Well Wisher Spring 2009

SPRING 2009
THE WELL WISHER
THE OLIVIA NEWTON-JOHN CANCER AND WELLNESS CENTRE APPEAL – UPDATE
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A Personal Message from Olivia
ambassadors Sir Cliff Richard, Dannii
Minogue, Leeza Gibbons, Tottie
Goldsmith, Pat Farrar, Barbra Ward and
Sue McIntosh, to help spread the word
and raise more funds.
rogress continues, thanks to your
ongoing support. I am thrilled
that after six years it is becoming
a reality. Recent earthworks prepared the
old Heidelberg House cancer building
for demolition – to make way for our
Cancer and Wellness Centre.
I’m excited to share with you that our
Appeal has been named the official
charity for the Melbourne Cup Carnival
this year. Read more about it in this
Well Wisher and find out how you
can get involved.
I am delighted that fellow Australians Deborah Hutton,
Eddie McGuire, Melinda Schneider and John Lazarou
have become Appeal Ambassadors. They join our
T
With your ongoing support, together
we will soon have our specially designed
Cancer and Wellness Centre.
Each and every one of you play a
part – not just in helping to create a
cancer care centre, but to help create
a way forward in cancer
treatment….towards wellness.
Thank you for continuing this journey with me.
Love and light
OFFICIAL CHARITY FOR
MELBOURNE CUP CARNIVAL 2009
he Victoria Racing Club has named the Olivia
Newton-John Cancer and Wellness Centre
Appeal as the main beneficiary of the Melbourne
Cup Community Fund 2009 Pin and Win program.
This year, the Victoria Racing Club proudly launched
the Melbourne Cup Community Fund, which focuses
on supporting Australian charities that aim to create
long-term health and social welfare programs.
The majority of proceeds of the Melbourne Cup
Community Fund 2009 Pin and Win program will help
the Olivia Newton-John Cancer and Wellness Centre to
set new standards in patient-centred care and provide a
way forward in cancer treatment. Integrating research
and medical treatment with the best of wellness care
to help heal the whole person, the Centre will build
on more than 125 years of cancer care expertise at the
Austin Hospital. www.OliviaAppeal.com
www.OliviaAppeal.com
In addition to supporting the Olivia Newton-John
Cancer and Wellness Centre Appeal, buying a Pin and
Win lapel provides a chance to win more than $100,000
in prizes including a Lexus IS 250C Sports Model,
valued at $89,500 a Hilton Sydney Deluxe Holiday
package for two (2) people valued at $7,500 and a TCL
Entertainment Package valued at $4,000 (inc GST).
You can hold your own Melbourne Cup party
and order a box of fundraising Pin and Win lapel
pins for your guests. Everyone has the chance
to win some great prizes - while raising funds
for our Appeal.
Purchase via email at OliviaAppeal@austin.org.au
or phone 03 9496 5753.
If you would like to volunteer and help sell Pin
and Win lapels at the Melbourne Cup Carnival
simply call us on the number above.
THE WELL WISHER
THE OLIVIA NEWTON-JOHN
OLIVIA NEWTON-JOHN CANCER AND WELLNESS
CENTRE PROJECT UPDATE
The Inpatient Wards have temporarily re-located to
refurbished rooms on level nine of the Austin Hospital’s
Harold Stokes Building. The Day Oncology Unit has
temporarily moved to Austin Hospital’s Outpatients
Department on level three.
“This is an important milestone in the Olivia Newton-John
Cancer and Wellness Centre project, because it means we
can move towards demolishing the old Heidelberg House
cancer building,” Mr Vaughan said.
Due to the enormous size of the project, the Centre will
be built in two stages.
Patients moving out of old wards to make way for the new
Cancer and Wellness Centre
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rogress continues! Patients and staff from the old
Austin Cancer Services building, Heidelberg House
have moved to short term accommodation to make
way for our new Cancer and Wellness Centre.
As you can see (pictured below), major earthworks have
already commenced in preparation to demolish Heidelberg
House (HH).
The mains tunnel that services the entire Austin Hospital
with power, oxygen, water, steam and other vital services are
situated underneath HH. The mains are being diverted a
safe distance away so that the demolition and construction
can commence. “It was a tight spot but they did a great job
of it,” Austin Health Project Officer Rohan Vaughan said.
Earthworks around Heidelberg House
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The Day Oncology Unit, the Cannulation and Apheresis
Treatment Services (plasma exchange area), or a portion
of pharmacy, a portion of the radiotherapy service,
information and resource centre and the Wellness
Centre will open in 2012/13.
The Inpatient Wards, balance of radiotherapy and final fit
out of research laboratories will be completed in the second
stage of the project build.
The dream of a specially designed Cancer and Wellness
Centre, that integrates the latest in medical treatment
and cancer research with the best of wellness care, is
closer to reality than ever before – only thanks to your
ongoing support.
