Mark Finn spent much of his life in and out of hospital. Living with complex medical conditions from childhood, he endured countless admissions and procedures throughout his life.
He never enjoyed being in hospital. But he always loved St Vincent’s.
“Mark spoke highly of the medical support and care across all disciplines,” said his partner, Alan Jones. “He always felt in good hands at St Vincent’s and often spoke of the care and compassion he received.”
Despite the health challenges he faced, Mark never let illness define him. He completed a law degree at Monash University and built a distinguished career in family law, where he was known for his compassion, empathy and ability to understand people during some of the most difficult times in their lives.
When Mark passed away at the age of 65, he chose to leave a bequest to
St Vincent’s including an incredibly thoughtful contribution towards
Caritas Christi and palliative care. His gift was inspired by gratitude for the care he had received over many years.
Today, his legacy lives on in a beautiful reflection garden, offering patients, families and staff a serene place to pause and seek peace and calmness.
“We’re not just here to manage symptoms,” she said. “We’re here to care for the whole person, their family and everyone around them.”
Mark’s bequest has also helped support specialised education for St Vincent’s clinicians, ensuring staff continue to develop the skills needed to provide exceptional palliative care.
For Alan, seeing photos of the completed garden was an emotional moment.
“Mark would be over the moon to see this outcome of his bequest... The beautiful reflection garden will keep us connected to Mark, who would be so happy knowing his gift is bringing peace and tranquillity to the people at Caritas.”
