“Rort” comment only damaging to Sunshine Coast community

Fighting cancer requires many services above and beyond radiotherapy.

The role of the Sunshine Coast Health Foundation is to provide fundraising support to the District’s public health system. The eleven Directors and Chairman of the Foundation have worked tirelessly and without remuneration to this end since 1998.

These efforts have culminated in what has proven to be an extremely successful, community-backed fundraising campaign on the verge of reaching its goals.

The Sunshine Coast Cancer Centre will build on existing oncology services and provide a strong platform for future expansion. The Cancer Centre campaign will be ongoing even after the doors open next year.

Widespread information disseminated by the Foundation regarding services to be included in the new Centre have been well publicised by local media (including Sunshine Coast Daily February 20, 2003). Over 5000 brochures published by the Foundation and widely distributed during the past two years of the campaign refers clearly to providing capacity in the building for future radiotherapy services.

It should be recognised that the role of the Foundation is distinctly separate from Queensland Health. Decisions about the establishment of new services such as radiotherapy are made by Queensland Health as part of a state-wide strategy. Decisions made by the Board of Directors of the Sunshine Coast Health Services Foundation focus on improving services that best cater to the needs of the majority of population of our community.

It is a complete surprise to many that anyone would attempt to detract from the unprecedented support thousands of individuals, businesses and community groups have contributed over the past two years.

It is disappointing that recent comments made by the Opposition Health Spokesperson attempt to undermine the integrity of an honest, community driven fundraising campaign as it draws to a conclusion and during what should be time for pride and celebration.

The Foundation has endeavoured at every opportunity to provide clear and accurate information regarding the elements of the Sunshine Coast Cancer Centre for which money is being raised. Throughout the many fundraising initiatives that have helped us reach the $1 million tally to date much goodwill and support has been generated.

Headlines like that on the front page of yesterday’s Sunshine Coast Daily help no-one.

Chairman of the Sunshine Coast Health Foundation Mike Kelly today sincerely thanked the Sunshine Coast community for their overwhelming support of efforts to improve oncology services on the Sunshine Coast.

If people have contributed to the campaign in any way and have any questions I invite them to contact the Foundation office on 5470 6133.

ENDS

Released by:
Lisa Rowe
Sunshine Coast Health Foundation
Phone: 5470 6133