Community Recognition Statement - Maitland Cancer Appeal Committtee

24 March 2022

Ms JENNY AITCHISON (Maitland) (16:30): I was delighted to share in the fortieth anniversary celebrations with the wonderful members and volunteers of Maitland Cancer Appeal Committee and see their wonderful donation of $400,000 to four researchers. The money went to Associate Professor Nikola Bowden for ovarian cancer research, Associate Professor Matt Dunn for children's brain cancer research, Professor Hubert Hondermark for pancreatic research and Professor Xu Dong Zhang for lung cancers. Started in 1982 by Alice Bennis, who sadly passed away last year, Ingrid Heyman and Lesley Flannery to try to get an oncology unit in the Hunter Valley, the Maitland Cancer Appeal Committee has been a driving force in providing care to cancer patients with their linen service and in raising much-needed funds, as outlined, which is part of a $2 million contribution through their op shop and craft shop sales. Certificates of life membership of the committee were given to Fay Murray and Paula Zuhnemur for their many years of service. I congratulate everyone I have already mentioned who worked to make the day such a success. I also thank service manager Fiona Bonner and volunteers Sue Towns and Barbara Heckman for their contributions.