40 Years of Caring

It’s hard to believe that just 40 years ago Otago Community Hospice was a dream that had only just become reality. The Otago Community Hospice trust had its first meeting and the purchase of the first Hospice building was in the works.

One of those early visionaries was Geoff Mirkin, who helped steer the Hospice from an idea to a reality and is still an active board member.

“In the 1980s, it was cake stalls and politics,” says Mirkin, “but it was also passion. We were a bunch of ordinary people trying to do something extraordinary.”

When Hospice opened its first building in 1990 in George Street there was just a day-care programme and seven inpatient beds. We delivered care to patients only in the Dunedin area.  

Today, Otago Community Hospice supports more than 1000 patients and their whānau each year across the entire Otago region.  At any given time, there are around 280 families on the Hospice service - from coast to coast, up to Waitaki and all the way down to Tapanui. .

But we have not done it alone.

“It takes a whole community to help a person live and die well.” says Otago Community Hospice CEO,” Ginny Green. “From colleagues across the health system, community groups and volunteers to granting bodies and donors, everyone plays a key role in the success of this community asset.”

Thousands of families have passed through the Hospice’s service, each carrying their own story of love and loss. Behind every patient are nurses sitting quietly at bedsides, volunteers offering a meal or a kind word, and a community that continues to give, year after year.

“We’ve gone from a dream,” says Mirkin, “to something that’s part of the fabric of our community - something that belongs to all of us. That’s what 40 years of caring looks like.”

To celebrate this milestone, Otago Community Hospice have a number of events scheduled across 2026, including a commemorative book due for release in December.

“We would love to hear from anyone with a hospice experience they think might be worth sharing,” says Green. “A former staff member, volunteer, carer, loved one or even someone receiving our care right now - your story is our story.”

We are very proud of our beginnings, and grateful for all the people who have played a role in Otago Community Hospice becoming what it is today - a leader in specialist palliative care, reaching deep into all corners of the region.

As for the future, there are ongoing challenges with funding, but we are confident that with the support of our community we will continue to deliver excellent services across Otago for many decades to come.

For information on how to share a story or to find out more about the events scheduled go to https://otagohospice.co.nz/40-years-of-caring/