North QLD philanthropists John and Vicki Williams donate $2 million to Brighter Lives
The prominent philanthropist has gifted $2m to a shocked NQ health service in honour of his late wife. Find out where the money is going.
Townsville
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A prominent North Queensland philanthropist has given $2 million to charity in honour of his late wife.
John Williams said he and his late wife, Vicki, wanted to donate the millions to help their community directly.
“While this is something we decided together it is also very much in her honour,” Mr Williams said.
“By funding medical equipment we know this gift will help people when they need it the most.”
The donation is the largest single contribution received by the Townsville Hospital and Health Service (THHS) charity, Brighter Lives, in its 34-year history.
Per the couple’s instructions, the money will be placed in a special fund and used to purchase medical equipment.
Brighter Lives CEO Tanya Busoli said she understood the Williams made the decision to donate the money “years ago” when Vicki was in palliative care.
Vicki Williams died in 2021.
“Hospital staff will let Brighter Lives know what equipment they want and we’ll review their applications to see how we spend the money,” Ms Busoli said.
“This donation enables us to do things we can’t at the moment.”
The money is available across all THHS locations.
THHS CEO Kieran Keyes said his staff are looking forward to applying for new equipment.
“Whether your working in Cardwell, Home Hill, Palm Island or Richmond, our staff can apply to use this money,” Mr Keyes said.
“We know it’s been tough times right across the country... this is a game changing amount of money.”
THHS director of medical services (rural and indigenous) Matt Bryant said the donation is “incredible”.
“It’s been quite a difficult time for organisations that rely on donations, the economy has been tough and it’s incredible to receive such a large single-sum donation,” Mr Bryant said.
“Thankyou so much to John Williams and his late wife Vicki.”
The Williams have a history of supporting their local health service, including contributing $165,000 in 2019 to help fund a virtual reality simulator to train the next generation of surgeons in keyhole abdominal surgery.
Hailing from Yungaburra on the Atherton Tableland, Mr Williams met his future wife at the Mt Garnett races and wooed the Sydneysider to settle in the north.
They moved to Townsville in the 1980s and made significant lifelong contributions to local industry and tourism.
THHS staff can now apply to the John and Vicki Williams Special Funding Round for medical equipment.
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Originally published as North QLD philanthropists John and Vicki Williams donate $2 million to Brighter Lives
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