap or scrubbing burnt bits of a saucepan," Tilly says.

"Without Hummingbird House my life would be less."

Westfield Local Heroes are nominated and voted for by their communities, with the three top finalists per Westfield centre each awarded a $10,000 grant for their affiliated organisation. Hummingbird House will be able to support more Queensland children with life-limiting conditions.

For further information on the Westfield Local Heroes program, click here