Roy and Nola Thompson, Sunshine Coast Philanthropists, Die After Decades of Generosity

Roy Francis Thompson OAM, a prominent philanthropist on the Sunshine Coast, passed away at 95 on August 7, 2026, shortly after his wife Nola, with whom he shared nearly 70 years of marriage. The couple was instrumental in transforming the region through their extensive generosity and deep commitment to its well-being.

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The Sunshine Coast is stronger and better because of them.

Their significant contributions include co-founding the first Sunshine Coast Rescue Helicopter service in 1979, which evolved into the region's LifeFlight service. They also established the Thompson Institute, a brain and neuroscience centre, and supported the Wishlist building. Their philanthropic efforts extended to education, with a suite of bursaries and scholarships established at the University of the Sunshine Coast, ensuring student funding until at least 2075.

Sunshine Coast Mayor Rosanna Natoli expressed admiration for the couple's "extraordinary generosity and their deep love for this region," stating, "The Sunshine Coast is stronger and better because of them." She highlighted how their generosity changed lives, strengthened institutions, and shaped the region.

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They had such tremendous vision for what we wanted to achieve for mental health here on the Sunshine Coast.

Jim Lagopoulos, founding director of the Thompson Institute, spoke of the couple's "tremendous vision for what we wanted to achieve for mental health here on the Sunshine Coast." He noted their "deep passion for their community," particularly for disadvantaged individuals, aiming to ensure access to services they might otherwise not afford. The Thompson Institute, now part of Thompson Brain and Mind Healthcare, has provided care to over 4,000 people more than 7,000 times in the past 18 months alone, removing financial barriers to treatment.

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They had a very deep passion for their community and, in particular, the more disadvantaged people within the community, wanting to make sure that there were the available services so that people who couldn't afford services could gain access to them.