Why more Australians are choosing to leave a ‘legacy gift’ in their will

Legacy is often thought of as the family we leave behind or the memories tied to our possessions. But when Alison Green’s mum, Jean, passed away from brain cancer in 2011, it made her rethink what her legacy truly means.

Jean Green was the kind of person who brought warmth and energy wherever she went. “She was a beautiful, kind, and unassuming person who gave so much to her friends, family, and community,” recalls her daughter, Dr Alison Green. “She was so desperate to live – she really wanted to live.”

At age 72, Jean was diagnosed with glioblastoma, a rare and aggressive form of brain cancer. 

“That was a really just exceptionally devastating loss for me. I was 33, and I'm a doctor, and I felt such a profound sense of despair when she was diagnosed with primary brain cancer,” Dr Green says. “It's a disease where the prognosis essentially hadn't changed for decades.

“When you mention brain cancer, you can see it in the faces of other doctors – they just get this look.”

Jean, who had previously survived breast cancer and melanoma, faced her new diagnosis with the resilience that defined her life. But sadly, this time her experience was short-lived. Within months of the diagnosis, cancer took Jean’s ability to communicate – a cruel irony given her passion for writing letters and emails to friends around the world. 

“It was an exceptionally devastating loss. My children were born a couple of years after she died, and she would have been so excited to have twins as grandchildren,” Dr Green says. “She was the glue that kept everyone connected, always knowing what was happening with each of us. When someone like that is gone, you realise just how much they did – and how much you relied on them.”

In her grief, Dr Green was determined to find a meaningful way to honour her mother's memory. She found solace in donating to Australian Cancer Research Foundation (ACRF). “I was grieving deeply and felt this ongoing sense of despair, trying to find something proactive to do in her memory,” Dr Green says. “I looked into various options, and ACRF really stood out. I started donating regularly and have continued my support ever since.”

In addition to regular donations, Alison decided to leave a gift in her will for ACRF.

“Organising your will gives you a chance to reflect on your values and what’s truly important to you,” she says. “I wanted to ensure that, through my will, I could continue supporting a cause that aligns with my values. So, when I donate money to ACRF through my will, I know it will specifically state that it’s in memory of Jean.”

With Australia on the brink of an estimated $5.4 trillion wealth transfer over the next two decades, legacy giving has never been more crucial. 

Dr Green acknowledges that times are tough for many, making regular donations difficult, but including a charity in a will can provide a way to make a lasting impact, without any immediate financial cost.

“For a lot of people, it’s not going to be feasible to donate to charity monthly or even as a one-off. So I guess thinking about our will in advance is a way that we can think about our values and what we would like to support if we were to die,” she says. “It’s an opportunity to support causes that are close to our heart.”

Then, there's the consideration of those you leave behind.

“As a mother of two tweens, I think a lot about the mental load,” Dr Green says. “Having a will in place is a way to reduce that burden for the people who come after us. It’s a good idea to have a will, and it’s a very positive thing to do.”

As an ACRF supporter, Dr Green was invited on a tour of the Queensland Institute of Medical Research, one of many opportunities organised by ACRF, where she learned more about the foundation’s approach to cancer research. “They’re making breakthroughs for brain cancer using research findings from leukaemia studies. That kind of cross-disease research is incredibly important,” she says. “ACRF doesn’t just focus on one type of cancer – they fund early-stage research that often leads to major discoveries.”

On the tour, she was also able to connect with others who have experienced the same loss. “The care taken by the ACRF to speak with donors was something you don’t see every day. There’s a humanity to their work that I really appreciate.”

Despite the challenges of cancer, Dr Green remains hopeful about the future. “There’s so much to be hopeful for. Fifteen to 20 years ago, melanoma that had spread was a death sentence. Now, a large percentage of those melanomas can be cured or managed.”

While many of us avoid thinking about our mortality, Dr Green says planning her will was ‘life-affirming’. 

“We don’t know when or if a catastrophic diagnosis will affect us. But donating to an organisation that funds all kinds of cancer research is something we can do – both for ourselves and for the people we love.” 

This article originally featured on news.com.au.