Vol. 19 No. 7
FREE PUBLICATION
Wednesday, August 17, 2016
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WE’RE THERE: From left, Wimmera Health Care Group Foundation chairman Don Johns, ACE Radio Horsham general Manager Scott Grambau, health group public relations coordinator Amelia Crafter, project steering committee chairman Richard Goudie and health group acting chief executive Mark Knights celebrate Rachael’s Wish fundraising campaign reaching its $1-million target. Picture: KELLY LAIRD
‘We’ve done it’ W
BY DEAN LAWSON
immera health officials have the final green light to build a Wimmera Cancer Centre in Horsham with confirmation a community money-raising effort had reached and passed a $1-million target.
Project steering committee chairman Richard Goudie said communities from across the Wimmera and southern Mallee had raised $1,012,202 in little more than a year. “Thank you. To every person or business who donated and hosted fundraisers, thank you,” Mr Goudie said. “We had a goal of raising a minimum $1-million in community fundraising and to have reached that so
IN THIS ISSUE
quickly is evidence of how strongly our region supports this project. “With the community funds and money received from both state and federal governments, this centre will now become a reality.” The state and federal governments have each provided $1-million for the $3.5-million project, designed to dramatically improve patient care while complementing services provided in Ballarat and beyond. The centre will feature modern, purpose-built oncology facilities, a dialysis ward and community palliativecare services. Wimmera Heath Care Group acting chief executive Mark Knights said reaching the funding milestone was a ‘just fantastic’ result for for Wimmera
and southern Mallee communities. “It basically green lights the project which has now become very real,” he said. “We’re in the final stages of selecting sites. We’ve done the preliminary building layout and about to move into schematic designs, which allows us to go to tender. I don’t think, from a community-support point of view, that I’ve ever seen anything like the type of response we’ve had. The financial support has come from everyone including neighbouring health services and local government to businesses, large and small, individuals and of course the state and Commonwealth governments. Some people have made significant financial sacrifices to make sure we have a first-class facility.”
Mr Knights said the plan was to put the project out to tender, have a builder contracted by Christmas and initial construction to start in the new year. “Anticipated completion should be around August, September – somewhere in the back half of the calendar year,” he said.
Easing the burden
Mr Knights said the new centre would provide services to a huge catchment area and help ease much of the burden on people needing to seek specialist help outside the region. “It’s going to be an integral link in a chain connecting a vast area of western Victoria with Ballarat oncology services. It will form a conduit for a complete range of care services, from diagnosis and support through to treat-
ment. It’s not only going to be for patients, but also their families,” he said. “In short, people from the Wimmera and southern Mallee, in their fight against illness, will have the best possible environment and support to deal with the many issues that might arise.” Health group board chairwoman Angela Murphy said the Wimmera Cancer Centre would provide greater opportunities for more people to receive the treatment they needed, close to their support networks and with less time spent travelling. “We especially thank Dr Don Johns and Wimmera Health Care Group Foundation for their early commitment and dedication to this project,” she said. Continued page 3
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