COUCH

SMALL BUSINESS CONFERENCE RAISES $1,400 FOR COUCH

 The 2010 Small Business Development Conference – which was held in Cairns last weekend – has raised $1,400 for COUCH, the charity committed to securing Cairns its own oncology unit.

 The CEO’s from the region’s two premier economic development agencies, Advance Cairns and Gulf Savannah Development will present the cheque to COUCH on Wednesday.

 “Each year, the conference aims to give back to the hosting community by donating to a local charity. This year, COUCH was chosen as the recipient, for two primary reasons – it assists people to fight and recover from Cancer, and also our network has had many people touched by Cancer,” said Conference Coordinator Paula Beare.

 Representatives from Advance Cairns and Gulf Savannah Development attended the conference which was organised by the Business Enterprise Centres of Australia.

 “Advance Cairns and Gulf Savannah Development Corporation are two of the newest members of the BEC Australia network – a network which links around 130 centres around Australia – providing support and assistance to business facilitators and the small and micro businesses that they service,”   explained Beare.

  “Support to help our local businesses grow and diversify is a critical part of realising opportunities for our region,” said Rob Macalister, CEO of Gulf Savannah Development.

  Advance Cairns is in the process of applying to open a BEC to service the Tropical North Coast, according to CEO of Advance Cairns Ross Contarino.

 “The Cairns region needs a Business Enterprise Centre,” Mr. Contarino said.

 Our economy depends on small to medium size businesses. A BEC would be a one stop shop to support small and medium size enterprises with everything they need whether it’s how to fill out a  tax return to workplace health and safety information.”

 “Gulf Savannah Development run a BEC which services the Etheridge, Carpentaria, Doomadgee, Mornington and Burke Shires as well as parts of the Tablelands. They offer mentoring, marketing advice, legal and accounting advice and much more for low or no cost.”

 “We believe Cairns needs and deserves a similar service. We know the majority of Far North Queenslanders are employed by small and medium size businesses and we see it as our business to provide as much support as we can to this sector.”

New Wellness Centre Announced

CAMPAIGNERS for a better deal for cancer sufferers have urged both major political parties to help fund a $22 million wellness centre in Cairns as part of their federal election pledges. Sign the petition.

Click here to sign the petition

The facility would provide respite, counselling, treatment, accommodation and help alleviate the stress of cancer sufferers currently being forced to travel to Townsville or Brisbane for treatment.

The Committee for Oncology Unit Cairns Hospital says it needs “a couple of million” to start stage one of the project.

The centre would be located on Reservoir Rd, Manoora, with its plans modelled on the leafy environment at Edge Hill’s Collins Avenue.

COUCH founder Charles Woodward, who donated the land that has been in his family for 70 years, said the wellness centre’s goal was to provide treatment for the “mental, not just the physical aspects” of cancer.

He said the centre would have support services for counselling, mind therapies, acupuncture, and a “look- good feel-better” program.

“We want to do this right,” Mr Woodward said.

“It’s not going to be a tin shed. We want it to be of world standard – a spectacular centre.”

“If we can get a decent slab out of the Federal Government, it would be a great start.”

The complex, to be built in three stages, boasts gardens and decks on 2ha of land, donated by the Woodward family.

Two massage rooms, a gym, chapel, children’s play areas, library, beauty and hair salons as well as spaces for hobbies, music and art are planned for the first stage.

Plans also include a $5.4 million two-storey 18-unit patient accommodation centre, with a pool and common room as well as a $5.7 million ancillary centre featuring six medical suites, a pharmacy and a coffee shop.

Cairns Regional Council manager of development assessment Simon Clarke said the submission was expected to go before the council in about eight weeks.

More than 1000 people are diagnosed with cancer in the Far North each year; about 400 will die.

The five most common cancers diagnosed in the region are prostate, bowel, breast, melanoma and lung.

If the centre were built, an estimated 340 Far Northerners would no longer need to travel to Townsville or Brisbane for treatment.

Leichhardt MP Jim Turnour and LNP candidate Warren Entsch have both pledged their support for the centre but neither would commit on a dollar figure.

