About Compassionate Hearts on the Bellarine

Compassionate Hearts began in 2019 with inspiration from Dr David Brumley OAM, palliative care physician, and retired Associate Professor Kate Jackson, anaesthetist and pain care management specialist.   David and Kate recognised that although there was medical and nursing support for people living with a life-limiting illness, there was much more that was needed, and possible, to relieve the distress of the person and their family.

Pauline Nunan’s partner, Bob Fuller, was cared for at home by David while in palliative care. After his death Pauline became interested in David and Kate’s ideas, the concept of Compassionate Communities, and the belief that caring in these situations is the business of the whole community. These three people, together with a number of others in the local community, formed Compassionate Hearts on the Bellarine in 2019. The organisation is now an incorporated, not-for-profit charity endorsed by the Australian Taxation Office as a Deductible Gift Recipient.

Until 2025 the whole organisation was run by volunteers but thanks to a generous grant from the Wicking Trust and many other donor organisations Compassionate Hearts now has a paid volunteer coordinator.  This role is the lynchpin of our organisation.  This person connects the volunteers with the clients and coordinates all activities that make the organisation so valuable in our community.

Vision

To be recognised across the Bellarine as a compassionate volunteer support organisation in times of life-limiting illness, dying, grief and loss.

Mission

We exist to support people on the Bellarine Peninsula to live well with life-limiting illness by encouraging community conversations about death and dying and by providing volunteer support.

Values

Our values are compassion, kindness, respect and dignity.

Meet the Team

  • Pauline Nunan

    FOUNDER AND CHAIR
    MA, B.Ed, BA

    Pauline is a former teacher and international education marketing and student recruitment manager.

    Pauline’s late partner developed lymphoma and in accordance with his wish, died at home whilst receiving home-based palliative care. Pauline is grateful for the superb care he received from Dr David Brumley and the Bellarine Community Health Palliative Care nurses.

    Following her partner’s death Pauline became involved in developing Compassionate Hearts on the Bellarine and lead the inaugural steering Committee and has led the Committee of Management since 2019.

  • David Brumley

    FOUNDING MEMBER
    OAM, MBBS, FRACGP, FAChPM, MSc

    David trained and worked as a GP for many years before later diversifying to become a palliative care specialist.

    David worked in Ballarat for many years and moved with his wife to Queenscliff in 2014, taking up positions at St John of God and Epworth Hospitals, Geelong and with Bellarine Community Health.

    David continues to be the Medical Director of Ballarat Hospice Care. He is a past Board Member and Life Member of Palliative Care Victoria.

    With a great interest in Compassionate Communities David has enjoyed being involved in the process of creating Compassionate Hearts on the Bellarine.

  • Peter Hunt

    TREASURER
    MBA, Grad Dip Mngt., Grad Dip. Librarianship, Dip. Community Studies

    Peter retired from Hobsons Bay City Council after 16 years as a Director and more than thirty years in senior management roles in Local Government in Metropolitan and Regional Victoria. 

    Previous managerial roles have incorporated responsibility for Aged Care; Early Years; Youth; Libraries; and the Community Development sector. Many of these services delivered in partnership with the Federal and State Government and not for profit providers. 

    Having lived in Ocean Grove intermittently over the last forty years and now residing permanently on the Bellarine, Peter is committing to supporting community wellbeing in a volunteering capacity.

  • Barbara Douglas

    TREASURER

    Barbara has served as Volunteer Coordinator for Compassionate Hearts on the Bellarine over the past year, gaining valuable insight into the organisation and its operations. Recently retired, she brings with her more than 50 years of diverse experience spanning the health, legal, livestock, and primary production sectors.

    Raised on her family’s grazing property in South West Victoria, she later managed the farm until its sale in 2008. Her career also includes 18 years as Administration Coordinator for a Mental Health Education Team, providing high-level administrative, IT, and stakeholder support, plus various roles in law firms over a period of 20 years as PA, deeds clerk, and mortgage manager. Barbara’s broad expertise spans business management, HR, IT, accounts management and general administration.goes here

  • Annie Chatham

    VOLUNTEER COORDINATOR
    BASc Speech Pathology, MBA

    Annie brings over 15 years of experience as a speech pathologist in Ballarat, where she worked extensively with adults in rehabilitation and palliative care. After relocating to the Bellarine Peninsula in 2007, she spent several years working in her family-owned small business before returning to her passion for health care.

