David Gillespie (Lyne, National Party) Share this | Hansard source

I inform the House that on the weekend I had the honour of attending the Hastings Cancer Trust's 10th annual charity ball and over $50,000 was raised by the members of the Port Macquarie community. The Hastings Cancer Trust has been operating since 2005 and has raised over $1 million. That has been put 100 per cent into care for cancer sufferers in the Hastings and Macleay valleys. No administration costs have ever been gained; it has all been pro bono or volunteer work. It is one of the many strong community groups in the Hastings Valley. I would like to congratulate the committee, which changed hands, and one lady in particular, Betty Allman, who has worked tirelessly for 10 years for the committee and has now retired from it. Many of the staff at the North Coast Cancer Institute have taken over roles in the committee and they are doing a sterling job. I would like to congratulate all those donors of prizes, raffle sellers and committee organisers who put their heart and soul into the event and will do so for many years. They have delivered home hospice care, liver surgery equipment and such into the integrated cancer care centre. Thank you.

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