Patron and Pioneer of Suncare Community Services
June Conolly was a powerhouse in the community services sector on the Sunshine Coast.
The founding member of Suncare Community Services, she was instrumental in the inaugural Meals on Wheels Maroochydore, fundraising for years with weekly bingo nights to lamington drives to help to build the community centre where the MoW kitchen is today.
At the time, Meals on Wheels Maroochydore was one of the largest services of its kind in the region, and June dedicated much of her time to helping like-minded services, ensuring they were also equipped to make a positive and lasting impact on their communities.
June served as both Secretary and President of Suncare during her time with the organisation, playing an essential role in many of the changes and growth that took place over the years.
She retired from Suncare’s Management Committee in 2012 but was honoured with the title of Patron, a position she held until her passing. In 2013 she was awarded an Order of Australia medal for her services. Always modest June at the time admitted that surely there were others that were more deserving, she was humble throughout her years.
June’s tireless contributions, particularly through her work with Meals on Wheels, community transport, and respite services, were foundational in shaping Suncare into the essential service it is today. The Suncare Community Centre, another of her initiatives, became a vital resource offering a range of services, including a kindergarten, health and wellness programs, and social support to those in need.
Her legacy is deeply embedded in the work of the organisation she helped establish and the countless people whose lives she touched.
June’s legacy is woven into the very fabric of Suncare and paved the way for the female leadership the organisation and sector see’s today.
We will miss you June, but the legacy you built continues to inspire us all to this day.
