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Services Club is in a precarious financial situation The Cobar Services Club will hold its an- “We’ve had some informal preliminary talks happens.” nual general meeting next month with the with the golf club about this just to know what Linda said if they decide to, they can choose main item on the agenda being the club’s path we might be able to go down.” to close the club and sell up however members uncertain financial situation. She said visitors from the busy caravan trade are concerned what would then happen to AnThe club’s secretary/manager Linda Carter have been helping to keep the doors open. zac Day and Remembrance Day services and said in the whole time she’s held the position “They come in for a drink and a meal and the memorabilia that’s in the club. (10 years), the club’s financial position has play the pokies, but it’s not putting us any fur- “I’ve always been kicking and screaming to always been a worry. ther in front. keep the doors open, but now I’m running out When she took over the position in 2013, “We don’t have the support of some big busi- of kick,” Linda said. and helped to bring the club out of administra- nessman, the club is owned by the members She hopes the community will show their tion, Linda made a lot of changes to ensure the and ultimately they will have the say as to what support by attending the AGM on August 26. club was running more cost effectively. She said with continued rising costs of wages, electricity, insurance and workers compensation, coupled with the proposed costly “When we have inclusion and equity, that’s changes to gaming and the introduction of Continued from Page 1. cashless poker machines, the club’s financial “I am thrilled to be starting with Dubbo and when we get better outcomes for my people.” can’t wait to roll up my sleeves during my Professor Sakkie Pretorius, Deputy Vicesituation is still of concern. “I’ve spoke to the board about it numerous extended visit to the region in September,” Mr Chancellor (Research), said it is extremely pleasing to see the ONTRAC project receive times and if I’m to leave in 12-18 months time, Johnson said. we need a pathway to get out of the problem The involvement of local Aboriginal com- such significant support. munities will be a vital part of the project, with “People living in regional, rural and remote now,” Linda said. “It’s an old building and currently there’s an the Djurali Centre for Aboriginal and Torres locations will benefit tremendously, not only air conditioner that needs replacing, that’s Strait Islander Research and Education at Mac- from having access to more clinical trials with$50,000, then there’s new carpet and flooring quarie University to lead the codesign process. in their community, but also from the upand with the changes coming to gaming, the Some of the Love Your Sister grant will be skilling of the local workforce,” Professor poker machines will need to be upgraded in the used to fund a part-time Aboriginal postdoctor- Pretorius said. “This impactful initiative will help patients next five years. It’s $35,000 for one poker al researcher on the Djurali team. machine, and that’s only an ordinary one, they Bundjalung Elder and Macquarie University stay closer to home and their support network Associate Professor of Health Sciences, Un- rather than being required to travel long dissell for up to $60,000-$70,000. “We need the support of the members and we cle Boe Rambaldini, said this project will be an tances to receive the latest treatments.” The pilot model will also be deneed a cash injection from somewhere. If a 100 important step forward. members put in $1,000 each that’s $100,000 “Cancer is the leading cause of death in Abo- signed, evaluated and documented so that it riginal people, overtaking cardiovascular dis- can extend beyond this grant, and be used not but that’s not really going to get us very far. “Or do we just throw our hands up in the air? ease, and a key barrier is access to the latest only by any trial unit within Australia, but also extended to non-cancer indications. treatments and affordability,” he said. “But I’m not a quitter,” she said. Linda said with the guidance of ClubsNSW “This project will work with Aboriginal peo- Macquarie University’s Clinical Trials Unit she’s looking in to amalgamation, which is ple in a culturally safe way to identify barriers currently runs about 120 trials a year, many of what a number of smaller and unviable clubs to treatment and create pathways to overcome which are first in-human trials run on behalf of pharmaceutical and biomedical companies. them. are now doing.
Cobar to take part in a clinical trial
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Page 2 The Cobar Weekly Wednesday July 26, 2023
