Tag Archive for: Bathurst

Can Assist Bathurst ‘really overwhelmed’ by numbers at annual event

“IT’S absolutely amazing.”

That’s what chairperson and president of Bathurst Can Assist, Gen Croaker, had to say about the turnout at the charity’s annual luncheon.

The event was held at the Bathurst RSL Club on Thursday, November 13, as a means to celebrate the important work of the largest cancer support network in rural and remote NSW.

And the 2025 event was definitely one to celebrate.

This year marks 70 years since the charity was established in Sydney and 40 years since it began in Bathurst.

Now, Can Assist helps around 350 people in the city annually, with more than $45,000 in claims being processed each year to alleviate the financial burden for those experiencing cancer.

These claims assist local cancer patients with anything they may need additional help with, including the cost of treatment or the installation of home aids.

And the funds are raised through generous community donations, which is why Ms Croaker was so amazed by the number of people who attended the Can Assist luncheon.

“It’s absolutely amazing. We are really overwhelmed by the number of people who decided that they were going to come along today,” she said.

“We are really overwhelmed with the support that we are getting.”

This support included donations from local businesses, Forbutt’s Pharmacy and Capital Chemist, for raffle items, and lucky door prizes.

 

dailyliberal.com.au

November 17 2025

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Mandy’s Story

Mandy was 32 at the time – very fit, healthy, working full time, playing sport. And no previous signs of being unwell. Mandy had been married for a year with plans to start a family with Peter when her life in 2020 changed direction. 

After not being able to go to the toilet for a couple of days and then having quite severe pain, Peter took Mandy to the local hospital. Mandy went into surgery for a scope to determine the cause of the pain but woke up with an ileostomy (a stoma formed from the small intestine) and was told that she had Stage 2 bowel cancer.  

Given how sudden things had changed, and the unknowns relating to cancer, Peter gave up his new cake business and went back to a regular job. They needed some stability. 

Once out of hospital, Mandy started precautionary oral chemotherapy (512 tablets in total) and when she had recovered from that treatment, wanted to have the ileostomy reversed. But testing in 2021 revealed that the cancer had reoccurred. Another bowel obstruction and the associated severe pain took Mandy back to Bathurst hospital, where a nasal gastric tube was again inserted to help remove the blockage. Mandy was then taken by ambulance to RPA Hospital in Sydney, making a detour at Katoomba Hospital to get more pain relief. After her 12 hours surgery, Mandy learnt that due to the spread of her cancer, they removed her uterus, both ovaries, more of her large bowel, and put in a permanent end colostomy. They also ran a hot chemotherapy bath (HIPEC) through her peritoneal cavity to kill the cancer that couldn’t be seen. 

Learning that her plans to start a family were crushed, and getting pneumonia and having a clot in her neck added to the difficulties already impacting Mandy’s recovery from the surgery. Mandy needed to come off the PICC line, which was how she was getting nutrition, and learn to eat again. Mandy was in RPA hospital for 66 days as they managed to get her fluid retention right and her bowels working again. 

Back home, Mandy started chemotherapy at Daffodil Cottage and was also taking 21 tablets a day to manage her dehydration. It took 10 months for Mandy’s life to start to feel normal again – return to work, hockey, learning what she could and couldn’t eat. However, later scans revealed cancer in her upper right abdomen wall which led to radiotherapy and low dose chemotherapy via a port in January 2023. And cancer in her lungs lead to an extremely high number of chemo rounds (25) starting in January 2024. 

Mandy learnt about Can Assist after her surgery in 2021. She is so grateful that Can Assist pays for her medication, given her large daily intake of tablets, and pain management support. “Coming out of hospital and not having to worry about that expense was really, really helpful. I am so grateful for Can Assist.” To date, Mandy has had to travel nearly 8,000kms so far for her cancer treatments. 

Mandy is also grateful for her husband Peter, who has been her rock. 

Bathurst Can Assist Christmas lunch

Can Assist Bathurst’s fundraising coordinator Michele James and
president Gen Croaker with Can Assist director Emma Phillips,
who came from Sydney for the Christmas lunch. Picture by Carla Freedman

 

‘TIS the season for Christmas festivities, and Can Assist Bathurst was keen to get into the spirit early.

Can Assist plays an important role in the community, raising funds to provide financial assistance to people undergoing cancer treatment.

It’s a big job, and the hard workers have absolutely earned a celebration.

The group came together at Bathurst RSL Club on Thursday, November 14, 2024 for its annual Christmas lunch.

But, of course, such a dedicated bunch couldn’t put their mission aside even for one day.

They used the lunch as an opportunity to raise funds for Can Assist, which has proven very successful in the past.

“The lunch we have every year at this time of year and this year I think was the most successful because we had the most numbers there,” Can Assist Bathurst president Gen Croaker said.

More than 120 guests attended, enjoying a delicious meal prepared by the staff at the RSL Club, who Ms Croaker described as “absolutely wonderful”.

The afternoon included a raffle, with prizes donated by 2BS, Rydges Mount Panorama, Forbutts Pharmacy, Moodies Pharmacy, Capital Chemist and Dan Murphy’s.

“Their support helps us greatly because it means that we don’t have to go out and buy raffle items,” Ms Croaker said.

She said the Christmas lunch raised in the vicinity of $2500, with all of the money to be spent on cancer patients going through treatment in Bathurst.

“We are most grateful for the community for their support because we do not get any goverment support,” she said.

“All our funds are raised through community, and the Bathurst community is very generous.”

 

November 14 2024

westernadvocate.com.au

Bathurst Christmas Luncheon Fundraiser

Can Assist Bathurst will be able to bring a little joy to local patients battling cancer this festive season, after a successful Christmas luncheon fundraiser.

More than 120 people attended the event at the Bathurst RSL of November 16, 2023, and thanks to their generous donations the not-for-profit organisation now has an extra $3757 to support cancer patients living in the 2795 postcode.

Ms Croaker said the luncheon wasn’t specifically about raising money, it was about inviting the community to join Can Assist for a lovely meal and spreading the word about what the organisation does.

“We’re totally dependent on community help. We don’t get any funding from the government and we don’t get any funding from the donations that go to Daffodil Cottage, even though we do liaise very closely with Daffodil Cottage because most of the claims come from there.

“We want to make awareness in the community so they know we’re here and all the money we raise goes to the patients, none of it goes anywhere else.”

Ms Croaker thanked the RSL for its wonderful hospitality and gave a huge shout out to all who donated some money.

Whether it’s helping cover medical costs, electricity and water bills, or adding features to a patients house make their home a little more comfortable during their cancer treatment, all of the donations received are extremely appreciated by the Can Assist team and the residents who receive the financial help.

Bathurst: Can Assist hosted a high tea

Bathurst Can Assist recently hosted a high tea at the scenic Abercrombie House, with all money raised through ticket sales going towards helping cancer patients.

“We set the fee of the ticket price only for the high tea,” Can Assist Bathurst President Gen Croaker said.

“We’ve had no fundraising other than that to let people know we’re not trying to get every cent out of them, it’s to give a little bit back.”

 

BATHURST: Thoroughbred Racing Club

Bathurst Thoroughbred Racing Club will this year raise funds for Can Assist

While this year’s Bathurst Cup meeting will be restricted to just 300 people, Bathurst Thoroughbred Racing will be donating a portion of its gate and bar takings to the charity.

Ray White Emms Mooney has already got the ball rolling, donating $1,500 to Can Assist. Can Assist president Gen Croaker said any kind of support or donation is “greatly appreciated”.

They have also been granted assistance from Essential Energy Community Choices and greenslips.com.au.

Tag Archive for: Bathurst

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