The DWDQ committee wishes you a happy and peaceful festive season and all the best for 2025.
The DWDQ AGM was held on the 15th November 2024. After many years of amazing dedication, and commitment to the cause of having VAD legalised in Queensland, most of the committee decided it was time to hand over to new people.
The new committee is:
President - Kass Hall.
Kass:
- Was heavily involved in passing VAD legislation in Victoria in 2017.
- Is a former teacher, admitted to legal practice, JP (Qual).
- Is currently employed in Industrial Relations.
- Is a four-time cancer survivor – 1990, 2000, 2008 and 2011.
- Is an experienced board member with the Department of Education (Victoria) and the Queensland Writers Centre
- Has significant political and campaign experience.
Secretary - Jos Hall (no relation to Kass).
Jos:
- Was previously President or Secretary of DWDQ for over 10 years.
- Prior to retiring from paid work, was a Registered Nurse for 48 years.
- Has strong relationships with members of VAD groups in all other Australian jurisdictions and New Zealand.
- Believes that DWDQ is essential for maintaining and improving the VAD law that we have in Queensland.
Treasurer - Michael Kaltenbaugh.
Michael:
- Has a strong commitment to DWDQ as an advocate for VAD and its future.
- Is a passionate advocate for VAD education in regional and remote areas.
- Has current financial management and membership services skills.
- Has excellent presentation skills.
- is experienced with growing grass-roots organisations to achieve goals.
- Has very good team building and collaboration experience.
There are four General Committee Members
Kate Kunzelmann.
Kate:
- Is dedicated to the preservation of VAD in its present form.
- Was a Registered Nurse for 40 years.
- Has significant experience as a board member.
- Is a graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors.
- Is a Justice of the Peace (Qualified).
- Has been a Community Volunteer since 1981.
- Is Principal of a consultancy advising not-for-profits on how to manage their organisations.
Lin Davidson.
Lin:
- Is an excellent public speaker.
- Is a palliative care volunteer.
- Is a trained death doula and funeral celebrant.
- Has completed an intensive counseling course with Lifeline and volunteered as a telephone counselor for 18 months.
- Is proficient in Deaf Signed English and can interpret for people who are hearing impaired.
Merrin McGregor.
Merrin:
- Is deeply passionate about supporting people accessing VAD.
- Recently lost her mother to metastasized brain cancer. Her mother chose VAD and passed away on her own terms.
- Has a profound understanding of the challenges faced by families navigating the VAD process.
- Is particularly interested in exploring ways to allow access to VAD for people with dementia .
Nicky Kemp.
Nicky:
- Currently works in the aged care sector. She has worked with people with disabilities, HIV and with grassroots organisations for over 15yrs.
- Particularly enjoys working with older people.
- Has experience being a member of various committees.
- Is confident in advocacy and relationship building to ensure there is ongoing support for VAD.
Unfortunately information sessions are on hold at the moment. We hope that these will resume early in the new year.
As well as in-person info sessions, we are planning zoom info sessions so that we can more easily reach people who live in regional and remote areas where we don’t have DWDQ volunteers who can do in-person info sessions.
To be able to continue, DWDQ needs financial support, so please consider making a tax deductible donation.
DWDQ is an ACNC registered charity. Donations over $2 are tax deductible.
Click on the link below to donate.