Progress on finding Sydney accommodation for cancer patients and their carers as well as updates on workplace safety were the highlights of the regional Can-Assist meeting held on Saturday.
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Blayney branch president Betty McKenzie said the Can Assist CEO Richard Appleby attended the meeting and updated attendees about the organisation's quest to find more permanent accommodation for cancer patients and their carers.
After Can Assist sold its Darling Point (Sydney) accommodation, it has been partially leasing a Bondi Junction hotel.
Mrs McKenzie said: "The aim is to buy a suitable motel and the plan is to have about 30% of it for cancer patients and their carers and for the rest to be rented to the general public, which funds the spots for the cancer patients and their carers.
The meeting also included a WorkSafe training session which highlighted for Mrs McKenzie the important of keeping paperwork up to date.
"Because if you do have a claim with insurance, you have to have all your papers in order. These are things we can take for granted a lot."
Can Assist is a grass roots, community based charity dedicated solely to supporting country people affected by cancer and their families.
For more than 57 years it has been supporting country cancer patients and now has 50 branches in country towns across rural and regional NSW, which 2,900 local volunteers run to raise funds to support local families.
Blayney Can Assist has 35 members and meets on the second Tuesday of every month from 7pm at the Cottage in Adelaide Street. The next meeting is open the public.
Mrs McKenzie said: "You don't have to have been affected by cancer, to come along to help."
The local branch has paid out a "lot of claims", she said, for cancer patients and their carers needing help with medical expenses, transport, accounts.
"With the help we give, it's all confidential," she said.
