Rotarians from Batemans Bay, Moruya and Narooma Rotary Clubs met in Moruya last Wednesday with Moruya Jockey Club (MJC) representatives to present a cheque for $15,000 to Moruya Cancer Carers’ chairman Cr Rob Pollock.

‘This is a fantastic effort and a mighty demonstration of how cooperation between two major organisations can really bring the community along with them,’ Cr Pollock said.

‘It’s a tremendous boost to our fundraising which now stands at $110,000, well on the way to our $150,000 target by June this year.’

The funds came from fundraising activities on the day including catered Christmas parties as well as from the MJC’s donation of a percentage of the gate and bar.

Rotary Assistant Governor Vere Gray paid tribute to the efforts of the three clubs, their presidents, their Race Day committee and the community who supported the cause.

‘By our three Eurobodalla Rotary Clubs work together, we’ve not only raised money, we forged friendships and strengthened our resolve to support our local communities,’ she said

The current Moruya oncology unit has the highest usage of all oncology units in southern New South Wales, but patients have no privacy when receiving treatment and the unit is small and inadequate.

First-hand experience with this unit’s shortcomings led Ron and Tralee Snape of Central Tilba to campaign for better facilities for staff and patients and the formation of Moruya Cancer Carers.

‘The response from the community has been overwhelming,’ Cr Pollock said. ‘Everyone knows someone touched by cancer.’

He said that Southern Area Health Service is providing the ‘shell’ for a new Oncology Unit under the Sub Acute Rehabilitation Unit now under construction at Moruya Hospital.

‘It’s the first step – we’ll have walls and a floor, but so far there’s no funding commitment by the Government to build and complete the unit, yet our aim is to have it completed by the end of 2015.

He meets with NSW Health Minister Jillian Skinner and Member for Bega Andrew Constance in early March when he will be looking for such a commitment.

Cr Pollock said funds raised by Moruya Cancer Carers will provide ‘the ambience of the new unit, to ensure it doesn’t feel so clinical’.

He is constantly overwhelmed by people’s generosity. One Rotarian on Wednesday night said he would donate money for a treatment chair for the new unit, while at the Rotary Race Day, the Monarch Hotel offered $10,000 sponsorship.