Donell Bullock is operations manager for Ronald McDonald House Charities (RMHC) Global, which has chapters in the Asia Pacific and East Africa.

Based in the USA, Mr Bullock visited Australia to work on establishing three new Ronald McDonald Houses, at a cost of $100 million.

One 70-room centre would be at Westmead Children’s Hospital.

Mr Bullock also visited several of the charity’s family retreats and RMHC Australia CEO, Malcolm Coutts, was keen to show him the very first - Fiona Lodge.

The Rosedale retreat was the first stress-free holiday home where children with life-threatening illness could enjoy family time.

The retreat has been replicated around Australia and there are two in New Zealand.

Mr Coutts said he was involved when Batemans Bay businessman Jim Johns set up Fiona Lodge, so it was “near and dear” to his heart.

“I suggested we have a look because family retreats are something that the charity doesn’t have in the many countries we’re in,” Mr Coutts said.

“(Fiona Lodge) was number one and it’s such high quality.”

Mr Bullock said he was keen on sharing best practice ideas with the charity’s 58 chapters.

“The retreat is a great service to families who have been through a very difficult time,” he said.

Mr Bullock said the Hong Kong branch had enquired about the model.

“Our mission is to increase health and wellbeing and do what demonstrates compassion and hospitality...

“I’m eager to find out how they operationalise that here and how it can be replicated in other areas.”