Mr Turnour said he would push COUCH’s plan to the Labor Party while Mr Entsch said, “If I had my way, I’d give them $22 million”.

Cairns and Hinterland Health Service District CEO Julie Hartley-Jones welcomed the proposal.

“The most pleasing aspect of the proposed COUCH wellness centre is that it will not just provide accommodation,” Ms Hartley-Jones said.

The proposal will complement next year’s completion of the Liz Plummer cancer care centre, a radiotherapy oncology unit at Cairns Base Hospital to be established following a crusade by COUCH.

WELLBEING & ACCOMMODATION UNIT TO GO AHEAD

LNP Candidate for Leichhardt Warren Entsch today announced $5 million to build the COUCH Wellbeing & Accommodation Unit.

“This is a project that is essential for our region and I am delighted to be making this announcement today of $5 million to get this project well underway and give cancer sufferers of the Far North what they deserve.  This Wellness and Accommodation Centre is to assist those who have just completed treatment and for relatives and carers of those undergoing treatment.  It is the second stage of the COUCH vision and under the Coalition it will be made a reality,” said LNP Candidate for Leichhardt Warren Entsch.

 COUCH Founder Charles Woodward applauded Warren Entsch for committing to the vital piece of infrastructure for the community.

The radiology centre has been brought about thanks to strong community support and today we are elated to be announcing the final stage of the dream coming to fruition with the wellness centre thanks to the Coalition. 

“Building this Wellness Centre is so important as it not only means cancer sufferers will receive a high level of treatment, but their mind and soul, key elements in the recovery process will be nurtured.  Liz Plummer was the catalyst and inspiration for COUCH forming.  Our dream was to build a dedicated radiology centre and a wellness centre so cancer sufferers can be treated and cared for in their home town,” said COUCH Founder Charles Woodward.

The centre would be located on Reservoir Rd, Manoora, with its plans modelled on the leafy environment at Edge Hill’s Collins Avenue.

He said the centre would have support services for counselling, mind therapies, acupuncture, and a “look- good feel-better” program.

Plans also include a $5.4 million two-storey 18-unit patient accommodation centre, with a pool and common room as well as a $5.7 million ancillary centre featuring six medical suites, a pharmacy and a coffee shop.

Warren Entsch said if elected on 21^st August ensuring this project is completed will be one of his top priorities.

Council vote threatens Cairns cancer centre

PLANS for a cancer wellness centre in Cairns are under threat after a council move to block  development on its proposed site.

State and federal politicians and health campaigners are outraged at Cairns Regional Council’s decision to turn the Reservoir Rd site into a conservation zone.

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Mayor Val Schier used her casting vote to get the decision through this week’s planning meeting, with the absence of Cr Sno Bonneau leaving the remaining 10 councillors evenly split on the issue.

The site was given to the Cancer Committee for Oncology Unit Cairns Hospital (COUCH) by the Woodward family, and detailed plans for a $22 million wellness centre have been developed.

They include an 18-unit accommodation centre for patients and a medical centre.

About 1ha of the land has been put aside for a conservation zone in the plans.

“This would be a win for everybody – it would preserve the environment and provide this very special place,” COUCH founder Charles Woodward said yesterday.

“The council should be getting behind this.”

Cairns MP Desley Boyle and Leichhardt MP Warren Entsch both said they would put petitions in their offices to allow people to express their opposition to the decision.

“If this is the sort of thing this council is doing, it’s no bloody wonder we are on our knees,” Mr Entsch said.

“I will be doing everything I can to put sanity back into this.”

Ms Boyle said she would “be telling the council that they have got it wrong”. “It’s an excellent project and that is the ideal block of land for it,” she said.

Deputy Mayor Margaret Cochrane said councillors should have held off on the decision before seeing the COUCH plans.

Twenty-six other sites have also been selected for rezoning, based on environmental and hillslope conservation considerations, including Taylor Point at Trinity Beach.

The decision will go to the State Government for sign-off and be subject to public consultation before final approval is given.

Cr Schier said the council would listen to the public’s views before signing-off on the decision.

Brad Ryan - Friday, September 10, 2010  © The Cairns Post