Where it all began.
For more than 30 years, Ronald McDonald House South East Queensland has provided essential services, enabling families to stay together, stay strong and promote healing when their ill or injured child needs healthcare.
Ronald McDonald House was founded through a unique partnership between compassion and community action.
In 1974, when Dr. Audrey Evans, a children’s oncologist at Philadelphia Children’s Hospital, envisioned a place where families could rest near their hospitalised children, it was the local McDonald’s restaurant and its customers who raised the funds to turn that vision into reality.
In recognition of their commitment to supporting families during their most difficult moments, the House was named “Ronald McDonald House” and McDonald’s has remained our founding and forever partner ever since.
Children’s charities were forever changed in Australia when the first Ronald McDonald House opened its doors in New South Wales.
In July, the first Ronald McDonald House in Brisbane opens its doors at the Mater Hospital Brisbane.
In October, Ronald McDonald House opens Herston House, right next to the Royal Brisbane and Women’s Hospital.
The Ronald McDonald Herston House extended to 50 rooms, making it the largest in the Southern Hemisphere at the time.
The Ronald McDonald House Mater House extended to 21 rooms.
Ronald McDonald House Herston and Mater House amalgamated their boards, forming what we are known as today: Ronald McDonald House South East Queensland Inc.
We opened two Ronald McDonald Family Rooms at the Paediatric Inpatient Unit and Newborn Care Unit within the Gold Coast University Hospital.
We opened 10 rooms inside the Queensland Children’s Hospital along with a Ronald McDonald Family Room.
Our House at Brisbane Mater Hospital closed in October, and families relocated to our new South Brisbane House on 12 October.
We launched our first Hospitality Cart in the Queensland Children’s Hospital.
We launched our new brand!
We can’t wait for what the future holds.
