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The Moorabool News – 5 April, 2022 Page 11
Surviving cancer, five years on By Lachlan Ellis A local survivor of ovarian cancer has shared her story five years on from her diagnosis, with her life today a far cry from the ordeal. Ashlee Hamm (nee Bartleman) grew up in Ballan, and her battle with ovarian cancer began in December 2016, with doctors initially suspecting a swollen stomach was the result of pregnancy, a parasite, or food intolerance. “It all started in December when I got back from Morocco. I ended up with lot of fluid in my stomach, it started off as feeling bloated and not being able to eat, which got worse and worse,” she told the Moorabool News. “I saw about seven doctors that kept turning me away, and just did pregnancy tests, not really listening to the story. When I did finally get diagnosed, I ended up having Stage 3 ovarian cancer … from there they drained the fluid, and I had 11 litres of fluid in my stomach. “It pushed all my organs up … it took a long time to get diagnosed, but once I got diagnosed, it all happened very quickly, I had surgery on the 24th of January and started chemo in March.” Six rounds of chemo and 18 rounds of Avastin – a treatment which prevents new blood vessels growing, including those which feed tumours – Ms Hamm had the cancer surgically removed and a long road to recovery began. Today, Ms Hamm is cancer-free – despite a 95 per cent chance of her type of cancer re-occurring “within weeks, if not months”, it hasn’t come back – and thanks to her
sister, she and husband Stephen have a beautiful baby boy, Paddy. “He came from a donor egg from my sister … during surgery my ovaries were removed, so Sam donated her eggs to make embryos and that’s where Paddy came from,” she said. “He was born last May. We did that through IVF in Ballarat … life five years from my diagnosis on is really good, having Paddy ... I feel like you don’t take life for granted, you’re more resilient, you pick up on the good a lot more and not stress about the bad. You take every moment as it comes.” Her new perspective on life includes a focus on health – she no longer drinks alcohol, eats a plant-based diet, and has done four triathlons following her recovery from ovarian cancer. In her latest triathlon which took place in February, Ms Hamm even made a podium finish. “The Barwon Heads Triathlon, which we kind of do every year with Dad, a brother-in-law, and my sister…I ended up coming third in my category, I was pretty happy with that. It was fun…we’re signing up for another one in Noosa in October, that should be good,” she said. “I definitely started taking my health very seriously after being diagnosed with cancer…especially after having Paddy, the thought of cancer re-occurring is a bit scarier now than before I had him.” Ashlee Hamm has also shared her story on podcast ‘The Innerview’, which can be listened to on Apple Podcasts and Spotify.
Ashlee Hamm, now cancer free, with her son Paddy, after completing a triathlon recently, placing third. Photo Ashlee Hamm
Budget reduces road funding By Lachlan Ellis The Federal Budget has been released, and as with most Budgets, there are benefits for Moorabool, and areas where we may miss out. The last few years have seen an ambitious campaign from Council, seeking Federal and State Government funding for a range of projects and programs, and this year is no exception. Moorabool Shire Mayor, Cr Tom Sullivan, told the Moorabool News Council has several applications currently before the Federal Government for consideration, which they hope will be successful. “These include funding for the sports precinct in Bacchus Marsh through the Regional Infrastructure Fund 2021, and for the upgrade of the Bacchus Marsh-Balliang Road Upgrade Project as part of the Remote Roads Upgrade Pilot Program,” he said. “The $812 million over five years provided for expanding digital mobile coverage in regional Australia is also most welcome, as this is much needed for Moorabool Shire. The $500 million extension of the Local Roads and Community Infrastructure Program will assist councils to build more libraries,
sporting facilities and footpaths, and deliver important road upgrades to improve safety.” However, Cr Sullivan said Council was disappointed by a lack of Federal funding for disaster prevention, and a decrease in funding for roads. “We would have liked to have seen some budget support for disaster prevention, as this could potentially cost our communities more as we face the likely event of frequent and severe natural disasters in the future,” Cr Sullivan said. “While it is pleasing to see the amount of funding available for the bridges program has increased by $42 million, it is concerning that the total amount of Roads to Recovery Program and Black Spot Program funding are each down $8 million from the current allocations.” Cr Sullivan said like many councils, improving roads and connectivity is a major focus, and they rely on external funding to help achieve these improvements. Labor MP for Ballarat, Catherine King, said the Budget was “disappointing” for the region, and the Federal Government was “once again…picking winners and losers across regional Australia”. “It’s been a long time since the Morrison-
Joyce Government invested in any infrastructure priorities in our region, whether that be further upgrading the Western Highway or sports and recreational facilities across our communities,” she said. “Nothing in this Budget makes up for a decade of attacks on wages, job security and Medicare. Even these billions of dollars sprayed around on the eve of an election won’t go near topping-up the $3,600 typical Australian families are already out of pocket because of skyrocketing costs of living.” Ms King said she was particularly disappointed to see that the government has identified four regions across the country to share in $7.1 billion, but “have not included any parts of Victoria, South Australia or Tasmania.” Liberal Senator for Victoria, Sarah Henderson, said the Budget would “deliver for all Australians”, with both measures to reduce the cost of living, and an increase in government investment. “The Budget demonstrates the Morrison Government’s clear plan to create more and better paying jobs with big investments in skills, small business, infrastructure and our regions, to push unemployment to a 50-year low. The Budget also guarantees the essential
services like health, education, aged care, and the NDIS, and provides a major boost to our defence and national security,” she said. “With a cut to the fuel excise, more tax relief, a $250 payment for 6 million Australians including pensioners and cheaper medicines, the Budget is delivering very substantial cost of living relief so that more money stays in the pockets of Australians. “A 1.3 billion investment for improved telecommunications in the regions including enhanced mobile connectivity is a game changer,” Ms Henderson said. The Federal Budget 2022-23 can be viewed at www.budget.gov.au.
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