Vol. Vol. 18 18 No. No. 27 31
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Wednesday,February January 10, 13, 2016 2016 Wednesday,
Kealy calls for cancer centre cash BY DEAN LAWSON
M
ember for Lowan Emma Kealy wants Premier Daniel Andrews to use any visit he has planned for the Wimmera this month to make a financial commitment to a Wimmera Cancer Centre project.
BIG WALK, BIG FIGHT: Diane Egan, left, and Bronwyn Williams of Horsham have been busy treading the pavement in preparation for a two-day 60-kilometre walk as part of a fight against cancer in women. The pair is part of a team of seven in a Weekend to End Women’s Cancers event in Melbourne on April 16 and 17 in memory of Diane’s sister-in-law Roseanne Walthers, who died from pancreatic cancer in December. They will join Roseanne’s three sisters Eileen Tresseder, Fran Leo and Therese Blay, daughter Sheree Merton and sister-in-law Kerry Egan in the team. The team has to raise $14,000 – $2000 for each member – to take part in the walk, which generates money for Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre. The pair said they had strong support from family, friends and work colleagues and were busy raising the qualifying money and training to make sure they could comfortably complete the walk. People can make a donation for the team via Facebook or in a tin at Natimuk’s Commercial Hotel bar. Picture: KELLY LAIRD
IN THIS ISSUE
Ms Kealy said State Government support for the project was long overdue considering overwhelming community and regional support for the centre, along with Federal Government acknowledgement of a need to improve services. “If the Premier or other State Government representatives plan to come to Horsham then they should make sure they bring their cheque book,” she said. “The people of the Wimmera have been waiting for the State Government to come on board with the project and it has taken too long.” A variety of community groups, clubs and businesses from across the region have made and continue to make significant donations to the Rachael’s Wish fundraising appeal to build the centre. The Wimmera Health Care Group project is likely to cost more than $3 million.
Mr Andrews promised local government representatives he would return to the region this month. Ms Kealy said she found it ‘astonishing that after almost a year of dithering the Labor government refused to listen to locals and make a funding commitment to the project’. She said the government’s refusal to support the centre placed the value of a $1-million contribution by the Federal Government at risk.
Desperate need
“Every day the government stalls is also another day that locals do not have access to the cancer-care facilities they deserve,” she said. “Everyone is pitching in for this. The community has raised more than $600,000, providing an example of the strong community spirit behind this vital project. “The Federal Government opened the door with $1-million and we’ve been waiting for the Labor government to follow up – especially now the community has contributed so heavily.” Ms Kealy said cancer did not discriminate and touched every family. “This is a project that goes
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well beyond electoral boundaries. We’re not only talking about Horsham. It is about the Wimmera, Mallee, Western District and all of western Victoria. This project is based on a medical service conduit between Ballarat and an enormous expanse of western Victoria.” Ms Kealy said there was a desperate need for a cancer centre based in the region. “It’s about ensuring locals can access the care they need, close to home, when they need it,” she said. “The government needs to listen to people to understand the importance of rural and regional Victorians having access to quality facilities. “Being able to receive treatment close to home instead of travelling far and wide would make a huge difference for patients and families as they tackle cancer. I am sick of reading reports that we have the worst five-year cancer survival rate in the state. We must do all we can to reduce this statistic. “We all deserve quality health care services, whether we live in the city or the country. It is important that our country communities and health care professionals have access to appropriate facilities.”