The new designs of the Centre will be unveiled in the
next edition of Well Wisher!
CANCER AND WELLNESS CENTRE APPEAL – THIS ISSUE – APPEAL UPDATE
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BUILDING ON MORE THAN A CENTURY
OF CANCER EXPERTISE
he Olivia Newton-John Cancer and Wellness
Centre will build upon a solid foundation of
cancer expertise at Austin Health.
The Austin has a remarkable background in cancer care,
with more than 125 years experience. Being one of the
largest providers in Victoria for cancer treatment and
research has come from years of experience, dedication
and commitment.
Research developments and new treatments are helping more
patients with cancer than ever before. Medical oncologist,
Associate Professor Ian Davis and his team from the Ludwig
Institute for Cancer Research located at Austin Hospital,
have been leading research into new treatments for advanced
kidney cancer.
“Research is being done at the Ludwig Institute at the
Austin that is not being done anywhere else in the
world,” said A/Prof Davis. “Our team here is in a leadership
role with kidney cancer and other cancers in Australia.
Patients from other hospitals are often referred to us because
we are conducting clinical trials in this and other cancers.”
A/Prof Davis explained that new cancer treatments that
interfere with the blood supply to cancer cells has helped
stop advanced kidney cancer from growing.
“If you can’t get rid of cancer entirely then the next best
thing is stop it in its tracks so it can not do any more harm
to the patient,” said A/Prof Davis.
Where only a small percentage of patients a few years ago
with advanced kidney cancer would have had a response to
treatment, A/Prof Davis explained that about three quarters of
the patients can now be expected to benefit from treatment.
B
“Clinical trials here and elsewhere showed that 40 percent
of the patients’ tumours had displayed major shrinkage and
about 35 percent of the patients’ cancer had stabilised [not
grown any further].”
A/Prof Davis is chair of a cooperative clinical trials group to
foster research ideas in urological oncology – the Australian
and New Zealand Urogenital and Prostate Cancer Trials
Group (ANZUP). “The work we do extends beyond renal
[kidney] – to prostate, testicular…and soon in bladder
cancer,” A/Prof Davis said.
ANZUP, funded initially by a seed grant from the
Victorian Cancer Agency and now with funding from
Cancer Australia, is the first time in Australia all disciplines
have been brought together for this area of cancer, all
collaborating for better patient outcomes.
“We will always try to cure cancer, but if we can’t then we
will try to turn it into a disease that people might be able to
live with.”
Research into new cancer treatments is essential if we are to
make further progress. The completed Cancer and Wellness
Centre will allow closer collaboration of researchers,
clinicians and patients in the search for targeted cancer
treatments and vaccines.
The Centre’s purpose-built facilities will not only provide
a healing environment for patients, it will also provide
valuable first-rate training and experience for young cancer
specialists, researchers and medical staff – to develop a new
generation of world-class cancer experts.
REMEMBERING DON’S LEGACY
allarat local Don Blackam OAM who sadly
passed away this year, was a well-respected and
loved member of the community for his work as
a businessman and philanthropist. Mr Blackam provided
two $10,000 scholarships annually to enable interns
to move to Ballarat to complete the final year of their
training, at the Ballarat Austin Radiation Oncology
Centre (BAROC) – a satellite site of the Austin Health
Radiation Oncology Centre.
Mr Blackam’s contribution to the BAROC aided in
continuing to provide the highest levels of service
to the surrounding community. The scholarship
program, established in 2007, helped attract and
retain staff at BAROC.
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THE WELL WISHER
THE OLIVIA NEWTON-JOHN CANCER AND WELLNESS CENTRE APPEAL – UPDATE
A BIG
T ha n k y o u
TO OUR COMMUNITY
• The Myer Community Fund Precious Metal Ball
raised more than $250,000 this year for our Cancer
and Wellness Centre Appeal. Olivia Newton-John and
Appeal Ambassdors Dannii Minogue, Sue McIntosh
and Tottie Goldsmith attended the ball as special guests.
Olivia performed, ‘I Honestly Love You’, as a fundraising
auction item – singing to Myer CEO Bernie Brooks.
• The John Cummins Memorial Fund generously
granted $55,000 to Austin Health Cancer Services for
a Brain Tumour Support Officer. This is their second
grant for the role that supports patients and families
affected by the disease.
• Nintendo partnered with the Appeal on a limited
edition Nintendo DS, packaged with a game. A portion
of their sales raised $25,000 for the Appeal!
• The W C Thomas Charitable Trust’s Ray Smith
(pictured below) presented cancer survivor and Austin
Health staff member Gordon Chan with a $20,000
donation for our Appeal.
Olivia Newton-John joined with Tottie Goldsmith, Dannii Minogue,
comedic actor Gerry Connelly as HM the Queen and Myer’s Jennifer
Hawkins. (Photo courtesy of Jim Lee.)
