Centenarian gifts estate

Albany centenarian Alma Jean Walton shows no signs of slowing down at 100, but when the time inevitably comes she will leave a lasting legacy behind.

Mrs Walton, known as Jean, has named Albany Community Hospice as the sole beneficiary of her estate, which is worth hundreds of thousands of dollars.

The sprightly centenarian said she was very happy to leave her Yakamia unit, its contents and her finances to the community-run, not-for-profit facility which has provided palliative care for many of her friends over the years.

"It gives me great pleasure to leave everything to the hospice," she said.

"I cannot take it with me."

Mrs Walton said she had lost four brothers and a sister to various types of cancer and valued the service the hospice provided to patients across the Lower Great Southern.

Outgoing hospice chairwoman Kate Clarke said she was overwhelmed by Mrs Walton's generosity.

She said the board felt a fitting tribute would be a room at the new hospice, which is due to be commissioned next year, named in Mrs Walton's honour.

Hospice fundraising committee chairman Ian Bishop said the bequest would enable the private hospital to give the best care possible into the future.

"With only about 70 per cent of our operating expenses covered by patient day bed fees paid by the WA Country Health Service, the Department of Veterans Affairs and private health insurers, the remaining 30 per cent has to come from donations and fundraising," he said.