Proud of what Michael did 

21 September 2023

Michael Keenan was deeply passionate about hospice, and one of hospice's most engaged and committed volunteers. When he died in 2014, he gifted his estate to Harbour Hospice.

When university lecturer Michael Keenan retired in 2010, he set out to find volunteer work that felt meaningful. He found it volunteering for Harbour Hospice, driving patients to and from Day Group and to hospital and specialist appointments.

His brother Barrie recalls, “He had a white Mark 2 Jaguar, and I am told that a number of the lady patients enjoyed being driven that way, sitting in the back seat!”

In 2014 Michael became ill with a cerebral tumour and died in hospice care a few months later. Because he’d been so committed to the work of hospice he left the entirety of his estate, $2.45 million, to hospice. He did not have children and knew his wider family was well-established.

Michael’s gift has provided ongoing support for his beloved Day Group programme, contributed significantly to North Shore’s refurbishment and funded research and training to find new ways to meet the needs of more diverse ethnicities and age groups in our community. The Michael Keenan Day Centre room at Shea Tce is named after him, in his memory.

Barrie says the family is “very grateful for and proud of what Michael did. We know that the work of hospice was important to him, and that he was particularly concerned about the challenges faced by hospice, given that only 50 per cent of its annual expenses are met by Government.

“Caring as hospice does for so many people, we know he would feel very satisfied that his gift has benefited the Hospice that he treasured greatly. And if his example can be an encouragement to others to support this hospice financially, we know he would be pleased.”