• ACP Magazines partnered with the Appeal for a
‘30 Days of Health and Wellbeing’ promotion and
donated $10,000. Several special events were held over
the 30 days to raise the profile of the Appeal. A special
thank you to ACP’s Deborah Thomas and our Appeal
Ambassador Tottie Goldsmith.
• Lyall Hotel’s Champagne Bar is donating $1 from every
glass or $2 from every bottle of champagne sold.
• Fashion store Blue Illusion donated 20 percent of their
fashion parade’s proceeds.
• Milliner Kerrie Stanley has created limited-edition
1920’s art deco style headbands, signed by celebrities, to
help raise money for the Appeal. To purchase, or view
the collection online, visit www.kerriestanley.com
Gordon Chan with Ray Smith
• The ‘Olivia Rose’ has raised more than $9,000 for the
Appeal, thanks to Peter Nosow of Lansdale Roses. You
can still purchase the ‘Olivia Rose’ at Bunnings, Mitre
10 and leading garden stores.
• Rotary Club of Heidelberg donated $5,000 as a further
contribution towards the Appeal, in recognition of the
club’s Vice President Gordon Chan who had joined
Olivia’s Great Walk to Beijing fundraiser last year.
• Rotary Club of North Balwyn donated $5,000 to our
Appeal from their Rotary River Ride fundraiser.
RECOGNISING YOUR
SUPPORT – THANK YOU
A special thank you to the many people who gave
generously to be included in the recognition area
of the Cancer and Wellness Centre. These donors
will be acknowledged within a specially designed,
central area of the new Centre. Soon we will be able
to share with you final design concepts.
ABN 96 237 388 063
Ph: +61 3 9496 5753
Locked Bag 25, Heidelberg VIC 3084
Email: OliviaAppeal@austin.org.au
CHRISTMAS GREETING
CARDS AND HAMPERS TO
HELP THE APPEAL
Y
ou can now purchase Christmas greeting cards and
hampers through a dedicated website that donate 10
percent of the retail price to our Appeal. There are many
designs to choose from, or you can personalise your own.
Telephone Sharon Wishart of “Charity Greeting Cards” on
02 9779 1533 and find out how you can organise your Christmas
cards and hampers in support of our Appeal, or visit www.
christmascards4charity.com.au/onj to purchase Christmas cards
or www.charityhampers.com.au/onj to order hampers.
SPECIAL FUNDRAISER – THE
BRIGHTON LUNCH
J
oin Appeal Ambassadors Sigrid Thornton and Deborah
Hutton at the Brighton International from 12 noon on
Friday October 16 for a special fundraising lunch, in support
of the Appeal. The event is presented by the Rotary Club of
Brighton. For tickets and further information, telephone Geoff
Bentley: 0408 991 641 or email geoff.bentley@nec.com.au
OLIVIA APPEAL TV SPECIAL
E
arly October (quite possibly the 4th of October at
2.00pm), Channel Ten will be airing a television special
which shares the inside story of Olivia’s 23-day trek
across 228 kilometres of the Great Wall of China; to raise
funds and awareness for our dedicated Cancer and Wellness
Centre at Austin Health.
YES! I WISH TO HELP
ACHIEVE THE DREAM
Dr/Mr/Mrs/Miss/Ms: __________________________
____________________________________________
Address: _____________________________________
___________________________ Postcode: _________
Ph H: (
) _____________ Ph W: (
)_____________
Mobile number: _______________________________
Email Address: ________________________________
I am already an Olivia Newton-John Cancer and Wellness
Centre Appeal OR Austin Health supporter.
My supporter number is: ________________________
Enclosed is my cheque/money order made payable to
Austin Health for the amount I have ticked:
$100
$50
$25
$500
$2,500
$_________ my choice OR Please
Please debit the amount I have indicated from my:
VISA
MASTERCARD
Signature ________________ Expiry Date ____/____
FOR REGULAR MONTHLY DONATIONS
I authorise Austin Health on behalf of the Olivia
Newton-John Cancer and Wellness Centre Appeal to
make automatic monthly deductions from my credit card
(details as above) until further notice.
Monthly amount is: $
Automatic deduction on the 17th of each month,
commencing (month) _______________________
Signature _________________________________
Please send me information about:
Joining Olivia’s Circle (our monthly giving program)
Making a bequest to the Olivia Newton-John
Cancer and Wellness Centre Appeal in my Will
All donations of $2 and over are tax deductible
If you do not wish to receive any further fundraising
communications from us, please write to us or phone
Locked Bag 25, Heidelberg VIC 3084
Ph: +61 3 9496 5753 Fax: 03 9496 5160
Email: OliviaAppeal@austin.org.au Web: www.OliviaAppeal.com
WWSP09