INTERNATIONAL BRAIN TUMOUR AWARENESS WEEK IN AUSTRALIA 30 OCTOBER - 5 NOVEMBER 2011
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Federal Parliament
Prime Minister Gillard was not the only Federal Parliamentarian to wear a grey ribbon in their lapel when the Parliament met at the start of International Brain Tumour Awareness Week. Here are some others:
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| Treasurer Wayne Swan wore his grey ribbon. | Senator Catryna Bilyk (Joint Convenor of the Brain Tumour Parliamentary Interest Group) also wore her ribbon. The Co-Convenor (Senator Scott Ryan) was in Melbourne for the birth of his first child for which we offer congratulations. Both Senators arranged for their colleagues to autograph bottles of wine that were auctioned at the Brain Wave function (see below) |
Brain Wave Function Canberra
| Canberra resident Renee Hindson and her supporters organised a black tie dinner at the National Press Club which was attended by over 100 people. There was also an auction conducted by All Bids. The evening was to raise funds for the Cure for Life Foundation and to promote knowledge about Brain Tumour Alliance Australia and the ACT Brain Tumour Network. BTAA Chair Matt Pitt spoke at the function and launched the Wear a Hat for BTAA for a Day project which MaryAnne Rosier coordinated. |
 L-R Catherine Hindson (Renee's mother), Susan Pitt, Lesley Hindley, MaryAnne Rosier. Photo Canberra Times. |
Wear a Hat for BTAA for a Day
BTAA Committee member Mary
Anne Rosier
organised the
"Wear a Hat for BTAA For a Day" project which attracted participants
from various locations, including Cairns in North Queensland. which was
organised by Emma Walker
(woman in red dress below), a function in
her local Craft Group organised by
Bronwyn Hirst in Belconnen, ACT, teachers at St
Mary's
High School, Western Sydney, students at Beachmere (Qld) and teachers
at Lyneham Primary School
(ACT).
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| Unusual hats at
St Mary's
High School, Western Sydney. |
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Children and teachers from Beachmere school in Queensland. One of the teachers reported back: "We all had a great day wearing our hats and we shared with the children what we were raising money for. One child told their mum it was for 'people with sore heads'!" |
Perth
Catherine
Coleman from the
AGOG (Australian Genomics
and Clinical Outcomes of High Grade Glioma) project in Perth
reported: "Despite
the unusual event of rain in November in Perth the sun was shining
through the
clouds for our Walk Around the Globe for Brain Tumour Awareness. 21
people and a dog walked 3km through the bushlands of King Park. The
walk
was followed by an afternoon tea which was a great chance to meet
everyone who participated." Here is a photo of the participants: |
Canberra
| The management of Canberra Hospital agreed for BTAA and
the ACT Brain Tumour Network to have a display in the busy hospital
foyer during the Awareness Week. Staff in the Day Oncology Treatment
area also entered into the spirit of things. |
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 Nurses from Calvary Maternity also wore some strange hats! |
Brisbane
Sarah Thompson advises that the Brain Tumour Support Group run by the Cancer Council Queensland organsied a talk by local oncologist Dr Zarnie Lwin during the Awareness Week. Sarah commented: "Dr Zarnie Lwin gave a great overview of the behind the scenes process of getting a clinical trial from an initial concept to an accepted treatment so it was really interesting. The PowerPoint & podcast will be available on our webpage http://www.cancerqld.org.au/page/need_support/support_programs/brain_tumour_support/ under the Brain Tumour Information Sessions in Brisbane.”
The Brisbane-based Newro Foundation held an awareness-raising and fund-raising walk/run on 30 October which attracted almost 200 people and raised $10,500. Here is a photo:
Sydney
Emma Everingham advised that they promoted the week and their Brain Tumour Support Group “NOgIN”, The Neuro-Oncology Information Network, which is a group that provides support and information for adults with brain tumours from Westmead Private Hospital and Westmead Hospital. Here is a photo of some inventive hat ideas:
Adelaide
Andy Stokes from the South Australian Adult Brain Cancer Group advises that they organised a picnic in Adelaide to mark the Awareness Week.
Melbourne
Oncologist Dr Lawrence Cher and brain tumour support group coordinator Di Legge organised a Brain Tumour Forum on 2 November at The Austin hospital where they are located. The Forum attracted 85 people, including a number of patients and caregivers from the Melbourne region who are in contact with BTAA. BTAA Secretary Denis Strangman spoke at the meeting. This is a link to his presentation.
| Denis Strangman with Di Cummins whose husband John died in 2006 from a brain tumour. In 2008 his family and friends established the John Cummins Memorial Fund to support two main themes: 1. Brain tumour patients, and 2. scholarships for promising secondary students. The Fund has supported the Brain Tumour Support Officer position at The Austin and more recently has provided $46,000 to establish a regional support network for health professionals so that they are able to better support brain tumour patients. |  |
 Dr Lawrence Cher
addreses the Forum.
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 Dianne Legge at the Forum |
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This is a wonderful collage of photos from Yvette Chen (Melbourne) when she held a Hat Day in her office at Melbourne University's Research Office. |