Over 280 people from Cowra and the region attended the group’s major fundraiser to help support the group into the future.

Cowra Cancer Action Group President, Barbara Newham, said it was amazing to see how the luncheon had grown.

“This luncheon started in 2006, the first year I was president,” she said.

“At that luncheon we had 80 people attend and today we have 286 people. So thank you to everyone who is here today and a very big thank you to all the hostesses who have invited along many guests. 

“Some groups who attend are very large now and we acknowledge the huge effort to get all those guests present and here on the day,” she said.

During the luncheon Mrs Newham informed the guests of the Cancer Actions Group’s progress in 2017.

“Our donations to the hospital this year totals $58,000,” she said.

“This year we have received many generous donations from community groups and organisations; the principals and staff of the Cowra Diagnostic Centre, the staff of the NRMA, the Cowra Lady Golfers, the Cowra Ladies Bowlers, the Cowa Cake Decorators Guild, the Cowra MET school and the Cowra Rugby League Old Boys.

“One special donation was from the Central West Credit Union staff who conducted a raffle in October, with an information night held by the Breast Cancer Support group and as a result we received $6530.17.

“The purpose of this donation was to purchase the physio ward a machine to be used to detect early onset Lymphedema,” she said.

Mrs Newham also addressed community concerns about what would happen to donated equipment when a new hospital was built.

“Two things have been mentioned to us lately, the question of what will happen to all the equipment when the new hospital is built and can these items be moved to another hospital,” she said.

“The answer is that probably by that time there will be need for updated equipment, as a lot of our equipment will be obsolete, and in all sincerity, cancer treatment is changing and by that time this equipment may no longer used.

“The second answer is, it is highly unlikely these items can be sent away as the Cancer Action Group has bought and payed for these items with GST.

“We don’t buy through the hospital we buy them ourselves, as such we have ownership in them. We also have plaques placed on all these items so that they belong exclusively to the Cowra Health Centre.”

Cowra Mayor, Cr Bill West, thanked those who attended saying it was an example of what communities can achieve.

“It is quite tremendous to stand here and see such a number of people in this room supporting such a wonderful cause,” he said.

“Barbara I do need to sincerely congratulate you on the work you do within our community and what the Cancer Action Group does.

“Truly this is a wonderful example of a community coming together, not because of government rules and regulations, but because of people. People like Barbara, her group and the ladies and gentlemen who support them.

“That is something well all should be proud of and I congratulate each and everyone of you for your involvement.

“The support we give each other is the mark of a caring community and again something we should all be proud of,” he said.

Mayor West also commented on the future of the Cancer Action Group’s work within a new hospital.

“The work that has been done by the Cancer Action Group and others will have a magnificent flow on effect,” he said.

“Because the service is there and, whilst we can’t guarantee what will stay on the hospital, the fact that there is good treatment here makes it very difficult for anybody planning a new hospital to discount the need of our community for these treatment facilities.

“It almost guarantees we will have that support in our community and that’s the flow on effect a lot of people don’t quite pick up on,” he said.