Tag Archive for: Blayney

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Blayney Branch Autumn 2026 Highlights

Members of Southern Cross Cutting Horse Sports Present an oversized cheque members of Blayney Shire Can Assist

Blayney Shire Can Assist would like to acknowledge and thank the Southern Cross Cutting Horse Club for their generous donation of $10 138.10 raised as part their Easter event. The funds were raised through the Pink Cutting Event, a highly anticipated feature equestrian event dedicated to promoting cutting horses while raising funds and awareness for women’s cancer.

Blayney Shire Can Assist recently received this donation after being presented with the oversized cheque at the event. Pictured receiving the cheque from members of the Southern Cross Cutting Horse Club are the Can Assist President and one of the Events Coordinators. Blayney Shire Can Assist provides confidential assistance to members of the local community with a Cancer Diagnosis and all money raised in the Blayney Shire is used to support local people. Many thanks go to the Southern Cross Cutting Horse Club for an amazing donation.

 

Team FML – Michael Parfett (Farmer), Wayne Taylor (Miner), Shane Cunningham (Lawyer)

What Does a Farmer, a Miner & a Lawyer have in Common?

These three men have a commitment to helping others in the Blayney Shire by raising awareness and money for Blayney Shire Can Assist as they take on the challenge of the Massive Murray Paddle. The Massive Murray Paddle is a 415km kayak race running over 5 days from 16 – 20 November 2026. Michael Parfett, Wayne Taylor and Shane Cunningham will participate in this gruelling event starting at Yarrawonga and finishing at Koondrook (the second longest kayak race in the world) later this year and they will raise funds for Blayney Shire Can Assist while paddling the great Murray River. Michael Parfett, who has completed this challenge before, said, “It was the most difficult thing I have ever done, but definitely the most rewarding.” If you would like to donate to their cause you can do here

Blayney Shire Can Assist would like to thank Team FML – Michael Parfett (Farmer), Wayne Taylor (Miner) and Shane Cunningham (Lawyer)- and their support crew for their generosity in raising money and the profile of Blayney Shire Can Assist.  We wish you all the best in this amazing event.

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Blayney Branch Autumn 2025-26 Highlights

After a two year break, the Business House Morning Tea on Wheels made a come back on Friday 1st May. Many business houses in Blayney can not attend our fundraisers as they occur during business hours, so we took our fundraiser to them. Who would have thought that a small town like Blayney was home to ninety plus businesses within its boundaries. The majority of these businesses were very supportive of our fundraiser with 248 boxes of morning tea ordered.

Sandwich makers at work: Sheree, Jo, Shirley and Sue make an assortment of sandwiches on the day.

Our amazing members and volunteers cooked up a plethora of slices, small cakes and scones as well as making a range of fresh sandwiches on the day. They then worked like a well oiled machine to pack and label the boxes. The finished boxes were beautifully presented with an assortment of sandwiches or slice or a mixture of both depending on the order.

Slices Galore: Just a few of the slices on offer.

A dedicated group of  members then personally delivered the morning tea boxes to the business houses so they arrived in time for the morning tea break at each business. Our fundraiser was extremely successful and we are very grateful to the business houses that supported us by ordering a morning tea box or gave a generous donation ( in some cases, both). Blayney is a very generous, caring community and we can not thank the community enough for all the support we are given. Thanks must also go to our volunteer cooks and our hard working members.

Margie, Elizabeth, Sue T, Sheree, Sue H, Denise, Barbie Anne & other members carefully prepared the boxes prior to delivery.

 

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Blayney Branch Summer 2025 Highlights

Signage at the Winning Post advertises our cause.

Blayney Shire Can Assist is very fortunate to have the support of other local organisations such as Blayney Harness Racing Club, who have selected Blayney Can Assist as the recipient of funds raised on their annual charity day for the last three years. Our members manned  the gates on Sunday 15th February to collect the gold coin donations deemed as admission to the race meeting and ran hundred clubs as well as a raffle for the trotting enthusiasts in attendance.

Richard Hill mans the gate collecting gold coin donations.

This year the Can Assist logo was given pride of place alongside the winning post, ensuring that all in attendance were aware of our presence. The Charity Day raised much needed funds and also awareness of our Branch and we are very grateful to Blayney Harness Racing Club for their continued support. Thank you also to the members who gave up their Sunday afternoon to raise funds.

