Tag Archive for: Finley

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Can Assist Finley honors Blighty Football Netball Club

Can Assist Finley branch members Jill Braybon and Cherilyn Taig recently attended a Thursday night training session at the Blighty Football Netball Club to hand over a certificate of appreciation.

It was presented to vice president Al Nicholls and executive member George Reid to say thank you for the generous $2000 donation the club made to Finley Can Assist.

The donation was much appreciated by Can Assist as it allows the group to continue supporting local community clients on their cancer journey.

Jul 30, 2026
sheppnews.com.au

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Finley dazzles with dance delight

The strains of old time dance music emanating from the Finley School of Arts Hall last Friday evening would have brought back many memories for more than 60 who attended the Finley Dance Group 2026 Annual Ball.

Visitors from Wagga Wagga, Albury, Corowa, Yarrawonga/Mulwala, Mathoura, Shepparton, Deniliquin and Berrigan Shire communities came together, beautifully dressed to the theme of Multi Colours.

Lesley Hills, attired in a multicoloured floral dress, and Murray Trotman in his lime green suit took out the Best Dressed Woman and Man titles.

Both are from Deniliquin and travel to Finley regularly for the group’s practice nights held on the third Tuesday every month.

A delightful supper was provided by Can Assist Finley Branch volunteers, who were rewarded with a generous donation of $600.

The ball is held on an annual basis, with practice and dance nights throughout the year.

southernriverinanews.com.au
Jun 30, 2026

Finley community rallies for Can Assist at tractor pull

Can Assist Finley branch members Roz Patterson (left) and Cherilyn Taig with IGA Berrigan manager Annie Cameron (centre) and the toy raffle prizes.

 

Can Assist Finley Branch was one local organisation to benefit from the ever-popular Modified Tractor Pull held at the Finley showgrounds on Saturday evening.

The group would like to thank members of the Finley Community Tractor Pull Inc. for giving them the opportunity to conduct a toy raffle fundraiser.

They would also like to thank Finley IGA for allowing them to use the premises to sell tickets in the lead up to the event.

It seems the good work carried out by Can Assist volunteers does not go unnoticed. Trish De Vito was so thankful for assistance given to a member of her family while going through treatment for cancer, she got together with the IGA businesses in Finley, Berrigan and Jerilderie and came up with the idea of purchasing a much-needed marquee.

Again, the supplier of the marque, Aaron Kunyik of Boronia, Victoria, when realising it was being sponsored by the businesses for Can Assist, supplied it at a substantially reduced cost.

It is expected the marquee will be used well into the future to protect the volunteers when out in the elements raising funds to assist local members of the community going through their journey with cancer.

Can Assist Finley branch president Pat Radford said $1200 was raised with the toy raffle and expressed appreciation to Hutcheon and Pearce for assistance with the magnificent toys purchased as prizes for the raffle.

Margaret Arnold was delighted with the Big Farm header she won as first prize; Andrew Sherman won second prize of a Big Farm tractor and ferry bin and Graeme Radford was third and won assorted toys.

 

southernriverinanews.com.au

Feb 25, 2026

Finley Raffle raises $2000 for Can Assist

Julie Congram (left) was delighted to purchase some of the Christmas cakes from

Can Assist members Lorraine Edwards and Pat Blackman recently.

 

Members of Can Assist Finley branch would like to thank everyone who assisted in making the recent street stall such a success and the community for its continued support.

Winner of the air fryer was Glenda McCullough, the beautiful hand crotched rug was won by Heather Daniel, and Joanne Dean was delighted to win the homemade fruit cake.

The organisers have reported that well over $2000 was raised, a large part of which came from selling raffle tickets at Finley IGA.

They would like to express their sincere thanks to management for allowing Can Assist the use of the premises.

This amazing group of volunteers has worked so hard over the past 12 months supporting local people, physically and financially, during their journey with cancer and would like to take this opportunity to wish everyone a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year.

“We would not be able to give the support needed by residents in the Berrigan Shire without the Finley and surrounding communities’ support,” Pat Radford said.

 

Dec 24, 2025

southernriverinanews.com.au

Finley Mens Shed spread contributions

Finley Can Assist’s Pat Radford and Jenny Isedale.

 

Members of Finley Mens Shed have once again made a substantial financial contribution to several local organisations, with a particular emphasis on the younger members of the community.

Pat Radford and Jenny Isedale represented Can Assist Finley Branch and assured Men Shed President, Gavin Butcher, that the donation given to their group would stay locally and be used to assist local members of the community going through their journey with cancer.

 

southernriverinanews.com.au

Dec 10, 2025

Can Assist Finley street stall raises funds

Lyn Little (left) and Sue Hudson volunteered for the Can Assist Finley Branch street stall.

 

The president of Can Assist Finley Branch, Pat Radford, was completely overwhelmed with the result of the street stall held last Friday.

The total amount raised was $2400 and the organisers would like to express their sincere appreciation for the continued support given by the local communities.

