Community
18 July, 2025
Financial boost for bereavement service
THE APCO Foundation has donated $5,000 to The Crystal Lee Foundation to support its free bereavement counselling service across south west Victoria.
The presentation recently took place at APCO Warrnambool, where Ross Humpheries (APCO service stations regional business manager) and Fiona Rowan (APCO Foundation board member) presented the donation to executive officer of The Crystal Lee Foundation, Julienne Clifford.
The $5,000 donation will cover the annual travel costs for the foundation’s part-time counsellor, who travels throughout south west Victoria providing free bereavement counselling sessions (without any limit on the number of face-to-face sessions).
“This service fills an important gap in supporting the mental health and wellbeing of people in a regional area which is doing it tough right now,” Ms Clifford said.
“Two thirds of our bereavement counselling clients are women, and we’re keen to reach more men through partnerships with Men’s Sheds and service organisations throughout the region.”
The Crystal Lee Foundation operates a unique self-referral bereavement counselling service available to all ages and circumstances, with no government funding.
The service is supported through its boutique op shop in Koroit, community donations, and fundraising activities.
Fiona Rowan said the donation aligns with the APCO Foundation’s commitment to supporting mental health initiatives in regional communities.
“We recognise the vital role this service plays in supporting people during their most difficult times, and we’re proud to support the amazing work of the Crystal Lee Foundation,” she said.
The Crystal Lee Foundation was established in 2019 to honour Crystal Lee Johnson, who was diagnosed with a rare form of cancer at age 16 and passed away in January 2019.
The foundation supports young people from birth to 24 facing cancer diagnoses and their families, while also providing bereavement counselling for the broader community.
The APCO Foundation’s annual Giving Day is happening on July 29.
Throughout the day, APCO service stations will donate two cents from every litre of fuel, 44 cents from each coffee sold, and all profits from APCO Foundation lollies sold.
Even better - every donation made on Giving Day gets doubled thanks to amazing matching partners.
