FOR 36 years the Mount Gambier Cancer Support Group Incorporated has offered both tangible and intangible support to Limestone Coast locals battling cancer.
The tangible ranges from financial assistance, travel to and from appointments, information packages and moral support.
The intangible support might be a regular phone call, someone to listen without judgement, or a warm conversation over a cup of coffee.
For volunteers Beth McKay, Lorraine Musgrove and Colleen Connell, it was experiencing the devastating impact of a cancer diagnosis firsthand that prompted each of them to join the support group.
“I had breast cancer in 1991 and when I retired a few years later I became involved,” Ms McKay said.
“I found there was a group out there supporting people and I decided I wanted to be a part of it.
“To have someone there that understands the process and can guide you on what to do and what’s available here is invaluable.”
Ms Musgrove said receiving a cancer diagnosis felt like being “thrown in the deep end.”
“I became involved with the group in 1987 through a friend,” she said.
“I’ve been attending since then and I was diagnosed with bowel cancer myself three years ago.
“I was lucky I didn’t have to go away for treatment, but you still need that support – you’re thrown in the deep end and it’s overwhelming.”
Ms Connell joined the group before she faced a “second dose” of breast cancer.
“All was all right in 2000 and it came back in 2014 and I thought after that, ‘you have to get out and do something,'” she said.
Formed in 1981 by the late Rhonda Phillips, the size of the group has fluctuated over the years.
“Rhonda was the director of nursing at the old hospital and she had cancer herself and found there were no support groups at her time of need,” Ms Musgrove explained.
“Unfortunately she lost her battle with cancer but her support group has remained, with 20 volunteers listed today.
“Most of the volunteers, either personally or through family members, have experienced the impact of cancer firsthand.”
The group has a formal meeting on the second Monday of each month to update each other on the progress of their “clients,” discuss fundraising initiatives and enjoy afternoon tea.
“Not every member meets with clients and the updates are strictly confidential,” Ms Connell said.
“I never hear a name mentioned, even if a thank you card comes in it remains anonymous.”
Clients are referred by friends, service providers or get in contact with the group themselves.
“We rely on referrals and word of mouth,” Ms McKay said.
“We have a good relationship with the Mount Gambier Hospital oncology unit, doctors recommend people to us and it is an exceptionally good transition.
“We haven’t had that connection until the last few years but I think people and especially service providers are more aware of the group now.”
The group supports clients across the broader Limestone Coast.
“Our support extends to clients across the region, not only Mount Gambier residents,” Ms Musgrove said.
“The type of support we offer depends on individual needs – sometimes it’s a regular phone call, some clients I visit regularly.”
Ms McKay added there was no set of guidelines and each client was assessed individually.
“There is no set way we do it, we just talk with each person and assess how we can best help,” she said.
“It depends what stage they are at in their cancer journey, some want a cuppa and to say hello, others need financial support.
“We are available to our clients at anytime.”
Ms Connell said the financial assistance was partly covered by annual fundraising initiatives.
“Funding is gratefully received from many businesses, sporting clubs, service clubs, social groups and individuals,” Ms Connell said.
“We have an annual badge day – people in the community are marvelous, they see the sign and just walk up and put money in the tin.
“They don’t always want a badge, they just want to donate because they’ve perhaps had contact with the group in the past.
“We have money collection tins at various clubs and businesses – the Nangwarry Football Club uses theirs as a swear jar and we receive quite a generous return from that one.”
All money raised and donated stays local and flows back into the community.
The group donated the glass wig cabinet at the Mount Gambier Hospital oncology unit, established a library in the medical ward and donated a chemotherapy chair to the first chemotherapy unit.
Ms McKay said occasionally clients would later join the group as volunteers.
“Some people we support come back and join the group and some people, and I can understand, don’t want anything to do with the word cancer,” she said.
“When they get through and win their battle they want to move on.”
Ms Musgrove added the group was always looking for new members.
“You don’t have to have been down the road we’ve been down either – not everyone in the group has been personally impacted by cancer,” she said.
“It feels good to know you’re helping someone in some way, it doesn’t matter if it’s only small.”
