Bear Cottage

21/04/2026

Step up, get moving and make a difference!

We’re excited to be an official charity partner of STRYDE4 Day on Tuesday 19 May and we’d love for you to get involved.

👟 It’s an energising 8km journey filled with fun activations and plenty of good vibes along the way! And the experience doesn’t have to end at the finish line. Join fellow walkers at the Harbord Diggers for an end-of-event celebration complete with entertainment, refreshments and a chance to connect, unwind and recognise the collective impact of the day.

Whether you sign up solo or rally your friends, family or colleagues as a team, every step you take helps raise vital funds for Bear Cottage.

It’s so much more than just a walk - it’s a chance to come together, challenge yourself (and others!) and support a cause that truly matters.

Ready to make your steps count and start fundraising? For the first 25 registrations there's 50% off with code S4DAY-BC2625.

Visit the STRYDE4 website to learn more and sign up https://www.stryde4.com.au/stryde4-day

Sydney Children's Hospitals Foundation

17/04/2026

This week, the Bear Cottage celebrated World Music Therapy Week. 🎶

The 2026 theme, “Connecting Borders,” highlights music’s powerful ability to bring us together through joy, emotion, and understanding - no matter who we are or where we come from.

At Bear Cottage our families come from diverse backgrounds, cultures, and experiences. Music therapy helps bridge these differences, creating shared moments where children, parents, and siblings can connect beyond words - fostering closeness, expression, and meaningful memories, even in times of uncertainty and grief.

This music session was a one-of-a-kind connection, a reminder of just how powerful music can be. 💕

14/04/2026

Today is World Art Day and this year’s theme, “A Garden of Expression: Cultivating Community Through Art,” inspired us at Bear Cottage to create something very special. 🎨

Our art wall has blossomed into a vibrant garden filled with flowers, rainbows, berries, bumblebees, and caterpillars – each piece a unique expression from the children and families in our care.🌻

Through art, we create safe spaces for connection, reflection, and expression. Sometimes words are hard to find, but creativity can gently help share feelings, tell stories, and bring people together.

Thank you to our art therapist, Judy and the art therapists across the Sydney Children's Hospitals Network for the incredible work they do every day, supporting children and families through creativity and care. 💕

World Art Day is celebrated on April 15, marking the birth anniversary of Leonardo da Vinci.

05/04/2026

There was plenty of excitement this morning as we welcomed a very special guest who hopped into our garden to join the Easter fun! 🐰

Thank you to Glittery Dreams Entertainment and our wonderful volunteers for helping to create so much joy.

To those who celebrate, we hope you have a happy and chocolate-filled Easter. 🐣💕

02/04/2026

This Easter, something extra special is hatching at Bear Cottage. It’s a different kind of Easter “egg” this year… one that brings life, connection and plenty of smiles 🐣💛.

Not chicks… but the sweetest little ducklings you’ve ever seen!

We’re so excited to be hosting a “Hatch & Grow” experience, where our children and families can watch in wonder as the eggs begin to wriggle, crack and finally hatch into tiny, fluffy bundles of joy.

There’s nothing quite like that magical moment when a little beak pokes through for the very first time. And of course… every duckling needs a name! Say hello to 🦆 Shirley, 🦆 Jemima, 🦆 Dumbledore and 🦆 King Alexander the Second to name a few.

Now they have hatched, the real fun begins. Our children (and staff!) can gently hold them, cuddle them and spend time getting to know their new feathered friends. These soft, warm moments bring so much comfort, laughter and calm.

Our ducklings will stay with us as they grow bigger and stronger, before eventually flying the nest to their forever homes.

01/04/2026

A huge thank you to the wonderful Channel 9 team who joined us for a corporate volunteering day at Bear Cottage.

From raking leaves and gardening to weeding and helping create beautiful items for our upcoming Mother’s Day stall - all done with a smile. Your enthusiasm, energy and genuine interest in learning more and supporting Bear Cottage meant so much to our team.

A special thank you to our Bear Cottage team - Brendon, Lisa and Margaret - for helping make the day run so smoothly. 💕

19/03/2026

Thank you to the families who so generously shared their stories as part of our 25-year milestone. Your courage and strength are at the heart of this. 💕

Bear Cottage, is a place where families facing the unimaginable can find care, comfort and most importantly precious time together. This week, the children's...

17/03/2026

25 YEARS OF LOVE, CARE AND COURAGE | Today, we celebrate Bear Cottage – a home away from home, where every moment counts.

For a quarter of a century, we’ve had the privilege of walking alongside children and families during life’s most challenging moments. Their courage, strength and love shines brightly.

