Specialised Funeral Care for Children & Young People
Our People
Molly Carlile
Patron
Molly Carlile AM is a multi-award-winning palliative care nurse, health leader and senior executive as well as an advocate for improving community death literacy and building compassionate, supportive communities. Molly has had a wide and varied career over many years, both in senior clinical and leadership roles.
Molly has held executive positions in a variety of environments, most recently as Chief Executive Officer of a large community palliative care organisation in metropolitan Melbourne. Her work in inpatient health services has seen her gain a wide perspective of the challenges faced by terminally ill people, their families and carers and for the staff that care for them. As General Manager of Integrated Cancer Services at the Olivia Newton-John Cancer and Wellness Centre in Melbourne, she was immersed in embedding wellness and supportive care into mainstream cancer services in a brand-new facility, creating innovative programs and welcoming spaces for people at their most vulnerable.
Molly has been intimately involved in raising community awareness of issues relating to death, grief and palliative care with people of all ages and to this end, has been a regular guest on television and radio, has written three books (two of these for children and young adults) and two plays that continue to tour nationally. She regularly speaks all over the country in an effort to inform and empower people to acknowledge their mortality and speak openly about the “stuff that matters” with those close to them.
Molly’s work in palliative care, leadership, wellness and arts in health has been recognised by receipt of multiple awards national and international awards including an Order of Australia (General Division) 2014.
Libby Moloney
Director
As an experienced mother and funeral director, Libby holds the space in the heartbreaking silence that follows the death of a child. Gently and respectfully, she listens for the needs of the parents and the extended family and works alongside everyone involved to explore the responsibilities and choices that lay before them.
Working with families in hospitals, hospice and home settings, Libby is highly experienced in the funeral care of children and has a passionate and specialised interest in end of life and funeral planning.
Having founded her own funeral company in 2012, the creation of The Willow Tree Foundation Ltd sees the realisation of Libby’s long held dream of a not-for-profit specialised funeral provider for children and young people. Libby leads the Willow Tree team as our Managing Director.
Sally Cant
Director
Sally Cant is the owner of the Celebrants Training College Australia and NZ, she is also a death care advocate, mentor, educator and leader among celebrants.
Sally’s diversity of experience includes: celebrancy; IT; marketing, business ownership; training and education; writing, music and art.
Sally authored Conversations about Death and the Heart and Soul of Celebrancy.
She teaches, among other topics, funeral celebrancy in both Australia and New Zealand. Her courses promote the opportunity for people to assist individuals and family, through an understanding of the process, and law of death and dying.
Sally has been associated with the death and dying sector for over 26 years.
Sharon Tregoning
Director
With a background in customer service, admin and executive assistant roles, owning and running a boutique couple’s retreat and spiritual counselling, Sharon brings with her a variety of experience and is a founding member of The Willow Tree Foundation board.
She spent 7 years specialising in the end of life space with her counselling work and as an end of life doula.
Living on Queensland’s Sunshine Coast, Sharon is an active member of her community by participating in a number of organisations. She is also a passionate death literacy advocate and is an Ambassador for Death Over Dinner.
The Willow Tree Foundation
We envision a future where all Australians bereaved by the death of a child receive compassionate & meaningful funeral care, service, understanding & support.
The Willow Tree Foundation acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of the land on which we work and live, and recognises their continuing connection to land, water and community. We pay our respects to Elders past, present and emerging.
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