CONSTRUCTION work on a south-west cancer centre was only a dream for campaigners five years ago — now it is a bricks-and-mortar reality.
Peter’s Project founder Vicki Jellie inspected work at the fledgling South West Integrated Cancer Centre this week with progress obvious to the casual observer.
The foundation of the site, directly opposite the Warrnambool Base Hospital on Ryot Street, is already in place with above-ground infrastructure taking shape.
It is understood the site will be operational by August 2016, marking the end of a near decade-long campaign to have cancer services based in the Western District.
Mrs Jellie toured the site with Wannon MP Dan Tehan and discussed what would occur during the construction phase and the process immediately after its completion.
Mr Tehan described the fund-raising efforts to establish the centre as a “perfect storm” of federal and state funding mixed with the collective will of the south-west community.
“It’s fantastic to see the sticks-and-stones side of things — actually seeing it getting built,” the Liberal MP said.
“It’s also fantastic that we’re getting closer to the date when the centre will be up and running.
“There was a perfect storm when it came to getting this centre for south-west Victoria. There was funding from a federal Coalition government, a state Coalition government as well as the fantastic work of the south-west community who really got behind the project and worked hard to raise the funds.”
Source: Alex Sinnott, The Warrnambool Standard, May 20, 2015.
Photograph: Southwest Healthcare CEO John Krygger (left), Activ Concrete formwork carpenter Lachlan McKinnon, Wannon MP Dan Tehan and Peter’s Project Foundation director Vicki Jellie at the cancer centre construction site. Picture: Leanne Pickett