How the Order of St John has silently given back to the Darling Downs community

For more than four decades an unassuming group of stalwarts have kept a watchful eye over the less fortunate. Find out how the Order of St John helped shape the Toowoomba community.

Former Hope Horizons general manager Jo Capp, Prior Sue Fox and past Prior Dr. Jeff Prebble at the Living Well with Hope dinner in July, 2024. Photo: Matt Ryan Photography

For more than four decades a quiet, unassuming group of stalwarts have kept a watchful eye over the less fortunate in Toowoomba.

Through in-kind donations and sponsorships from local businesses, the Order of St John Knights Hospitaller’s Darling Downs priory has supported not-for-profit’s since 1977.

Most recently, the Order of St John raised more than $200,000 to build an art and music therapy space at Hope Horizons’ Jenny Black Cancer Wellness Centre.

Former Hope Horizons general manager Jo Capp, Prior Sue Fox and past Prior Dr. Jeff Prebble at the Living Well with Hope dinner in July, 2024. Photo: Matt Ryan Photography

Member of the Order Perry Dayas said their mission is to provide assistance to the second accord.

The ancient Christian Order established in Jerusalem more than 900 years ago remains dedicated to its purpose of providing service to humanity.

Mr Dayas said while the Order is based on Christian beliefs they’re non-denominational.

“We’re certainly not a cult, it’s a small group of people who believe in helping others,” he said.

Mr Dayas said the Toowoomba community’s support at the recent Hope Horizons fundraiser in July left them speechless.

PG Agrifood director Peter Brodie generously sponsored the Order of St John's Living Well with Hope fundraising dinner in July, 2024. Photo: Matt Ryan Photography

“We have the most generous people in Toowoomba who just give so much and (the community’s generosity) would be unique to the rest of the world,” he said.

“It was a successful outcome and not bad for an organisation not a lot of people know about.”

Former Hope Horizons general manager Jo Capp said she was first approached by the Order of St John in October 2023 to discuss fundraising options.

Hope Horizons officially opened the Ellie Project Children's Playground and Art and Music Therapy space to the community on December 7. Photo: Hope Horizons/Facebook

“Our vision is to diminish the impact of cancer and through art and music therapy, cancer patients can express themselves with no need for talent,” she said.

“The primary goal is to relax the cancer patient and help them be happy. And in turn this reduces stress.

“By building a space to do just this was a goal of the Hope Horizons management committee and one the Order of St John wanted to help to facilitate.

“We had an old storage shed on site so we set about reimagining this shed into a terrific space to do just this.”

Ms Capp said she was thrilled to have such a terrific outcome with the Order’s generosity.

“Their commitment to raising the funds needed and exceeding theirs and our expectations was terrific. They raised $233,000 for the betterment of this old storage shed,” she said.

Mr Dayas estimates the Order raised more than a million dollars just across fundraisers held throughout the past few years.

The Order hosts a fundraiser for a specific charity at least once a year, having previously supported the Toowoomba Hospital Foundation, Toowoomba Hospice and Lifeline Darling Downs.

Originally published as How the Order of St John has silently given back to the Darling Downs community