As this year comes to a close, I am filled with gratitude as we celebrate a remarkable milestone - it’s been 25 years since my partner, Wendie, and I established the Quest for Life Centre in the heart of the Southern Highlands. Over 125,000 people have walked through our doors, each seeking support, compassion, strength and the tools to heal.✨
The journey that led me to create Quest began 40 years ago when, amid my own crisis, I sought refuge in a small cave at the Eremo delle Carceri, a monastery near Assisi in Italy. My life had come to a halt, grappling with leukaemia, the death of my brother, and the end of my marriage.
In that sacred, silent place, I found not only peace but a profound clarity and purpose. I wanted to share the gift of healing I’d experienced with others who were suffering, to provide them with a sanctuary where they could reconnect with their own strength, resilience and hope.
Bundanoon became that sanctuary. When Killarney House came up for sale in 1998, I felt a deep calling to establish a permanent home for Quest, where people could find the safety and serenity they needed to heal. It was an ambitious dream; Quest had only $15,000 in the bank, while the property was listed at over a million dollars.
Yet, in one of life’s beautiful mysteries, benefactors - complete strangers at the time - came forward, helping us acquire and transform Killarney House into the healing sanctuary we’d envisioned. This became the heart of Quest, a place where lives are transformed and hope is renewed.🌈
Each year, Quest’s programs support thousands of people who, like I once did, arrive burdened with life’s heaviest trials: the loss of a loved one, a diagnosis that shakes their world, or trauma that leaves deep scars. Many carry unrelenting grief, fear, or uncertainty.
Here at Quest, they find not only a supportive community of people who understand their suffering, but tools to help them process their experiences, rediscover peace, and build resilience. When participants leave Quest, they carry hope that radiates beyond themselves, touching family, friends, and their broader communities.🌿
A recent Healing Your Life participant, Elizabeth, put it beautifully when she said:
"So grateful for this program. Such a supportive, healing, restorative, safe experience on so many levels. The intention of care and love for each person arriving at the space is really felt throughout the whole experience. What a gift it is to be seen and held with such skill and heartfelt service.”
A place of transformation and resilience
Over the years, Wendie and I, along with our dedicated team and volunteers, have worked tirelessly to create this haven. Wendie played an extraordinary role, drawing upon her experience as an educator to establish the systems and structures needed to keep Quest thriving.
From cleaning rooms and preparing meals to designing programs and handling administrative tasks, Wendie’s commitment has been foundational. This year, as she nears her 80th birthday, we reflect with gratitude on her invaluable contributions. Without her, Quest would not be what it is today.👏
The difference you can make
This festive season, I ask you to reflect on the gift of healing and the difference it makes. Today, Quest for Life remains committed to providing a place of healing for those facing life’s darkest challenges.
In recent years, as waves of global and local crises have tested everyone’s resilience, we’ve seen a significant rise in demand for our programs. With your support, we’ve been able to meet this growing need and continue offering life-changing programs that empower participants to find peace, strength and purpose.🌺
At Quest, we are here for those who find themselves carrying these heavy burdens. With your compassionate support, we continue to stand beside individuals and communities, offering them the tools to rebuild, find peace, and nurture the resilience within them. Together, we can bring meaningful change to those in need..
Help us make a lasting impact on mental health and wellbeing
The impact of our work is clear. Last year, 57% of our participants arrived with significant anxiety, 40% were experiencing depression, 44% were dealing with grief, and 56% felt overwhelming stress. But after attending a Quest program, the majority of participants reported profound improvements in their mental and emotional wellbeing.
In 2023-24, for example, half of the participants in our Healing Your Life and Quest for Life programs reported a significant improvement in their quality of life just one month after attending, and these benefits continued to grow over time. 📈
Josephine, who joined us for a Quest for Life program this past May, shared her gratitude:.
"All of the facilitators were amazing and explained everything so I could understand. They were inclusive, caring, listened, and were very well informed. The support staff were absolutely amazing. This program was truly an amazing experience and the first step to meaningful change.”
Ways to Donate
The Quest for Life Foundation is a registered charity with the ACNC. Donations over $2 are tax-deductible. Please join us in giving the gift of hope, strength, and healing this Christmas:
- 📞 Call us on 1300 941 488
- 💳 Direct Debit Remit to: National Australia Bank Ltd (NAB)
BSB: 082476 Account: 573751856 Account name: Quest for Life Foundation
* Please include your name as reference and contact us so we can issue a tax-deductible receipt - 🌐 Online: Go to questforlife.org/bethemiracle_xmasappeal
Give someone a brighter future this season
This festive season, I invite you to consider the gift of healing and how meaningful it can be for someone facing unimaginable pain or fear. If you’re able to extend a helping hand to those navigating mental or physical health challenges, please know that your gift will be received with immense gratitude.
It’s my hope that you’ll feel the same heartfelt joy I do, knowing that your generosity is creating a lasting and positive impact for individuals, their families, and the communities they hold dear.💖
Andrew, a participant in our Moving Beyond Trauma program, beautifully expressed the transformative power of his experience at Quest, reminding us of the lasting impact your support makes possible:
“Life changing experience. I am grateful and feel blessed to have had this wonderful, life affirming experience put on my path.”
As 2024 draws to a close, I hope this season brings you a sense of calm. May the practices that restore and nourish you take centre stage in your life. We all seek peace, connection, and the reassurance that our lives have meaning and positively impact others. I trust that this brings you joy, as it does for me.
Please donate today or give us a call on 1300 941 488.
Thank you sincerely for your support - it means the world to us. Wishing you a festive season filled with joy and a new year brimming with peace and harmony.🎄
Petrea King
CEO and Founder
Quest for Life Foundation
