SAPUTO’S $519 million takeover of Warrnambool Cheese and Butter company triggered a flow of donations to the Peter’s Project cancer centre appeal from cashed-up shareholders.
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Appeal chairman Vicki Jellie revealed yesterday one of the reasons why the $5m target was reached early was through money from WCB shareholders who profited from the Canadian company’s winning bid for the Allansford factory.
“It could be said some of the money came from international investment,” she said.
“Warrnambool Cheese and Butter also donated $250,000.”
Prime Minister Tony Abbott played a small part in boosting the appeal, according to Wannon MP Dan Tehan, who recalled an occasion in 2009 when the Liberal leader participated in a game during an interview on Warrnambool radio station CoastFM.
“He made a contribution to Peter’s Project, I think it was about $50,” Mr Tehan told The Standard yesterday.
Another fund-raising committee member, Glenys Phillpot, said she was amazed at the innovative methods used in the appeal.
“An eight-year-old girl wanted guests at her birthday party to make donations to the appeal, a couple got married the second time and footy clubs replayed a grand final,” she said.
Fellow committee member Vern Robson acknowledged former premier Ted Baillieu, who made the decision to approve a $15 million funding commitment to the proposed radiotherapy centre in Warrnambool.
“We had all our deputations to him and met him on two or three occasions and made detailed submissions to Treasury,” Mr Robson said.
An announcement is expected in August on who will build and operate the centre, to be situated on Ryot Street opposite Warrnambool Base Hospital.
Geelong’s Barwon Health, Richmond’s Epworth Healthcare and Sydney-based Genesis Care were short-listed by the state government after an expressions of interest process.
It will comprise two radiotherapy bunkers and a procedure-planning area, which will include one computed tomography (CT) machine.