Rocking new addition to Murdoch Hospice

2 Mar 2021

After visiting a close friend at the Hospice a few years ago, Mrs Haubner was blown away by the nurses, doctors and general care from the whole team.

“I was moved by the atmosphere of peace, care and beauty. The paintings, sculptures and other displays in the long, wide corridors were a joy to see and I could imagine patients wandering or resting there amongst beautiful things,” Mrs Haubner said.

After moving from Germany to Australia 38 years ago and with no relatives nearby, Renate and her husband felt the best place for the rocking horses to be appreciated by generations of family was the Hospice.

“I thought long and hard about the rocking horses. I didn’t want to separate them but I wasn’t sure of a space that would be large enough to house them,” she said.

“For many years we have had the enjoyment of seeing both horses every day… it is now time to let others find pleasure in admiring them.”

The rocking horses took six months for craftsman Rhod Fearns to make in 2008. The horses named ‘Brahms’ and ‘Horse with no name’ were his last two pieces of work, after 17 years of producing the rocking horses, which are similar to those made for the Royal Family. 

The horses were crafted while Mr Fearns suffered with incredibly poor eyesight, mainly using peripheral vision to carve the intricate pieces.

The rocking horses now have their forever home at the Murdoch Hospice, where children and families will get to appreciate the beautiful woodwork.