Meet Neil, a Banksia carer

This is Neil. 

Neil met his wife Jan in 1992 not long after they’d both lost their spouses. “We connected over our loss, and there was a synchronicity with them: her husband died on my daughter’s birthday and my first wife Lyn died on Jan’s daughter’s birthday”. 

Jan died in December 2025 after a long journey with cancer. They were referred to Banksia during the last two weeks of Jan’s life. “After losing my first wife I never imagined being able to handle something like this again, but I found you just do it – you do what you have to.” 

Since Jan’s death Neil has been receiving counselling from Banksia’s psychologist Adam and has started attending Banksia’s Bereavement Social Group. “It’s nice to be with people who have gone through the same thing as me. I’ve always been open to talking about my experience. It’s helpful to be honest and tell people what’s going on. I’m doing way better now.” 

Images of Neil & Jan Owen