Cairns woman Joyce Swinton, 92, donates $250k to FNQ Hospital Foundation

A 92-year-old Cairns woman who lives a “simple” life has made a $250k contribution to the FNQ Hospital Foundation, bringing her total donations over the past six years to a million dollars.

A 92-year-old Cairns woman has donated $250,000 to the Far North Queensland Hospital Foundation, and has given away $1m in six years.

Joyce Swinton walked into the office in 2017 “out of the blue” with a front page newspaper ad of the cardiologist and a cheque for $300,000 towards cardiology and cancer.

Since then Ms Swinton has donated $1.2m dollars towards the FNQ Hospital Foundation.

A lifelong Cairns resident who lost her husband, daughter and son-in-law to cancer, Ms Swinton said donating to the cause was something she wanted to do.

“I have money but I can’t take it all with me,” Ms Swinton said.

“My family had cancer so it (the donation) is very special. It was very important to my daughter and therefore to me, that the money she left goes towards helping local people.”

Joyce Swinton, 92, who lost her husband, daughter and son-in-law to cancer, has made her yet another contribution to the FNQ Hospital Foundation totalling her donations to $1.2m. Picture: Sandhya Ram

Far North Queensland Hospital Foundation chief executive Gina Hogan referred to Ms Swinton as an “incredibly special” woman who was a part of the foundation family.

“What makes her so special is this lady doesn’t live a very lavish life,” Ms Hogan said.

“She lives in a simple accommodation and doesn’t want to use her money to do anything extravagant for herself but would rather make a difference and leave behind a legacy for her and her daughter.”

Ms Swinton’s generous contribution will go towards the Cancer Care Hub, a $3.4m project launched on February 9 by the FNQ Hospital Foundation in conjunction with the Cairns and Hinterland Hospital and Health Service to allow more patients access to more treatments closer to home instead of having to travel south.

Joyce Swinton, 92, with FNQ Hospital Foundation CEO Gina Hogan hold a photo of the family members she lost to cancer. Picture: Sandhya Ram

The FNQ Hospital Foundation is raising $1.5m and Ms Hogan said the $250,000 from Ms Swinton was making a huge difference.

“The project is going to take cancer care to the next level in the region,” Ms Hogan said. “There will be a brand new pharmacy, we will actually be able to do chemotherapy treatment locally, and we are going to going to have a brand new board so there will be a space for the cancer and haematology patients and their families, with a really lovely outdoor area.

“It will overall be enhancing the cancer care experience for patients, their families and staff.”

Additional clinic spaces and chemotherapy chairs to see more patients were also part of the plan, Ms Hogan said.

Originally published as Cairns woman Joyce Swinton, 92, donates $250k to FNQ Hospital Foundation