Helping people to live well with cancer

QUEENSLAND Senator Claire Moore visited the Bloomhill Cancer Help Centre at Buderim this morning to inspect progress on their major renovations.

The renovations, which started in October thanks to a grant from the Commonwealth Government and funds raised from the community through the Target 300 campaign, are well on the way.

The Queensland Senator shared morning tea with the Bloomhill Management Committee and staff at Bloomhill, followed by a tour of the construction site to see the progress of the extension.

Bloomhill President, Jenny Carroll said the Management Committee and staff were thrilled to have the opportunity to meet the Senator.

“It was also important to us that we were able to express our appreciation to the Senator for the role she played in helping us to receive the grant money for the extensions,” Jenny said.

In June 2011, Bloomhill received a $500,000 grant from the Commonwealth of Australia to support the health needs of regional communities. Senator Claire Moore helped to facilitate the delivery of the grant application that made the extension possible.

“Senator Moore was of great assistance in ensuring the original application was in the hands of the Department of Health and Ageing on time.”

“Without her involvement, we may not have received the funding and the extensions would still be in the planning stage,” Jenny said.

“All the money we received from the grant will be used to build and fit out five new therapy rooms, additional office space and with other funds on hand to refurbish the entire Therapy House,” Jenny said.

Since then, the Senator has maintained an interest in Bloomhill and was invited to the ‘Commencement of Construction’ celebration in November. Due to other obligations the Senator was unable to attend and scheduled a visit in the New Year instead.

“We were really excited to show the Senator how much progress has been made on the extensions.”

Bloomhill Cancer Help is a Sunshine Coast based charity that provides support and assistance to those affected by cancer. Operated by a team of dedicated professional staff and hundreds of volunteers, Bloomhill offers counseling, transport to appointments, respite care and a range of complementary therapies and other practical help.

“The Senator has always shown an interest in supporting small charities like Bloomhill and helping them further develop the capacity for their services,” Jenny said.

Bloomhill President, Jenny Carroll said the extension means people diagnosed with cancer and their families will have better access to services and support.

“We are hoping that the construction will be completed by April 2012 and the new Therapy House to be fully functional again by June,” Jenny said.

Bloomhill Cancer Help celebrated the beginning of construction of the long-anticipated extension to its Therapy House at a 'Commencement of Construction' ceremony on Tuesday, 15 November.

The event began at 12pm at the Bloomhill Cancer Help House at 58 Ballinger Road, Buderim and marked the first step in the expansion, with former Olympian and Bloomhill patron, Raelene Boyle AM MBE leading the ceremony. 

Bloomhill President, Jenny Carroll said the extension means people diagnosed with cancer and their families will have better access to services and support.

"Bloomhill was in desperate need of this extension," Jenny said.

"With more than 900 clients and growing, the Bloomhill Therapy House in Buderim had reached maximum capacity with treatment rooms sometimes booked for more than a month in advance," Jenny said.

Bloomhill Cancer Help is a Sunshine Coast based charity that provides support and assistance to those affected by cancer. Operated by a team of dedicated professional staff and hundreds of volunteers, Bloomhill offers counselling, transport to appointments, respite care and a range of complementary therapies and other practical help.

After almost a year of fundraising for the extension through their Target 300 campaign, the charity announced in June they had been granted a $500,000 funding boost from the Commonwealth of Australia to support the health needs of regional communities.

"We applied for the grant in November last year and were very surprised and delighted that we were successful," Jenny said. 

"Bloomhill was the only small charity to receive funding from the grant pool, all the other recipients were major hospitals," Jenny said.

"As a non-profit organisation, we rely on the money raised through our Op Shops, donations, grants and fundraising activities to enable us to continue offering our support to the Sunshine Coast community," Jenny said. 

"Target 300 got us well on our way, raising $90,000 and we are very grateful to everyone who generously donated to the campaign," Jenny said.

"The money raised through Target 300 and the Government funding will be used to build and fit out five new therapy rooms, additional office space and hopefully also refurbish the entire Therapy House," Jenny said.

"We are expecting the extension to be ready by May 2012," Jenny said.

Due to the commencement of building works at the Ballinger Road Centre from Monday 29 August 2011, all of Bloomhill's Touch Therapies, Counselling and Group Faciliation will be taking place at 131 Sugar Road, Maroochydore if you go in the driveway next to BBQ's & Fireplaces and turn right just before you reach the end.

If you require any assitance during this time you can still contact Bloomhill on 07 5445 5794.