Tag Archive for: Orange

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Shear charity: day of crutching raises funds to Can Assist Orange

It was all hands-on deck for a day in the shearing shed, supporting an important helping hand.

Just months after losing his wife Rebecca, Bowan Park farmer Dan Whiteley has teamed up with community volunteers and shearing contractors Mob Shearing to give back to the charity that ensured they never saw a single pharmacy bill.

Bec Whiteley lost her battle with cancer in late April, just 11 months after her diagnosis. But before she died, she made it clear she wanted to do something to give back to the charity that had supported her family.
Mr Whiteley said a social worker had handed them a form at the time of the diagnosis, which led to Can Assist paying their pharmacy costs.

“We never got a bill in all those 11 months,” he said.

“Bec wanted to do something for them.”

A few weeks ago, a group of friends and family hosted a fundraiser on-farm, raising more than $21,000 for Can Assist.

Then family friend and long-time shearer Cory Tapine, Mob Shearing, approached Mr Whiteley, also wanting to contribute.

They decided to do a charity crutching, with all earnings for the day donated, while Can Assist would provide the smoko.

Mr Whiteley said friends and family all came on board to help out in the shed, including volunteers catching the sheep.

At the end of the day, the team crutched 1050 head of Merino ewes and wethers, raising more than $2000 for the charity.

Mr Whiteley said the appeal of helping Can Assist was that it was “locals looking after locals”.

“We know the money will go to help others in the Orange area,” he said.

“For us, it feels like we’re paying them back a little.”

Can Assist Orange president Helen Goodacre said there were more than 56 different branches across the state, with each looking after their local area.

theland.com.au
July 15 2026

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Orange Branch Autumn 2025-26 Highlights

Dan Whiteley and Helen Goodacre.

Dan lost his wife to cancer on the 28th of April, 2026 she was only 56 years old.  Dan and his family contacted me and said they would like to hold a fundraising event in memory of his wife Bec and repay our branch for the support given them during Bec’s cancer journey.  The event was held at their property and was supported by all their family and friends. We held a cake stall and provided tea and coffee for morning tea, the family held stalls with artwork, produce, craft, plants and held a silent auction. The total amount raised was $21,000 for Orange Branch.

Members Helen Goodacre, Suzanne Fisher, Kay Davis and Lyn Lampe serving beverages.

Helen Goodacre and Kay Pierce selling cakes for morning tea.

Nicola Harbison, best friend of the Whiteley family and function co-ordinator.

Entertainment was provided by a Kinross – Wolaroi student. Rebecca (Bec) Whiteley was a teacher at Kinross – Wolaroi School, Orange.

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Orange Branch Summer 2025-26 Highlights

President Helen Goodacre (Corby) received a Community Recognition Award for her service to Orange Community for the past 40 years she was presented by Phil Donato MP Member for Orange

Helen Corby received the Community Recognition Award to acknowledge her contribution at the recent Community Recognition Awards event held in Orange on the 22nd of January 2025.

“Helen’s dedication, service and commitment to the Orange community truly reflects the very best of the Orange Electorate, and it was an honour to formally recognise her efforts. ” said Jess Morgan, Senior Electorate Officer, Office of Philip Donato, MP, Member for Orange.

As discussed on the day, her achievement has also been recorded in the NSW Parliament through a Community Recognition Statement and is now part of the official NSW Parliament Hansard record. 

Helen’s contribution makes a genuine and lasting difference.

Harold Rossiter, Roger Parker, Tim Sampson, and Allan Goodacre, our Members cooking the Barbecue for Lunch.

Orange Charity Golf Day was held at Duntryleague Golf Course, the day was well supported by members and guests. We were delighted to welcome  Emma and Glen Phillips to participate in the 18 golf event. Following golf competition a barbecue lunch was held and delicious slices and cakes served for afternoon tea. A raffle held on the day raised which raised over $4,000 and was sponsor by 25 local businesses.

Kay Pierce, Merri Campbell, Emma Phillips and Helen Goodacre

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SUBMSSION NO 32. THE IMPLEMENTATION OF PORTFIOLIO COMMITTEE NO.2 RECOMMENDATIONS

Relating to the delivery of specific health services and specialist care in remote, rural and regional NSW.

Lita, Helen and MP’s

 

Can Assist members from our Orange and Forbes branches provided their feedback to the NSW State Governments Select Committee on Regional, Rural and Remote Health in May.

Out of pocket medication costs, rural healthcare staff shortages, IPTAAS and community transport all topics of discussion.

See here for our thoughts on non-emergency community transport, out of pocket medical costs for rural cancer patients and the state of palliative care.

 

 

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Allan’s Story

In March 2022, Allan wasn’t feeling like himself: “You know your body and you know when something’s not right. I would have probably ignored the symptoms for a while, but my wife just made a GP appointment, and I did as I was told.”

Based in Orange, in the Central Tablelands of NSW, Allan underwent a series of tests locally, and was formally diagnosed with prostate cancer in April 2022. He was referred to Canberra for a PET scan to rule out any spread. Allan local GP noted:

“Your wife just saved your life!”

Allan and Sue

Allan with his wife, Sue, who live in Orange NSW.

In August 2022, Allan started 20 rounds of radiotherapy in his hometown, when he was prescribed a drug that was not listed on the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS). Worryingly, it was going to cost Allan $84,000 over two years. Allan paid for the first month wondering how he was going to come up with the rest of the payments.

After consultation with his medical oncologist, it was determined the dose could be quartered and retain effectiveness, which meant the drug would now cost Allan $21,000 over two years — a welcome relief, but “that sort of money really bites”.

It was a social worker who approached Can Assist Orange for support, and helpfully funded the next four months of medication and agreed to fund a further four months in year two, which proved to be a relief for Allan:

“I was really gob smacked by the generosity of Can Assist and am so grateful. To know there are people in the community looking out for others who they don’t even know … that makes me think about what the volunteers do and how much they give,” he says.

Thankfully, the cancer drugs had no side effects for Allan — only the steroids he was also required to take generated minor effects. In fact, the drug has been so effective that Allan will now cease taking it after just 18 months, with a good prognosis.

Now, he’s looking forward to living a long and healthy life alongside his wife Sue, their daughters Melinda, Kylie and Tegan, and eight grandchildren.

Orange: Donating to Can Assist

The Rotary Club of Orange Daybreak is donating the proceeds from the October Orange Farmers Market gate takings to the charity Can Assist Orange, with the Board topping the amount up to $2,000.

The president of Can Assist Orange, Helen Corby, said one of the biggest costs to cancer patients in the Orange region was the price of crucial medical treatments including chemotherapy.

“Twenty-nine of the 55 patients (we assist) are under the age of 60 so the cost of their treatments is much higher and often extends for many weeks,” she said.

“We are grateful to the Rotary Club of Orange Daybreak for donating the gate receipts from the October Orange Farmers Market as we have found it difficult to raise funds this year.’

The president of Orange Daybreak, Sue Moffatt, said the branch was pleased to help the local charity during a time when holding fundraising events was particularly difficult.

Tag Archive for: Orange

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