Canassist Young and Boorowa held their AGM at the Young Services Club recently with 22 members in attendance.
Our year from July 2023 to June 2024, we assisted 60 patients with $60,000 for treatment, travel and accommodation. Many others were helped with non-medical information regarding their options. During this 12-month period we received $78,000 from community donations.
Our year began with Boorowa Rugby Union Club donating money from their June Ladies Day.
Also Boorowa Rotary Club made a donation from money raised through their Op Shop.
Other donations came from Young Show wool section, Milvale CWA, Young Nurses reunion, Mercy Care Associates, Grogan Landcare, Simple Trading.
In Donges IGA we have our money tins and Return and Earn, thanks to Chris Wright and Boys to the Bush who put the containers through, we received $1203.
Tradies for Ladies — buy a pink shirt with this logo and part of the sale price goes to a local charity. Kai Levett from Young Workwear participated and chose our branch as the charity.
Our members also sold tickets in the Young Fire and Rescue Xmas Sleigh raffle and we received $2000 as our share.
Chris and Karen Martin had their December Xmas Lights display in their new location and presented us with a donation from this.
Members also helped through the year at Young Services Club Community Raffles for which we received money.
December saw Year 12 in Boorowa making a donation and Year 12 at Hennessy in Young also donating to our branch as their chosen end of year charity.
2024 year got off to a good start with our Mother's Day raffle. Thanks to new member Lindy Saines we had a good variety of prizes donated from businesses in Young, Boorowa and Wombat. Selling tickets in the street and through members and business houses we raised $1500. Lucy Hills and Tori Pope were the winners.
Thanks also to Murringo member Marg Gillespie for holding a plant stall in all weather at their annual market days and raising $700.
Various community groups held morning teas in May and June and donated to our branch — Young Croquet Club, Raine and Horne and the Uniting Church.
Two groups closed down in April — Young and District Caged Bird Society and the Young Prostate Cancer Support Group. They donated their closing balance to our branch.
We also received donations from individuals and funerals during the year.
Our branch celebrated an important milestone in October 2023 when we reached 35 years helping cancer patients and their families in the Young and Boorowa communities.
A lunch was enjoyed by 115 attendees at the Young Services Club where they heard Bill Kearney and Louise Mugridge as guest speakers and Jim Lamb with Bush Poetry. Special thanks to Kay McDonald and her helpers for the much admired table decorations and to Young Services Club for donating $2000 to support the event.
Sadly, two of our members passed away during the year —Judy Molloy, and our number one ticket seller Toby Bourke.
We welcomed two new members in Jenny Rae and Lindy Saines.
Thank you to Pene, Kaylene and Chris who continue in their volunteer executive positions so efficiently.
To you the members and community who so willingly support our branch and especially those who had the foresight to form our branch 35 years ago as a bicentennial gift to the district, on behalf of local cancer patients and their families —Thank You.
GAIL HANIGAN - YOUNG BOOROWA CANASSIST PRESIDENT