VICKI Jellie has good reason to shed a few tears after officially learning that work will start soon on a $30 million regional radiotherapy centre in Warrnambool.
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This week will be the sixth anniversary of the passing of her former husband Peter Jellie whose dying wishes were that a cancer care centre be established in his home region so patients did not have to travel long distances away from their loved ones for vital treatment.
She has made it her number-one goal to help realise that dream by tireless fund-raising efforts through the Peter’s Project initiative which not only secured $25m backing from state and federal governments, but raised more than $5m from the regional community in nine months.
After Premier and South West Coast MP Denis Napthine on Saturday announced Epworth Healthcare as preferred bidder for the project she was quick to acknowledge the wide community involvement.
“It’s been a long journey for so many people — it hasn’t always been easy, “ she said. “The community has been right behind it and the want for it is very apparent.
“Who would have thought six years ago that we would be standing on the site today.”
“Peter’s Project committee is extremely pleased with the outcome.
“We’ve worked with them (Epworth) over the last few months going through various things we would like to have in the centre.”
She said Warrnambool’s role as a regional health services hub would be enhanced by the new radiotherapy centre which would bring visitors from far and wide to the city.
“In between Geelong and Adelaide there is no radiotherapy facility so it will be great for Warrnambool and the south-west,” she said.
“It’s a landmark thing for the south-west to have this centre here.
“In many ways we’ll get great things out of it.”
Mrs Jellie will continue a role in further fund-raising for what will be now called the Peter’s Project Foundation.
“Money is still coming in and I’m sure people will continue to donate to support the comfort things within the cancer centre for patients and their families.
“We will also continue assisting in supporting regional chemotherapy centres at Hamilton, Portland and Mount Gambier and some scholarships.”
pcollins@fairfaxmedia.com.au