Rod Smith(sponsor), Ruth Davies (Blayney Harness Racing Cub), Richard Hill (Can Assist) and Rebecca Scott (Deputy Mayor & Can Assist member) present the Kriden Farms Horse Rug to the winning horse.

Blayney: donation from greenslips.com.au

The Blayney branch received a $3,000 donation from greenslips.com.au. “Can Assist Blayney secretary Sue Scott explains, “Patients have to go to Orange or Bathurst for oncology which is a round trip of almost 80 kilometers, for more specialised treatment they need to go to Sydney.“ The donation will have a monumental impact, reducing costs and stress for the 16 patients Blayney supports.

Vital partnership between Can Assist Blayney and greenslips.com.au

Media release 17 May 2021: Cancer patients across Blayney, NSW, who rely on their cars to travel to and from treatment will benefit from crucial funding that Can Assist Blayney has received from greenslips.com.au.

Second anniversary since relationship was forged

This year marks the second anniversary since the partnership was forged between greenslips.com.au and Can Assist, a community-based volunteer network that provides financial and practical support to people affected by cancer and living in country NSW. The first Can Assist branch supported was in Orange, and since 2019 greenslips.com.au has contributed to one new branch every month, amounting to $84,000 across NSW.

“We are proud to help Can Assist in its support of rural and regional cancer patients, to raise awareness of this wonderful charity and their work, and to help cancer patients with their CTP green slip insurance,” says Stephen Treacey, the founder and owner of greenslips.com.au, a comparative CTP insurance site.

“To date, we have contributed to 26 branches across NSW, in addition to Can Assist head office. We estimate we have helped support over 260 cancer patients and their families by paying for CTP green slip insurance, ensuring they keep their cars on the road when they need them most – to get to and from treatment. Some of the distances people in rural and remote NSW have to travel to access cancer treatment are immense, and we hope we ease their cancer journey in more ways than one.”

Can Assist Blayney is funded entirely by local donations, local fundraising events, and corporate support such as greenslips.com.au. It provides practical and financial support confidentially to cancer patients to cover medical and pharmaceutical expenses, utilities, rates, food and fuel. What sets Can Assist apart from other charities – and is what attracted greenslips.com.au to the partnership – is that all money raised stays local to help local cancer patients across the district.

Sue Scott, Secretary of Can Assist Blayney, says having a car in the region is “crucial”. “Patients have to go to Orange or Bathurst for oncology, which is a round trip of almost 80km, and for even more specialised treatment, they need to go to Sydney. Some patients could be travelling daily. We have one patient going daily for three weeks.” Sue says. “Lots of clients live out of town, and without their own car they would be lost.”

Ray Burns, who is the current Can Assist Blayney Vice President and was the inaugural President, says the funds from greenslips.com.au to pay for CTP green slip insurance for local cancer patients will be a “big help”.

“Registration is a huge bill, especially for people who are struggling. Combined with the green slip, it really adds up,” he says. “It will help our patients to have a registered vehicle, which is really important in the bush. This sort of donation can have a big impact on a cancer patient and their family. It means they have one less bill to worry about so they can focus on getting better.”

Greater awareness and support needed

Established in 2008, Can Assist Blayney currently support 16 patients of different ages and at different stages of their cancer journey. Sue says the number of people requesting support has fallen, possibly as a result of people not getting medical tests because of the pandemic. COVID-19 also stopped fundraising activities for over a year. “Unfortunately, fundraising also took a hit because of the pandemic,” she says. “Our income dropped 33 per cent, but our expenses rose $10,000 during that period.”

However, the branch is now back fundraising. One of the team’s main fundraising activities is providing catering for events such as wakes and Melbourne Cup lunches, and holding cake stalls. “We always need money to help support our local cancer patients,” adds Ray. “And all money raised locally stays local to help people across the district.”

“Can Assist Blayney currently has around 30 members, but are looking for more to join the team. If we could gain some younger volunteers, particularly those aged 30 and over, that would be great,” says Ray. “We are all volunteers helping our local community, so if we can share the load, it’s so much better for all.”

