Our Angels in Queensland

Operation Angel award 2012
Links to press release - Elizabeth (Liza) Williams

Joan Allen  Legendary Transplant Nurse cares for transplant patients through the Princess Alexandra Hospital and has done since in the 1970s. Joan helped develop the Transplant Nurses Association (Queensland) – attending fundraising concerts, the Transplant World Games.

Angel Flight  Established 2003 this charity co-ordinates non-emergency free flights for financially and medically needy people to or from medical facilities anywhere in Australia. Angel Flight provided flights for a young dialysis patient every week for a year. 

Ken Chiplin  Volunteers for the dialysis unit at Wesley Hospital, three times a week to assist with meals, messages, patient transport, and making up cannulation packs. Ken’s wife was on dialysis but has since passed away, and Ken can see the nursing staff need support. He stays in the unit for four hours each day and talks to patients during their treatment.

Dr Peter de Jersey  Nephrologist who graduated in 1973 and awarded the Churchill Fellowship in 1976. After time abroad, Dr de Jersey opened a private practice in Townsville in 1977 as Renal Physician at Townsville General Hospital. During this time 12 patients were dialyzing, 11 of these had analgesic nephropathy, a disease Dr de Jersey was actively involved with eradicating in Australia. Dr de Jersey has worked tirelessly throughout the Northern Area as Director of Nephrology Services, covering Cairns Base Hospital, Mackay Base Hospital, Townville General Hospital, Mt Isa Base Hospital and many other outreach services supporting the care of renal clients.

Even in retirement, Dr de Jersey has remained an invaluable resource to the renal community and his services were retained to encompass State-wide consultation for Queensland Health steering committees and groups. Without Dr de Jersey’s life-long commitment to Nephrology and especially Nth Queensland communities, Renal Services in the North would be far behind the benchmark of modern dialysis services.

Keri-Lu Equinox  Outstanding clinical nurse at Cairns Base Hospital, who involved patients by doing a 2008 dialysis calendar to show that patients live fulfilling lives outside dealing with kidney failure.

Cheryl Harris Full time carer to her husband Kenneth, she has been involved with Kidney Support Network for many years by visiting the renal wards on the coast, talking to patients and their families and liaising with the nursing staff and specialists. Cheryl always makes time to listen and help others suffering from kidney disease. In 2004, Cheryl wrote a booklet about her family’s journey with chronic illness and this is now used as a resource for others diagnosed with kidney disease.

For the past 3 years Cheryl ensured a branch for KSN was opened to support patients/families with kidney disease and through sponsorship, provided an essential transport service for all the dialysis patients attending Nambour Renal Unit. Without Cheryl’s perseverance, these services may not have available on the Sunshine Coast.

Matty Hempstalk  Matty is a young man who has had two kidney transplants and has been on dialysis at times. He tirelessly assists others with kidney disease through his work in the community and is a trained Kidney Health Australia speaker, peer support volunteer, kidney capers and kidney kids camp volunteer. Matty coordinates transport services for dialysis consumers in Nambour, Caloundra and Maroochydore. Matty is actively involved with support groups and networking activities for persons affected by kidney disease and advocates for people with kidney disease through his work with the Kidney Health Australia QLD Consumer Participation Committee.

Moy Sweetman  Transplantee who established a charity to help others with kidney disease, cancer and other chronic diseases. She raises funds for kidney disease, Christmas hampers to dialysis patients in Brisbane and Sunshine Coast, and fulfils the dreams of terminally ill and disadvantaged patients.