Greg’s Wish: Toowoomba hospice patient gets backstage Red Hot Summer show

If there was any music show in town, Greg Logan would be there, and after going to Red Hot Summer for years, Greg’s family and incredible hospice staff made sure he didn’t miss out this year.

Toowoomba Hospice patient Greg Logan was given front row seats to Red Hot Summer thanks to Ambulance Wish Queensland. Picture: Bella Munro

SOLDIER ON. The words tattooed across Greg Logan’s upper arm are a reminder of the battle he’s fought to be sitting here today.

Despite a challenging four years of chemo drips and radiation, one of the many things that brings Greg joy is music.

The 57-year-old said he loves everything to do with music and according to his brother John Logan, Greg is at any and every music event in Toowoomba.

Greg has been to about 10 Red Hot Summer concerts over the years but this year the concert was just a few weeks after Greg moved into care at Toowoomba Hospice.

Bernadette Hoffman visiting her brother Greg Logan at Toowoomba Hospice. Picture: Bella Munro

Thanks to a kind staff member at Toowoomba Hospice and Ambulance Wish Queensland, they made sure Greg didn’t miss out on the concert this year.

He said the whole thing was a complete surprise.

“This ambo came and picked me up and took me for a drive,” he said.

“I was thinking what’s going on? Where are we going?”

Greg Logan was given front row seats to Red Hot Summer thanks to Ambulance Wish Queensland. Picture: Supplied

Greg was taken backstage before the concert kicked off on November 16, where he met the members of headlining band Crowded House, before getting front row seats to the show.

Knowing Greg wouldn’t be up for the whole show and would likely miss Crowded House on stage, the band performed a few songs backstage just for him.

“I had the best time of me life,” Greg said.

“I’m telling you, it made my bloody day. Something I will never forget.”

Greg Logan was given front row seats to Red Hot Summer thanks to Ambulance Wish Queensland. Picture: Supplied

One of Greg’s carers and John both went to the concert and he said it was such an incredible experience.

“It was really special for Crowded House to come and do that,” John said.

“For those guys to take time out, to come and do this.

“He [Greg] just got such a lift from that day.”

Toowoomba Hospice patient Greg Logan was given front row seats to Red Hot Summer thanks to Ambulance Wish Queensland. Picture: Bella Munro

Greg was diagnosed with bowel cancer about four years ago and said it hasn’t been an easy journey.

“I just take each day as it comes,” he said.

“You just don’t know what will happen so you’ve just got to ‘soldier on’.”

His sister Bernadette Hoffman said it has been difficult.

“It’s been a bit of a journey, hasn’t it? But you’re here… and you saw Crowded House,” she said to Greg.

“It’s been the love of your life hasn’t it? Your music.”

Greg Logan was given front row seats to Red Hot Summer thanks to Ambulance Wish Queensland. Picture: Supplied

Palliative Care Queensland chief executive Louise O’Neill said Greg’s wish shows how important moments away from illness are.

“Through the Ambulance Wish Queensland program, we want to bring deeply human moments that create joy, dignity and connection to people at the end of life,” she said.

“Greg’s wish, I wholeheartedly believe, shows us just how powerful that can be.

“This is exactly what Ambulance Wish Queensland is about – showcasing why palliative care is so important, that compassion exists in our communities, honouring people’s stories and celebrating what matters most to them.”

Ms O’Neill said her team was so grateful for the support from the Red Hot Summer Tour team in granting this wish.