THE ACT

THE ACT - EDEN MONARO CANCER SUPPORT GROUP

21 Cooma Street, Queanbeyan, NSW 2620. P.O. Box 1351 Queanbeyan, NSW, 2620. Phone: 02 6297 1261, Fax: 02 6297 1878. E-mail: csginc@bigpond.com Office hours 8.30 a.m. - 4.30 p.m. Mon-Frid. Website: http://www.actemcsg.org.au/

According to the Group's website: "Yvonne Cuschieri founded the ACT EDEN MONARO CANCER SUPPORT GROUP (the Group) in 1986. Yvonne started by raising funds to enable 13 local teenagers with cancer, to attend a Canteen National Camp. It wasn’t long before social workers were ringing, asking for Yvonne’s help again for other families who were facing crisis situations, so in March 1987, Yvonne asked friends for their help, and a meeting was held in her dining room. Over the years that the Group has been in existence, the number of requests for help has been enormous and in the past five years the Group has also been called upon to help support a growing number of adults with cancer that have young families. The areas supported by the Group are the ACT and Southern NSW regions."

Although it is located in Queanbeyan and obtains support from many Queanbeyan-based businesses, the group assists cancer patients and their families from the the entire ACT and Southern NSW regions, including Cooma. For example, it provided some funds for the Canberra Hospital cancer patients and carers' lounge and resource centre, including the special display trolley that was commissioned. According to the Office Manager, the group is constantly fund-raising and undertakes a unique role of trying to assist patients who are experiencing difficulties with their finances, by advocacy with authorities and by direct financial assistance, if necessary.

actemcsg.jpg (13543 bytes)

The group has an office at 21 Cooma Street, Queanbeyan (near the Racecourse).

Left: There is a prominent sign on the wall and acknowledgement of sponsors. Right: The sign on the front window.

actemcsg3.jpg (14685 bytes)

actemcsg4.jpg (14177 bytes)

There is an attractive office inside the front entrance, with photo displays of past and present cancer patients and their families. On the display near the flowers (left) there is the distinctive lolly box for fund-raising, which is distributed to many shops and workplaces.

actemcsg5.jpg (10810 bytes)

	The Group has a brochure explaining its services and produces an occasional newsletter/bulletin called "Threads" which includes acknowdelgement of the work of its volunteers and fund-raisers and a useful summary of contact information for associated agencies. The issue on the right has a cover photo of a group of Cydesdale horses which led the annual Convoy fund-raising activity.

One of the group's fund-raising activities is an annual Hawaiian Shirt Day. Many other fund-raising functions are held.