    In 2021, Annie joined Barwon Health as a Volunteer Coordinator in palliative care, a role that gave her deeper insight into the vital support volunteers provide to clients and families facing life-limiting illness. In 2025, she embraced the opportunity to take on a role closer to home as Volunteer Coordinator with Compassionate Hearts on the Bellarine.

    Annie is delighted to support and collaborate with local volunteers in providing care, comfort and connection to clients and families across the region. 

  • Margaret Aldous

    OAM, MHM, GAICD, BN, RN

    Marg, a registered nurse, is the immediate past Chief Executive of Cooinda, a not for profit aged care service in Benalla. She has worked in many senior nursing roles including emergency care, midwifery and was responsible for the initial development of the Benalla Palliative Care Service.

    Marg has experience in leadership, management, quality and effective communication. She has undertaken pastoral care and bereavement education and is a trained meditation teacher.

    Marg believes in the vital role holistic palliative care has in supporting people with a life limiting illness and their families, in the journey of illness, death and bereavement.

  • Marita Scott

    BN, RN, Grad Dip Palliative Care, Community Health and Health

    Marita is a health professional with experience in a diverse range of health and human services.

    Her career has spanned district nursing, palliative care, aged care, disability, child, youth and family, asylum seekers and community health with a focus on senior management and executive leadership.

    She is a current board member for Windana - Taskforce, Sisters of Mercy Australia & PNG Safeguarding Advisory Committee and Rotary Ocean Grove.

    Marita is passionate about building healthy and inclusive communities and has personal and professional experience in palliative care.

  • Anne Dylan

    Anne’s first 20 year working history was in Sydney, where she worked in The Department of Education, Employment and Training. She spent time in Aboriginal education and in the Austudy area. She qualified for her Bachelor of Communications on a part time basis whilst working.

    In 1990 she moved to Ocean Grove following her father’s death and worked across Government and non -profit organisations. Her roles encompassed working with people with disabilities, illness and homelessness to improve their quality of life and to increase their self esteem and sense of worth.

    Anne wound down her working life by working as a casual accommodation officer in Department of Human Services. She then ventured into running her own business as a dog nanny and dog walker. She was also a volunteer with Vision Australia training a Seeing Eye Dog,

    Anne trained in the inaugural group of Compassionate Hearts on the Bellarine and has supported one short term client and another for over three years.

    She also understands at a deep level the value and contribution Compassionate Hearts on the Bellarine makes to people with a life ending illness and their carer’s and families.

  • Timothy Goonan

    MCommrclLaw; BCom; Ass.Dip.App.Sc.; Dip.Prog.Tech.; Certificate IV in Training and Assessment.

    Tim Goonan is Director of Navalle Aranmore Pty Ltd, a business consulting and bookkeeping practice based in Queenscliff.

    A registered BAS Agent, he brings extensive experience in financial management, compliance, practice administration, and IT systems. Tim’s career has spanned banking, legal practice management, and business operations across diverse industries, supported by qualifications including a Master of Commercial Law (Melbourne University), Bachelor of Commerce (Deakin), and Certificate IV in Training & Assessment (The Gordon TAFE).

    With a strong focus on governance, efficiency, and mentoring, Tim is committed to supporting Compassionate Hearts on the Bellarine in its community mission.

Testimonials

  • "The volunteer was absolutely wonderful. He was a very patient, kind and caring person"

  • “I am so grateful for the support you provided as I was alone and no family or friends near me. We were new to the area, and it was a lonely time but Compassionate Hearts on the Bellarine gave me the support I needed when I needed it.“

  • “I hadn’t known of Compassionate Hearts on the Bellarine before, and at first, I was a little hesitant having a stranger in our home. But it was a godsend for me when I needed help”

  • “Nothing was too much trouble, and they went above and beyond. They treated ‘D’ with so much respect”

  • “They were a great support and I felt confident that I could go out and not worry”

  • “You helped me at a time when I needed it most”

  • “Helped ‘R’ to write his life story – probably the best thing she could have done for him. Reminiscing about his whole life.”