Diabetes Research WA executive director Sherl Westlund.
Camera IconDiabetes Research WA executive director Sherl Westlund. Credit: Supplied/Supplied

Bequests fund study

Lauren PilatEastern Reporter

Lurline Giles passed away three years ago and as part of her Will, she left half the proceeds of the sale of her home to two charities, one of which was Royal Perth Hospital-based group Diabetes Research WA.

The house in Ewen Street went under the hammer last month and was snapped up for $1.205 million by Subiaco businessman David Parin, who didn’t know until after the auction that the money was being donated to charity.

Diabetes Research WA executive director Sherl Westlund said the funds from the bequest would stay in WA, helping local scientists unravel the mysteries of all forms of diabetes.

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"I was amazed when I found out about Mrs Giles" incredible act of kindness, she has most certainly left a big mark on diabetes research in WA and her generosity has the potential to change the lives of many, many people," she said.

"One of the key issues affecting Australian scientists is uncertainty of funding for their research; bequests help ease this pressure and ensure our finest minds can spend their time doing what they do best, looking for better treatments and cures for disease."

Ms Westlund said that without bequests, Diabetes Research WA would not have been able to fund some of its most important work.

"As one example, a previous bequest has allowed Perth Professor Grant Morahan and his team to discover a way of predicting the risk of a person developing certain diabetes complications at the time they’re diagnosed, many years before symptoms develop," she said.

Diabetes Research WA is WA’s longest running diabetes research funding group, established in 1976

It has raised and distributed more than $4.6 million.