We honour our passionate staff and tireless volunteers, whose compassion and dedication help turn ordinary days into extraordinary memories.

We recognise all the precious children and families who have been supported by Bear Cottage and remember those no longer with us – their lives have left an indelible mark on our hearts and will never be forgotten.

And we celebrate the vision and commitment of those who dreamed of a home-away-from-home, where families could find comfort, care and hope. Your courage and commitment laid the foundation for everything that has followed.

Finally, thank you to the community who continue to stand beside us and ensure our doors remain open for every child and family who needs us. Your kindness, generosity and belief in our mission, make this possible.

Happy 25th birthday, Bear Cottage – a sanctuary filled with love, laughter, and life. 💕

16/03/2026

THE QUIET STRENGTH BEHIND THE CARE | This World Social Work Day, we celebrate our Bear Cottage Social Workers Liz and Lynda. They are the listeners, the problem-solvers, and the keepers of stories.

Whether they are helping a child create a legacy, helping a sibling understand a prognosis, helping a parent navigate the complex emotions of the journey, or supporting the Bear Cottage team – their impact is immeasurable. They don't just provide answers; they provide the steady presence needed to face the unknown.

Social work isn't just a profession . . . it’s a commitment to humanity. Thank you for being a pillar of strength at Bear Cottage.

With heartfelt thanks to the Kids With Cancer Foundation Australia for funding this vital role. 💕

12/03/2026

At Bear Cottage, we are fortunate to experience beautiful moments of connection with our children and families.

One of the ideas we often share is how people who love each other are always connected by a very special string made of love - inspired by The Invisible String by Patrice Karst. It’s a gentle, powerful way to help children understand that love keeps us connected, no matter what. This was the inspiration for our recent themed art wall.

Using thick, textured paint, the children explored the tactile experience of feeling the paint between their fingers. They created hearts and added their own special touches. We then wound red wool between the handprints, symbolising the invisible strings that connect us all.

Together, we wrote meaningful messages to loved ones and reflected on the many ways we are all connected.

It was a truly collaborative effort - full of colour and creativity - and a beautiful reminder that even when we can’t see it, our invisible strings are always there, holding us close to one another. 💕

09/03/2026

Please join us in welcoming Niamh O’Neill, the newest member of the Bear Cottage team.

Niamh has recently joined Bear Cottage as our pharmacist, bringing with her many years of experience working in end-of-life care.

“As a pharmacist my role is to support the safe and effective use of medicines in line with patient and their families’ goals of care and their individual needs,” Niamh shares.

“Transition of care can be an emotionally challenging time and being able to provide confidence to families and staff that medication will be carefully and safely managed is a small contribution to alleviating this.”

Niamh says Bear Cottage stood out as a special place to work. “I have been working in end-of-life care for most of my career and wanted to use my experience to contribute to supporting children and their families with life-limiting illnesses. Bear Cottage delivers a service that is unique and special and in line with the values that I have come to understand are fundamental to families.”

Since starting, she has been particularly struck by the team culture. “What has surprised me most is how the team works together to meet the needs of everyone who walks through the door.”

A fun fact about Niamh: “I was born in Ireland and grew up with nine siblings!” She also says she loves the ocean and how it makes her feel, which makes our seaside location the perfect place to work.

Niamh is looking forward to getting to know the children and families who visit Bear Cottage. “I’m looking forward to meeting families and getting to know what contributions I can bring to their experience here. If there are ever questions about medication, I’m always happy to help. And if I don’t know the answer, we can work together to find it.”

Welcome to the team, Niamh!

03/03/2026

✨ Congratulations to these incredible champions! ✨

Our sincere thanks to the wonderful residents who bring the magic of the Borgnis Street Christmas Lights to life each year. What they have created is truly extraordinary. 🎄

It was a privilege to meet these generous residents and accept a cheque for $58,500 – a record-breaking result!

Since Bear Cottage opened its doors, this dazzling display has raised vital funds to support our children and their families. Over time, it has become a much-loved Northern Beaches tradition, welcoming visitors from across Sydney. More than a spectacular light display, it represents a community united in generosity and compassion.

This remarkable event is made possible with the support of the tireless Belrose Rotary Club and Rotary Club of Balgowlah, along with students from The Forest High School and Davidson High School Interact Clubs. Rain, hail or shine, night after night, they generously gave up their time and energy to ensure its success – and we are deeply grateful. 👏

At Bear Cottage, we witness extraordinary kindness and compassion every day. It is truly moving to see that same spirit shining so brightly within this incredible community.

From the bottom of our hearts – thank you. 💕