Tennis coach serves up $1.5m gift to dialysis unit

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Tuesday, 8 April 2008    Print  | Close
Tennis coach serves up $1.5m gift to dialysis unit
By Murray Trembath

TENNIS coach Bill Gilmour has thanked the people of Sutherland Shire for their support by serving up a $1.5 million donation to their hospital.

In recognition of the gift, the new renal dialysis unit at Sutherland Hospital has been named in his honour.

Over the past 50 years, many thousands of youngsters have learnt tennis at the Caringbah academy run by the former world ranked player, Davis Cup referee and Grand Slam event supervisor.

Mr Gilmour said that while the centre had produced many stars, including Todd Woodbridge, its focus had always been on teaching ordinary people to enjoy the game.

At the official opening of the renal dialysis centre on Friday, Premier Morris Iemma described the gift as an "extraordinary act of philanthropy and generosity".

He said Mr Gilmour was "a good, decent man who gave a damn about his local community".

After he and his wife Fay unveiled a plaque, Mr Gilmour revealed he had just walked into the hospital one day and told them he wanted to do something lasting.

"I am not bragging, but I have given money to organisations and at the end of the day I didn't see a lot," he said.

"I thought I would like to see something positive that's going to last, bricks and mortar in other words.

"The district's been very kind, and this is some little way to put something back."

A sum of $326,000 from Mr Gilmour's donation has gone towards the $1.8 million cost of the renal dialysis unit, with the balance to be spent on other projects.

The new, stand-alone facility means patients will no longer have to travel to St George and other hospitals for renal dialysis.

"It's unbelievable being four minutes away from where I live," Raymond Rix, a patient, said.

Mr Rix had dialysis at his Caringbah home for 10 years, but, due to complications, now needs to attend hospital three times a week.

He said he was extremely grateful to Professor Mark Brown, the director of the St George and Sutherland Hospitals Renal Service for his personal care.

Jean Houtzager, of Miranda, who had previously received dialysis at St George Hospital, said the new facility was not only closer, but a lovely light, modern environment.

Mrs Houtzager was very familiar with the Gilmour name, as she and her husband Andre had their daughters, Christine and Louise, coached at his tennis academy.

Professor Brown said the unit, which began operating last month, was treating 24 patients a week, and this number would increase to 36 at the end of the year and, ultimately, 48.

"Looking at the demographics, those numbers will capture the people in Sutherland Shire developing chronic renal failure," he said.

Professor Brown said diabetes and an immune problem were the two main reasons for renal failure, but lifestyle had become another big factor.

"If you are not eating well and you are not exercising and you are not looking after your cholesterol and you are smoking, then you are in for a big chance of having renal failure," he added.

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