Hills Relay for Life

24 May 2010

Mr HAWKE (Mitchell) (4.12 pm)—I rise today to record my congratulations to the Hills Relay for Life, which was held at the Castle Hill Showground on 15 to 16 May. This was the ninth year of the Hills Relay for Life event, held at the Castle Hill Showground, and this year I can report that over $200,000 was raised in support of the Cancer Council, with local business groups, community groups and people of all ages showing their support for those with cancer and their families, friends and carers. This has become an iconic event in the Hills community.

I want to firstly thank and congratulate Bev Jordan for an amazing effort as chairwoman of the 2010 Relay for Life.

Each year since I have been elected I have had a team in the Relay for Life, and this team has also helped raise money for the community. This year’s event, however, was one of the biggest and best relays we have run in the Hills district.

I also want to congratulate committee members James Butler, Cathy Aird, Bryan Mullan, Samantha Connor, Lynn Pike, Richard Tarlinton, Michael and Natalie Ball, Councillors Tony and Andrew Hay, Chris Cleary, Katie and Ruth Didsbury, Helen Gooden, Robin George, Aimee Holdsworth, Denise Daynes, Andrew Bronier, Erica Wadlow, Taylor page, Alison Harper, Jillian Carpenter, Councillor Michelle Bryne, Dave Power, Nicole Stap, Christine Zec and Sue O’Neill. There are so many names there because it is such a well-patronised and supported event by all elements of our community. I want to particularly mention Jason Francis, who is a 14-year-old boy from Castle Hill High School. He walked 200 kilometres from Bathurst to Castle Hill. He raised over $22,000 in sponsorship for his 200-kilometre walk, which was a fantastic achievement.

I want to congratulate Team Bunny, who won the Team Spirit Award. They were a fantastic team, serving soup throughout the night as it got down to very cold temperatures, as it does every year. This year we had over 100 teams participating in the Hills Relay for Life. Some of the teams were Castle Hill High School, Castle Hill Public School, Northholm Grammar, St George Bank Castle Hill—who, incidentally, won the Relay for Life Community Spirit Award for Business—St George Bank, Hornsby 1st Castle Hill Scout Group, 1st Kellyville Scout Group, Hills Shire Times, Hills News, Castle Hill RSL, Samuel Gilbert Public  School and St John’s Ambulance.

Moving around the Relay for Life on that weekend and talking to the carers, the survivors, the friends and the families was a moving experience. I want to mention one particular incident, in meeting a woman at a stall whom I bought some raffle tickets from. She was a very cheerful woman. I asked where the money was going, and she said, ‘Me and my friend have had brain tumours for the last five years.’ I said, ‘Five years?’ This woman was diagnosed five years ago with a brain tumour and has had 68 courses of chemotherapy, and the joy and sense of life that I got from this woman was absolutely amazing. It was a very inspiring story, and I want to record my congratulations to her for her fight and struggle against cancer, which is ongoing.

This is a wonderful event. We will find a cure for cancer through the initiative of the community and the generosity of so many community members, businesses and charities. I want to congratulate all of the Hills community, carers, survivors’ families and friends.