Mrs GASH (9:38 AM) —I would like to pay tribute to the people of New South Wales Cancer Council and to all those that support them. But especially I want to pay tribute to the Cancer Council’s Shoalhaven ambassador and a friend of mine, Jo Hillyard. Jo herself is one of the many faces of cancer, but she has not let it beat her. In February 2000 she had a long overdue mammogram and, as a result, was called into the breast screen clinic at Bulli Hospital for further tests. There she was told she had a malignant cancer of the breast, which turned out to be grade 4. An operation was set for a couple of weeks later, but after a bone scan a secondary metastasis was found in her spine. To try to stem the progression of cancer, her operation was cancelled and she was subjected to chemotherapy and radiation treatment. In her own words, ‘It was not a pleasant experience but most memorable.’

The following year she had a mastectomy done. In Jo’s own words: ‘There is a saying—what doesn’t kill you makes you stronger. And, boy! Thankfully, this is true. There is a power in you that kicks in and refuses to let you give in.’ She was put on Tamoxifin, which is used to stem progression of breast cancer, but after 18 months it was found that it had not worked. In fact, the cancer had moved into other areas of her body and she was given a new drug called Arimidex and put on further chemo and radiation. This combination was her lifesaver, slowing down the progression of the disease, saving her from further radical treatment. Two of the new tumours that had been forming completely disappeared. I would like to quote Jo Hillyard’s own words to continue her story:

Jo Hillyard is a grandmother and a great grandmother. She is a member of the Breast Cancer Support Group and a member of the Nowra CBD Promotions Committee. She is a committee member of the Nowra Family Support Group. When diagnosed she gave up her job as the manager of the local Rockmans store after 25 years in retail trade. Now she is seeing the world from a very different perspective and savouring every waking day.

This is why we participate and support the Cancer Council in their fundraising activities. Without their work the fundraising would not happen and it would not be able to give life to the very necessary research to help fight cancer. There are so many wonderful people in the electorate of Gilmore, always ready to assist those less fortunate. Just some months ago we had a Cancer Council Relay for Life that went over a 24-hour period. Hundreds of people walked. All of our staff and volunteers in the office walked. Many camped overnight; it was like a tent city. Our office alone raised $2,000 and the whole weekend raised $90,000. So you can see, Mr Deputy Speaker, that it is no wonder I feel so proud to represent so many wonderful, caring people in the Gilmore electorate.