Many of you will already have heard the heartbreaking news. Just weeks ago, our dear friend and colleague Rachel Burke, Manager at Harcourts Aspire and a former nurse, passed away suddenly and unexpectedly. Tomorrow, her family will gather to say their final goodbyes — a moment none of us thought would come so soon.
Rachel leaves behind her two beloved daughters, the light of her life, who now face the unimaginable: grieving their mother while their father fights for his life in intensive care. What began as a simple cold just a few weeks ago has now attacked his vital organs, leaving him critically ill at the Gold Coast University Hospital.
To say this family has been dealt a cruel blow is an understatement. Rachel was more than a colleague or friend — she was a woman of integrity, compassion, and unwavering commitment. Whether as a nurse caring for patients or a property manager looking after landlords and tenants, Rachel gave her all. She lived to support others — now, it’s our turn to support her family.
Her daughters, so young, one still in high school and the other at university, are now navigating grief, uncertainty, and overwhelming financial pressure. The burden of household expenses, university fees, and ongoing medical costs is simply too much for them to bear alone.
We are asking for your help. Any donation, large or small, will make a real difference for these girls as they face a future no child should have to endure.
Please give what you can to help ease the immediate financial strain and allow them to focus on what truly matters right now — supporting each other through their grief and holding onto hope for their father’s recovery.
On behalf of grandparents, and the girls Olivia and Brooke we ask for your help and thank you.
Organizer and beneficiary
Tania Manzelli
Organizer
Wongawallan, QLD
Sally Hynes
Beneficiary