Fiona’s online Will is a gift to refugees

Supporting children’s access to healthcare and education has always been important to Fiona Wallace. She is keenly aware that her own fortunate upbringing gave her a head start in life — one that many refugee children don’t get — which is why she is leaving a gift in her Will to UNHCR.

This transformational gift will provide a brighter future for some of the most vulnerable people in the world. 

By remembering Australia for UNHCR in your Will, you too can make a lasting impact on the lives of families forced to leave their homes in search of safety. You can ensure they receive vital support and protection beyond your lifetime. 

We talked to Fiona about why she chose to leave a legacy for refugees, and the benefits of making her Will online through UNHCR’s partner Gathered Here. 

Can you tell us a little bit about yourself? 

I am what is known as a rural generalist – a doctor who trained with the Australasian College of Remote and Rural Medicine. My skill mix is emergency medicine and general practice. With a little more than 10 years of working life remaining, I am transitioning to a role looking after residents of aged care facilities in my region, to provide consistent and quality care. I have a strong interest in looking after our elders and providing them with care tailored to their needs and wishes. I am also the chair of a charity trying to establish a community hospice in north-west Tasmania. In my non-work life I am a potter making ceramics that reflect the native and endemic plant life of Tasmania, where I live, and I also foster cats for Just Cats Tasmania. In a past life I was a novelist! 

What inspired you to pledge a gift in your Will? 

The things that define your chances in life more than anything else are your health and education opportunities in childhood. In many ways it’s a pragmatic thing for me – investing in children and young people pays back more than anything else in the future. From immunisation to literacy, setting a child up for their best life is the most important thing we can do for society. I want to make sure that any extra money I have earned in my lifetime goes where it can make a difference. 

How would you describe your experience writing a Will and pledging a gift online? 

It’s important to have a Will and the free online platform offered by Gathered Here made it very easy. My estate affairs are not complex, so I didn’t need to see a solicitor and pay an expensive fee. I went to the Gathered Here website and followed their steps. It was simple and quick.  

Have you spoken about the gift to UNHCR with your loved ones? How did they react? 

My friends and family have always known that I donate extensively to charity so they weren’t surprised! 

Would you recommend online Will-writing (and gift pledging) to others?

Yes, because writing a Will online is so simple – and free – and the downstream benefits of leaving a gift to a charity like UNHCR are huge. 

Write your Will for free – and leave a gift to Australia for UNHCR

If you have already included a gift to UNHCR in your Will, we’d love to hear from you. Join our Bequest Circle and enjoy special events and updates on the difference you can make.