For information about donating or volunteering with Can Assist Blayney, contact 0488 606 831. For more information on how to support Can Assist, visit www.canassist.org.au.

More about greenslips.com.au and Can Assist.

Can Assist aims

Can Assist aims to ensure that all people, regardless of where they live in NSW, have access to cancer treatment and care. It provides accommodation, financial assistance and practical support to people from rural and regional areas. This ensures country people are given the same opportunities and treatment choices as those who live in city centres.

Can Assist facts

  • Established in 1955, Can Assist provides practical and financial support to people affected by cancer and living in country NSW. It is funded entirely by local donations and corporate sponsorships.
  • In 2019, Can Assist responded to over 7,700 requests for assistance from rural and regional cancer patients through 55 branches across NSW.
  • Can Assist is a grass roots, community-based volunteer network. It is local volunteers supporting local families affected by cancer.
  • All the money raised locally stays local.
  • greenslips.com.au, a price comparison and information service for CTP green slip insurance, is a partner of Can Assist. It does not sell CTP green slip insurance.
  • Since 2019, greenslips.com.au has supported Can Assist head office and 26 branches across NSW and commits to providing further support.

For further information:
Lisa Llewellyn
0419 401 362 | lisa@llewcom.com.au

greenslips.com.au donates to Can Assist Blayney to help local patients

greenslips.com.au has made a donation to Can Assist Blayney to support local cancer patients to travel for treatment.

The Blayney branch of volunteer support network Can Assist is currently supporting 16 patients in different stages of treatment. Having a registered vehicle is very important to people in Blayney and this support will have a huge impact on them by reducing costs and stress.

Can Assist Blayney provides practical and financial support to local cancer patients.

See Can Assist’s cancer patients in Blayney to benefit from green slip cost support , Central West Daily 18 May 2021

greenslips.com.au helps alleviate the burden for Blayney patients

greenslips.com.au has made a donation to Can Assist Blayney to help local patients travel for treatment.

The Blayney branch of volunteer support network Can Assist is currently supporting 16 patients in different stages of treatment. Having a registered vehicle is very important to people in Blayney and this support will have a huge impact on them by reducing costs and stress.

Can Assist Blayney provides practical and financial support to local cancer patients.

See Can Assist’s cancer patients in Blayney to benefit from green slip cost support , Blayney Chronicle 18 May 2021

Also see Blayney Chronicle – 20 May 2021.

Blayney: Margaret Matthews

Officially she’s Margaret Matthews, but for everyone in Blayney she’s simply known as Marg.

Born and bred in Blayney, Marg has been included in the NSW Department of Primary Industries’ Hidden Treasures Honour Roll for 2020.

“I feel very honored and I didn’t know that I had even been nominated,” she said.

“It’s lovely to be recognised, but it’s not why I do it.”

Member for Bathurst Paul Toole said that Marg has always given outstanding service and been involved with many community initiatives and organisations in the Blayney Shire.

Mr Toole added that Marg is treasurer of Can Assist Blayney and an active member of the Blayney Show Society and Blayney Tennis Club.

BLAYNEY: Honorary Life Membership Judy Claypole

Judy Claypole with her cake.

Judy Claypole has been a valued member of Blayney Can Assist since our group was founded in 2008, holding the position of Publicity Officer for the past 12 years. Judy resigned from this position in March this year but remains an active member of our branch.

Members of Blayney Can Assist Carolyn Nankivell, Ray Burns, Hilton Davis, Margaret Matthews and Cathy Jeffery attended afternoon tea to celebrate Judy Claypole (front left).

Earlier this year, unbeknown to Judy, Honorary Life Membership was bestowed on her. Due to COVID restrictions our branch had not been able to meet to present this to Judy but earlier this month a small group of members, who were part of the original group who formed our branch, met for a casual afternoon tea in order to present Judy with her Honorary Life Membership and thank her for her dedication to our branch and our local community. President, Ray Burns, presented Judy with her badge, certificate and a bouquet of flowers before Judy cut a cake marking the occasion. As it happens, Ray was the inaugural President when our branch formed so it was only fitting that he was there to make the presentation. Judy was surprised to be recognised in such a way and enjoyed time reminiscing with those present about how things had been in those early times and friendships formed through the years.