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Australian First for NewcastleAugust 2008
The Member for Newcastle, Jodi McKay, said the group will receive $150,000 per year for three years to employ specialist counsellors to work with men diagnosed with prostate cancer and their families. The incidence of prostate cancer in the Hunter region is on the rise largely because of increased awareness of the disease through the PSA's "little prick" campaign. As a result improved support services must be in place to assist those men who are being treated for prostate cancer or have been treated and need extra support for treatment symptoms. Fundraising Program LaunchedJune 2008 The HPCA has officially launched its fundraising program seeking to raise $1.25 million to establish Newcastle's very own Hunter Prostate Cancer Alliance Centre (HPCAC). The funds will be used to cover the cost of purchasing, renovating and extending the old Waratah Post Office building. Special attention will be paid to restoring the building to its original splendour.
The Hunter Prostate Cancer Alliance is focused on attracting government, corporate and community support to fund this project and the programs it will offer. Morisset Masonic Lodge Raises FundsMay 2008 Graham Train, lodge master of the Morisset Freemasons, was diagnosed with prostate cancer about two years ago. "I'm one of the lucky ones" Graham says." Early diagnosis has saved my life." With the help of residents and the local business community , the Morisset Lodge was able to raise $4,500 though its Hunter Prostate Cancer Appeal. This was matched with $5,000 from MasonicCare to enable the lodge to donate $9,500 to the Hunter Prostate Cancer Alliance.
The donation will be used to help the Hunter Prostate Cancer Alliance continue its campaign to raise awareness and support men, with prostate cancer, and their families.
Valentine Lions Club Starts Fundraising for the HPCACApril 2008 The Hunter Prostate Cancer Alliance's ambitious plans to create a new centre to help in the battle against prostate cancer in the Hunter are a step closer thanks to a generous donation from the Valentine Lions Club. A building for the Hunter Prostate Cancer Alliance Centre (HPCAC) was purchased in March. The HPCAC will support research into prostate cancer as well as provide a walk-in information and counselling service as well as a help-line for men and their families who are facing the disease. HPCA Chairman and former Newcastle Police Chief, Ron Bender, said that with a venue secured, the focus is now on attracting government, corporate and community support to fund projects and programs. Around $500,000 was needed to fit out the centre, including providing disabled access, computers and materials for the library. A further $300,000 was needed to provide counsellors and other staff for the centre.
The Valentine Lions Club has started the fundraising for the Hunter Prostate Cancer Alliance Centre with a donation of $3000 from their annual Christmas raffle.
Building Purchased for the Newcastle Prostate Cancer Centre (now known as the Hunter Prostate Cancer Alliance Centre)March 20, 2008
The Prostate Survival Alliance (now known as the Hunter Prostate Cancer Alliance) and a Hunter benefactor purchased the property today. The Newcastle Prostate Cancer Centre (NPCC) will support and house research trials into prostate cancer as well as provide a walk-in information centre for men and their families. The Prostate Survival Alliance is focused on attracting government, corporate and community support to fund this project and the programs it will offer. The Detection of Prostate Cancer has risen in the HunterFebruary 07,2008 For the first time in many years the Hunter region's detection (incidence) figures for prostate cancer have risen and are equivalent to figures in Sydney. (NSW Cancer Registry) This is good news because it means we can do something about the cancers that are being detected. Early detection of prostate cancer increases the likelihood of full cure. We believe that the increase in detection is due to the fact that in 2004 and 2005 there was a lot of media attention on prostate cancer. The Prostate Cancer Foundation of Australia launched their campaign and a local Australian trials group announced that hormone therapy was proving effective as a treatment. Unfortunately, the mortality rate remains high in the Hunter at 37% greater than Sydney. This high rate hasn't changed for a number of years. In 2007 the Prostate Survival Alliance launched a media campaign to increase awareness of prostate cancer and to encourage early detection. Data collected from the main pathology laboratories for this period is indicating that the "early diagnosis" campaign has been very successful. The number of PSA tests being done has increased by more than two-fold. The results of this increase in PSA testing will become evident when the 2006 and 2007 incidence and mortality figures are released by the NSW Cancer Registry. The Prostate Survival Alliance predicts that the detection rates will be higher than in Sydney. Plans for Newcastle Prostate Cancer Centre UnveiledNovember 30, 2007 Plans to create a new centre to help in the battle against prostate cancer were unveiled today by Newcastle Lord Mayor John Tate. The Newcastle Prostate Cancer Centre would support research into prostate cancer as well as provide a walk-in information centre and help line for men and their families who have to face the disease. The idea to create a centre follows a very successful campaign by the Hunter based Prostate Survival Alliance, launched in June 2007, which has increased the number of blood tests for prostate cancer in the Hunter by 250 percent.
The Prostate Survival Alliance chairman, former Newcastle Police Chief and prostate cancer survivor, Ron Bender, said today that the centre was about local people saving local lives. "We need a centre that will help newly diagnosed men to survive this disease," Mr Bender said.
Lord Mayor John Tate said the search was on for a venue which ideally would be located close to the Calvary Mater Hospital at Waratah. "Let's create a centre that will assist important current research and attract future research into this disease to Newcastle," Cr Tate said.
The centre will provide premises for the central co-ordination of Australia and New Zealand's two largest cancer trials, 96.01 and RADAR, as well as other key prostate cancer research projects underway in Newcastle. The Prostate Survival Alliance has developed a website, brochures, posters and television commercials. The materials have been funded by local benefactor Geoffrey Fry and produced with the support of the Greater Building Society. The establishment of the centre is being supported by The University of Newcastle, The Calvary Mater Newcastle Hospital, The Prostate Survival Alliance and Hunter Medical Research Institute. Those establishing the centre hope to have a venue open in the new year, with resources to help newly diagnosed men established later in the year. 2,700 Australian men die of Prostate cancer each year similar to the same death rate for breast cancer in women. In northern NSW, the death rate is up to 40 percent higher than in Sydney. A 50 year old man has a one in eight chance of developing Prostate cancer at some stage in his remaining life. The risk is at least three times higher if there is a family history of the condition. |
The Hunter Prostate Cancer Alliance will be given $450,000 over the next three years to establish a counselling service specifically catering for men and prostate cancer. This is, once again, a Newcastle first and the counselling service offered at the HPCAC will be unique. 
The HPCAC will support and promote research into prostate cancer by housing the Prostate Cancer Trials Group headed by Prof. Jim Denham. Prof. Denham's work is internationally recognised. A public facility will also be provided in the form of a walk-in information, counselling and support centre for men and their families. 
The old Waratah Post Office will be transformed into the Newcastle Prostate Cancer Centre. 
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