Born on December 24, 1923, in Christchurch, New Zealand, Lorna Kathleen Blackwood was an early Christmas present for her parents.
Perhaps that's why Lorna was such a fantastic gift-giver herself – especially where sick children were concerned.
Lorna dedicated a great deal of her time to helping others. She served as an Army Nurse during World War II and was awarded several medals for her service, which now remain at the War Memorial in Canberra. She migrated to Australia after the war, where she married and raised her family.
Lorna died a few years ago at the grand old age of 93. In her will, Mrs. Blackwood left an exceptionally generous donation to the Humpty Dumpty Foundation. In fact, Mrs. Blackwood's gift remains the single largest bequest or donation received in Humpty's 30-year history!
What’s really strange is that Paul Francis – the unstoppable, hands-on Chairman of the Humpty Dumpty Foundation – had never even met Lorna Blackwood.
That’s a first. Paul, who makes it a habit to know everybody even loosely connected with Humpty, was as shocked – and as grateful – as the rest of us when Mrs. Blackwood’s barrister and friend, Bruce Levet OAM, brought the good news.
So, how did Mrs. Blackwood know about Humpty?
Well, it turns out that Lorna had read a copy of the bi-annual Good Egg Magazine, dropped in her Eastern Suburbs letterbox several years prior. According to Mr. Levet, Lorna, who had a soft spot for children, liked the name ‘Humpty Dumpty’ and that had sparked her interest. So, as she always did before making decisions, Mrs. Blackwood researched the bona fides of the Foundation to ensure that Humpty does what it promises. She obviously liked what she found because she decided to leave most of her life savings to support Humpty's mission.
The Humpty Dumpty Foundation Board approved the purchase of a significant piece of equipment for every state and territory in Australia to carry Lorna and her family's legacy for years to come. The first item donated was a VN 500 Neonatal Ventilator for Westmead Children's Hospital in Sydney. This essential item has the capacity to assist the most fragile of babies who may have been born prematurely or who require breath support following surgery. This is one of many essential items of equipment to bare the Blackwood name in gratitude and recognition of Lorna's generous gift to the children of Australia. Indeed, many lives will be saved and enhanced due to her extraordinary kindness.
We salute Lorna Kathleen Blackwood. Rest in peace.