4 THURSDAY,

Y, July 18, 201

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The Standard

www.standard.net.au

TARGET $5M
Cancer centre a dream
Premier
makes a
plea from
the heart
WARRNAMBOOL
By SEAN McCOMISH
HIS voice faltered and for
a moment it seemed like
Premier Denis Napthine
might not be able to hold
back a tear as he bared
a piece of his soul to the
audience.
Like everyone else, he
carried the memory of
someone special into the
room at the Peters Project
Target $5 million ofcial
launch in Warrnambool last
night.
For Dr Napthine it was
of his closest brother, who
died after a short and tragic
ght with the disease.
A number of years ago
I lost a brother of mine
through cancer. He was
home at Easter, only in his
mid-thirties and advised
the family that he had been
diagnosed with cancer
and he was dead six weeks
later, an emotional Dr
Napthine said.
That had a devastating
impact on us all and every
single one of us can tell a
similar story.
Already $1 million has
been raised towards the
fund-raising target to build
a $30 million integrated
cancer care complex housing radiotherapy services.
About 200 supporters
including mayors, community service leaders, health
chiefs and politicians
packed into the room at the
Lighthouse Theatre, marking a new era in the Peters
Project a cause that has
become close to the heart
of the south-west.
Everything from cricket
matches to childrens
parties have been geared
towards it, and the
presence last night of
people from as far away as
Mount Gambier and Colac

ABOVE LEFT: Warrnambools Cr Rob Askew (left), Bill Phillpot and Warrnambool mayor Michael Neoh. ABOVE RIGHT: Peters Project founder Vickie Jellie and Premier
Denis Napthine. BELOW LEFT: South West Healthcare CEO John Krygger (left), John Maher and Chris Logan. BELOW RIGHT: The Peters Project Business Team (from
left) Jarrod Lewis, Tim Lewis, Sue Cassidy, Peter Headen, Terry Beks and Chris Kol.
130717AS30 130717AS18 130717AS21 130717AS24 Pictures: AARON SAWALL

reected its expanding

support base.
A newly formed business
group made up of prominent business leaders was
also unveiled at the launch.
Founder Vicki Jellie
summed up the renewed
push, saying weve never
asked for money before, but
now were going to, she
said.
We just think the community will do what theyve

been doing for the last four

years but twice as big.
Were just over $1 million. I got $10,000 delivered
to my front door today.
An emotional off-the-cuff
speech was also made by
Mideld Meat boss Colin
McKenna, who spoke of
the rst and nal days in
Peter Jellies battle with
cancer, then announced his
company would kickstart
the momentum with a

$200,000 donation.
Former Warrnambool
mayor Glenys Phillpot said
it had been a campaign that
was successful beyond
expectations.
Give as though a life
depends on it, because it
does, she said.
Wannon MP Dan Tehan
told listeners he was
working hard to convince
his Coalition colleagues
to promise $10 million in

Commonwealth funds.
Dr Napthine, who has
been a Peters Project
member since day one,
made some of the strongest
arguments for the service.
In this region theres
nearly 700 people diagnosed with cancer a year
thats about two per day,
he said.
By 2022 there will be
a thousand people in this
region who are diagnosed

each year. We know that

every 100 kilometres away
you are from radiotherapy,
the less likely you are to
take it up and the more
likely you are to die
prematurely. Given that
were 200 kilometres from
Geelong and 300 from
Melbourne, that means that
people from this region are
12 per cent more likely to
die of cancer.
s.mccomish@fairfaxmedia.com.au

THE STORY SO FAR ...

