Charity powerhouse and mental health campaigner Ros Worthington OAM dies after cancer diagnosis

[Pelican Press 0]

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Charity powerhouse and mental health campaigner Ros Worthington OAM ***** after ******* diagnosis

Ros Worthington — a charity icon and former Western *********** of the Year — has ***** after choosing to undertake voluntary assisted dying following a lung ******* diagnosis.

Dr Worthington OAM was the driving force behind charities including Make a Wish Foundation WA and ******* ******* Care WA, which have helped thousands and raised millions for those who need it most.

Dr Worthington was diagnosed with stage four lung *******, which had tragically spread to her brain, earlier in 2024.

After initial treatments *******, she said creating awareness around VAD was “one of the last acts of community service that I could do”.

Camera IconRos Worthington with her son Tony Brennan. Credit: Supplied/RegionalHUB

“I have never, ever wanted my family or grandchildren to see me suffering, and I would be suffering if I stayed longer and didn’t have VAD,”

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“I guess I’ve always been a little bit eccentric, or whatever people want to call me, but at the end of the day I can say I did it my way — and that’s pretty cool.”

Dr Worthington refused to be a burden, saying she knew what it was like to shoulder the weight of a loved one’s demise.

Her father’s poor physical and mental health was prolonged, while her husband and soul mate Roscoe had years of debilitating back pain before his ****** by ******** in 2002.

“Neither my dad nor my husband wanted to be a burden,” she said.

“But when we get *****, we need that love from our family and they received it ten-fold.

“But I want to leave happy and to be remembered as a ******* great woman who got her s..t together and put her big girl pants on.

“People say I’m strong, I’m brave and, yes, I am but I’m still vulnerable to the point where I need my family there, holding me and supporting me.”

Dr Worthington spent her final weeks in the Geraldton area surrounded by loved ones after having grown up in the Mid West’s Chapman Valley.

“I feel on a transitional path, very peaceful and surrounded by my angels … I know I’m going somewhere very special and I also know that my beautiful Roscoe will be there waiting for me and many of my family,” she said.

Her final weeks are set to form an upcoming documentary to raise further awareness about VAD.

An online fundraiser to support Dr Worthington has raised more than $24,000 and tributes have poured in from across Australia since her ******.

Dr Worthington spearheaded the HelpME campaign with Lifeline WA after Roscoe ***** in 2002.

The philanthropist also created the Love Angels Foundation and was recognised as one of the 100 most influential people in the State.

In 2015, she was crowned Western *********** of the Year and received an Order of Australia Medal in 1998.

Legislation allowing VAD in WA was enacted in July 2021.

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#Charity #powerhouse #mental #health #campaigner #Ros #Worthington #OAM #***** #******* #diagnosis

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