Despite being unable to host their annual (and popular) Kite Festival or any sheepdog trials this year, the Dean Recreation Reserve Committee and sponsors Elders Insurance have still found a way to donate to a charity this year, giving over $1200 to end-of-life charity Shannon's Bridge.

The untiring Brian Maher, president of the reserve committee, says it's hard to think of a more worthy charity or organisation to support.

"From the committee's point of view, we'd like to acknowledge Stephen Crane from Elders Insurance, who have been absolutely magnificent over the years," Mr Maher says.

"G.E.Slade Transport been absolutely terrific as well, in terms of sponsorship. And Hepburn Shire have been very, very helpful to us. We know how the recreation reserve was in a bit of trouble a few years ago, and now here we are, doing this."

Shannon's Bridge commemorates the life of Shannon McKnight, who was diagnosed with acute lymphoid leukaemia when she was 17. After two years of treatment, realising her condition was terminal, her dying wish was to be allowed to die at home, surrounded by loved ones.

The organisation, founded by her family, connects patients and existing palliative care services and supports. It helps families discuss illness, dying and loss, aiming to change attitudes about death. Shannon's Bridge focusses on not only a "good death" but "better living".

Shannon's father and organisation general manager Jeremy McKnight says the support given by the reserve committee and other groups is the only way the organisation survives.

"Without financial support, or people coming in and giving up their time or effort or donating equipment to us or with the sensory garden that we're making at the moment, people coming in and giving garden equipment or doing gardening for us; it's the only way Shannon's Bridge can keep going," Mr McKnight said.

"We give everything back to the community. Everything we do is for free, full stop. So we survive on people helping us and giving us love and support. In a situation like this, the money helps us. At the moment, we're trying to raise money for a van so we can get more equipment for people."

Elders' Stephen Crane says the insurer's relationship with the recreation reserve began around seven years ago, because they saw a need to assist with the community as much as providing insurance.

"We need to help those smaller groups out of town a bit, especially," Mr Crane said.

"What really got across it the line was the recreation reserve is always happy, after they've had the sheep trials, to look around for a worthy charity, a local charity and help them out. For me, it was a no-brainer. We're just happy to help out and we'll continue to do that."

Councillor Don Henderson of Hepburn Shire has been involved in the restoration of the recreation reserve since it was, he says, full of dead rats and cats; now it is thriving.

"We were lucky enough to get people of the calibre of Brian (Maher)," he said.

"I don't think this is the first time they've given money to Shannon's Bridge. It's so important for people out in the country areas. Often they haven't got the people around them, like people in urban areas.

"To be able to die at home, or to be looked after home in their last years, is very important. I think it's very relevant to the small communities to be able to support something like Shannon's Bridge, and for a small community organisation, like the Dean Recreation Reserve to do that, is just fabulous."

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