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State government funds study into regions needs

WE HAVE NOT FORGOTTEN THEM

Unlike Syd Cuffe, who attended Portlands Anzac Day service,
most of us will never experience the horrors of war. But young and
old gathered across the south-west yesterday to give thanks to
those men and women who did brave all for our country.
100425AS04 Picture: AARON SAWALL
STORIES & PICTURES: PAGES 4-6

Duck for cover

Peace the sheepdog looked understandably uncertain when confronted by a stampede of dandily-dressed ducks yesterday. Peaces trainer, Brian
Harrington, of Deniliquin, exhibits his dashing racing ducks all over Australia at various dog trialling events and country shows and they were a hit
again at the Commonwealth Sheepdog Championships at Port Fairys Gardens Oval. STORY & PICTURES: PAGE 10 100209GW11 Pictures: GLEN WATSON

South-west cancer centre a high priority: Hockey

WE NEED IT JOE CARES

Peters dream
of $30m
cancer

REGION
By PETER COLLINS

IT took more than 10 years of

community campaigning to get
an air ambulance now its
time to push for a regional
cancer care centre in the
south-west.
A bold vision to establish a
$30 million one-stop base in

treatments. A campaign to
secure the new centre will
be ofcially launched on
Wednesday next week and
aims to eventually lure radiotherapy services, a magnetic
imaging machine and other
support programs.
It is called Peters Project
in honour of Peter Jellie
(pictured left) who lost his

February 10, 2010

Mrs Jellie said it was hoped

to achieve the centre within
ve years, but the committee
was prepared for a battle.
Its not going to be easy,
but, like the helicopter campaign, we will persevere,
she said.
If we can get communities
to join forces on this it will
strengthen our case.

VICKI JELLIE

EGION
y ALEX SINNOTT

AN
improved
Princes
Highway and a south-west
ancer centre will shape up
o be the major issues for
he south-west ahead of the
ederal election, according
o shadow treasurer Joe
Hockey.
In an exclusive interview be-

The Standard that integrated

cancer care for the region was
a high health priority for the
Coalition
Peters Project has gained
huge momentum in south-west
Victoria and I look forward to
talking with those involved,
Mr Hockey said.
It seems like the federal
government is defying its own
criteria on radiotherapy and

of people out there willing to

ll me in on the details.
Mr Hockey added that
the federal governments
health reform would be of
little benet to south-west
Victorian patients.
I was surprised how
(Premier) John Brumby

April 26, 2010

Victoria already has

case-mix funding and local
hospital boards so there is not
much change for south-west
Victorian hospitals.
The reform is quite impossible to decipher but appears
to be more of a power grab
than anything else.
Mr Hockey said he would
examine the need for duplication of Princes Highway

to giving the stretch of highway Auslink status, he said

the case for increased funding
was strong.
The last time I went to
Warrnambool, I noted that it
was a prime tourist destination, so Im sure trafc would
be an issue along the highway,
especially in summer, he
said.
Mr Hockey will meet with

in Warrnambool as part of his

tour of the region.
When asked about Wannons
transition from long-serving
member David Hawker to a
new MP, Mr Hockey endorsed
Liberal candidate Daniel
Tehans bid for the seat.
Wannon expects someone
to contribute at a national
level and I think Dan Tehans
the man for the job, Mr

SOUTH-WEST cancer centre

campaigners are overjoyed
by the state governments announcement last night it will
conduct a feasibility study
into radiotherapy services
for the region.
Health Minister Daniel
Andrews told The Standard
that Victorian Cancer Agency
chairman Professor Bob
Thomas will be commissioned to conduct a report
into the south-wests need for
expanded cancer services.
In an exclusive interview,
Mr Andrews said he would
call on expert advice to
look at the Peters Project
campaigns contention that
the south-west needs an integrated cancer care centre.
I have asked Victorian
chief
cancer
adviser,
Professor Bob Thomas, to
provide me with detailed expert advice on the feasibility
of providing expanded cancer
services in the south-west,
the Minister said.
I discussed this with the
board director of South West
Healthcare Sharon Muldoon
in a post-budget brieng
this week (Wednesday) and
I understand she supports
this approach.
The surprise move comes

100506AM03 Picture: ANGELA

The anguish
review for new or upgraded

By ALEX SINNOTT

May 8, 2010

MILNE

The lack of cancer treatment in the region ripped the Anderson family apart at some of the
most crucial times of their lives. Meredith Anderson and her children (from left) Laura, 8,
Harris, 11, Leah, 6, lost their father and husband Mark Anderson to cancer . STORY PAGE 4