The first prize of a full lamb was Maureen Bevan, with ‘Scottie’ and Carol Kennedy winning a side of lamb each for second and third prizes.

The sheep were donated by Will and Philly Robertson and kindly cut to order by Ashley Haynes Butchery.

The organisers would like to express their thanks and appreciation for their generosity and support.

Full credit must go to these wonderful volunteers. They work extremely hard to raise funds locally, which stay local to assist those going through the journey of cancer and their families.

Finley Branch street stall

Lorraine Edwards, Pat Blackman with Christine O’Loughan at the

Can Assist Finley branch street stall.

 

Despite the extremely hot weather last Friday, members of Can Assist Finley Branch held a successful street stall. They would like to thank everyone who assisted in so many ways, especially the businesses nearby who continued to supply the volunteers with cold water.

The organisers are delighted to report about $3000 was raised, with some people reporting never having seen such an extensive quantity of produce for sale.

Raffle winner for the full dressed lamb was Sue Hayes with G. Shaw and Joy Knight each taking home half a dressed lamb. Special thanks to Rob Hawkins for donating the lambs.

All funds raised locally stay locally, to help those doing the journey with cancer and their families.

The members would like to take this opportunity to thank the community for its continuing support and wish everyone a very Merry Christmas and Happy New Year.

 

kyfreepress.com.au

Dec 11, 2024

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Jenny’s Story

 

Waiting a week to find out that she had been diagnosed with breast cancer in 2017 was one of the toughest weeks that Jenny had been through. But it was the beginning of a long journey. 

Jenny and her husband Scott had to travel to Melbourne from Finley for the first part of her treatment – surgery and chemo. Jenny found the surgery to remove the lymph nodes was more invasive than the surgery to remove the lump in her breast. Then Jenny had 6 rounds of chemo, once every 3 weeks. The trip to Melbourne is a 3.5-hour trip (310km), one way. 

Her radiation treatment was in Albury (150kms one-way), which made it slightly easier to be home some nights for the kids and the farm. Radiation was every day for 5 weeks and her week would look like – Monday day trip, Tuesday afternoon treatment and stay the night for Wednesday morning treatment, and Thursday afternoon treatment and stay the night for Friday morning treatment. 

In 2019, Jenny was on a drug trial for a cancer hormone medication, which involved having a blood test every 4 weeks. These blood tests revealed that Jenny’s platelets count was dropping, unrelated to the drug trial. Further testing revealed that Jenny had Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia (ALL), and she spent the next 3 months in a hospital in Melbourne having chemo.  

This is when they discovered Can Assist. Even though Scott didn’t want to accept assistance, with Jenny not being able to work, Scott trying to work and run the farm and travel twice a week to visit Jenny in hospital, he knew they needed assistance. The mileage and the hospital car park fees alone were adding up – “Can Assist were fantastic – managed that we had free parking, and provided vouchers for petrol”. 

Jenny found out in December 2019 that she had a bone marrow donor, from a woman in Germany – luckily this happened just before COIVD hit hard as an HCP from Australia had to fly to Germany to pick up the marrow. On Valentine’s Day 2020 Jenny received her second chance at life – she now calls that day her second birthday, the day she had her bone transplant operation. Another month in hospital followed by 3 months living near the Melbourne hospital. But this is when COVID really did have an impact – instead of Scott being able to travel back & forwards to the farm, and friends taking it in turn to stay with Jenny in the apartment, Jenny and Scott spent the 3 months in an apartment during lockdown. Can Assist assisted with the accommodation costs. Apart from regular tests, all was good for Jenny until January 2022. 

The leukemia had returned – treatment this time was immunotherapy – so back and forwards to Melbourne for this treatment. Despite Jenny then being in remission, she suffers ‘Graft versus Host’ (GVHD) which is when transplanted donor cells recognize the recipient’s tissues as foreign and attack them. So now Jenny is taking drugs for the breast cancer, for the leukemia and for GVHD. 

So far Jenny has traveled 80,000kms over the 7-year cancer journey, and it is not over. Jenny will need to see her hematologist for the rest of her life, in Melbourne.  

“Can Assist were always there. One lady used to ring me every Thursday to check in and see how I was going, how my week was … we formed a beautiful friendship. Can Assist also helped my husband …organised someone to come and clean my house, so I had a clean house to come home to. Some weeks he couldn’t work at all… we got by, through the support of Can Assist”. 

Finley street stall provides great result

Can Assist Finley branch has raised an amazing $2000 from its recent street stall.

Branch members would like to thank everyone who contributed in any way to its success, with special thanks to the cooks who excelled themselves with delicious cakes, slices, biscuits and other tempting items.

And, of course, the support which is always incredible from the community.

The $2000 which was raised remains in the local community and is used to assist those going through their journey with cancer.

Neilsa Ilsley was the winner of a whole lamb, which was the first prize in the raffle.

Yvonne Thomas and Kara Dyson won the second and third prizes of a side of lamb each.

Tag Archive for: Finley

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