The football club coach, dancing coach and local taxi driver died in late 2016 after a long illness, but his memory was honoured this week with the opening of Bill’s Room - a quiet room in the Palliative Care Unit at Bellingen Health Campus.

Bill’s life partner, and dance partner, Debbie Sense donated $1000 late last year to the Palliative Care service thanks to the efforts of her fellow dancers in the Debbie’s Social Dancers and Friends group.

The funds have transformed a former office into a comfortable private space for families, which was officially opened this week in the presence of Mrs Sense and some of her fellow dancers, who presented another $500 donation to the unit.

Palliative Care Clinical Nurse Consultant Jacquie Page said Bill’s Room was a much-needed quiet space for families coming to terms with death and dying.

“We desperately needed a non-clinical space that was quiet and private, where we could have conversations with families about their loved ones,” Ms Page said.

“Bill’s Room has a beautiful feel to it, and it also is a lovely way to honour a local who meant so much to so many.”

Mrs Sense said she and Bill shared a love of dance that saw Debbie’s Social Dancers and Friends start in Bellingen in 1996.

Over the years the dancers have raised funds to support the hospital and other worthwhile local causes.

Weekly dance classes are held at Urunga Literary Hall between 2 and 4pm on Saturdays. The Bellingen balls and dances, held three times a year, attract about 70 dancers with an average age of 50 to 70 years, although the dances are open to all ages.

“Dancing is a great way of keeping fit and socialising,” Mrs Sense said.

“We have made life-long friends through the group, which is why the dancers were so happy to support this fundraiser for palliative care patients.

“The Palliative Care team at Bellingen were just amazing. When Bill became ill, they came to the house with their support, and when Bill was in hospital, they were like angels.

“They cared for Bill in such a way, I just wanted to give back.

“Hopefully, Bill’s Room makes having these difficult conversations about a loved one just a little easier and more private.”

Mrs Sense also thanked the Lions Club of Bellingen for its support of the local dances, which enabled the group to raise funds for the donation.