Peters Project founder

with Bob Thomas and put our

South West Coast MP Denis

Cancer centre study

just an election
stunt, claims MP
A FEASIBILITY study for a southwest integrated cancer care
centre has been used to pacify
the regions voters, according
to South West Coast MP Denis
Napthine.
He claimed the state government feasibility study had stalled
and lacked transparency given
that a terms of reference, a timeline or expected release date had
not been publicised.
The study conducted by the
states chief cancer adviser Bob
Thomas was announced by
Health Minister Daniel Andrews
last month in response to the
Peters Project campaign an
initiative endorsed by The
Standard.
Peters Project members met
with Professor Thomas earlier this
month to discuss the study and
stated in a press release that they
were pleased with the outcome of
the meeting.
Dr Napthine said there was
growing cynicism in the southwest over the study as many considered it to be a political stunt in
the lead-up to the November state
election.
There was this big announcement more than a month ago and
it has been followed by absolute
silence, he said.
We still dont know the terms
of reference, we still dont have
timelines, the people involved in
the study, whether Bob Thomas
will be part of the research pro-

REGION
By ALEX SINNOTT

However I am cynical

June 15, 2010

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CANCER TOO SLOW

HOPE RISES
Rebeccas courage
inspires support

THE STANDARD

TUESDAY, May 1, 2012

A spokesman for Health Minister Daniel Andrews said the state

government was still nalising
details of the study announced on
May 7. The governments decision to conduct an investigation
into south-west cancer care came
after the federal government rejected a $200,000 bid for a similar
study in April.
I understand that Professor
Bob Thomas has conducted early
consultations with interested
parties, he said. That work will
inform the scope and the timeline
for the feasibility study.
The Standard understands the
study could be put on hold until
early next year with its deadline
yet to be determined.
South West Healthcare and St
John of God Hospital are expected to be involved in the study as
well as consultation with hospitals in Portland, Hamilton, Mount
Gambier and smaller regional
healthcare providers.
Peters Project founder Vicki
Jellie reiterated her view that
the feasibility study should be
conducted before the November
27 state election. She said it was
important that the cancer care
centre issue remained apolitical.
We have full condence in
Professor Bob Thomas because
he isnt a politician and hes an
expert in his eld, Mrs Jellie said.
Its the view of Peters Project

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SHADOWS AT DAWN
A glow on the eastern horizon silhouettes a
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Lady Bay as another May Racing Carnival
begins today.

PROJECTS
$5M START

State budget backs cancer centre

WARRNAMBOOL
y ALEX SINNOTT
nd CLARE QUIRK
CAMPAIGNERS
were
elebrating last night after
he state government committed $5 million to start the
onstruction of a south-west
ancer care centre.
Treasurer Kim Wells will
onour a 2010 election pledge
or the centre in Warrnambool
when he hands down the
udget this afternoon.
A joint submission from
Peters Project South West

Healthcare and St John of

God Hospital sealed the
deal which was leaked to The
Standard late yesterday.
The centre will be built
at the Warrnambool Base
Hospital as part of the
next stage of its major
redevelopment.
Last night Peters Project
founder Vicki Jellie said she
hoped the funding would allow for South West Healthcare
to develop drawings and a
business plan.
Weve always had hope,
Ms Jellie said

Were very grateful but

we need roughly $35 million.
I know theyve committed this
and that does give us hope.
Hopefully this will allow
the hospital to do schematic
drawings and a business
plan.
Peters Project committee member and former
Warrnambool mayor Glenys
Phillpot said the funding was
a brilliant start but South
West Healthcare needed to
be allowed to continue the
next stage of planning.
Five million dollars will

May 1, 2012

get you the front door, she

said.
We need the state government to unfreeze South West
Healthcare, complete the next
stage of planning and make
a realistic budget bid next
year.
This is certainly a brilliant start. The community
has been very clear. More
than half-a-million dollars
has been donated and every
dollar has been a vote for this
project.

CONTINUED PAGE 2

Peters Project founder Vicki Jellie (centre), former mayor Glenys

Phillpot and South West Healthcare CEO John Krygger are
delighted by the funding decision
120430AM32 Picture: ANGELA MILNE