News from the President - Lynne Crookes OAM2 Apr 2018

The past year has again been very busy, productive and successful from a fundraising point of view, particularly in the areas in which we have supported the breast cancer community, paying for breast care nurses, equipment, surgical and research fellows and patients packs for patients.  Through our newsletter we tell a lot of stories and, with thanks for your generosity, I am delighted to share them with you.

Sir Nicholas Shehadie, our Patron, passed away earlier this year and he will be deeply missed.  He attended all but the last two Rugby Long Lunches telling stories of his times as a Rugby Wallaby.  His iconic statement each time of ‘I remember when Rugby was clean and sex was dirty’ helped endear him to all of us.  He will be greatly missed.  A very special person.

I was also deeply saddened by the passing of Angela Bishop’s husband, Peter Baikie. Angela is not only an SBCF Ambassador, but she was involved in the establishment of the SBCF in 1995 with Amanda Warn whose mother had breast cancer.  Their first function was the Annual Pink Ribbon Ball – the first of its kind in Sydney with 1000 people attending.  Our thoughts go out to Angela and her daughter Amelia at this difficult time.

Thanks to your support, 2017 was a record year for SBCF. The Rugby Long Lunch was a huge success and raised over $300,000 allowing us to purchase a SPY Imaging System, a machine that gives surgeons the ability to monitor blood flow to different areas of the breast during surgery. This means that surgeons can feel confident performing more complex procedures to deliver better results. 

The Ladies Lunch is going from strength to strength, raising almost $80,000 for the breast care nurses at Chris O’Brien Lifehouse. I hope you enjoy reading our interview with Ann Carrigy, Clinical Nurse Consultant whose role is made possible through your generosity. 

Thank you to all our event donors, in particular Richard Crookes Constructions – Principal Supporter of the Rugby Long Lunch since its inception in 2003 - and our ongoing Key Supporters: Wearne & Co Chartered Accountants, Manildra Group, Bennelong Asset Management and Audi Centre Mosman. I’m delighted to welcome Leda Group as a Key Supporter of the 2018 Rugby Long Lunch. A special mention to our Ladies Lunch supporters: Running Bare, our Major Supporter, Guerlain, Mars Design and Symphonia. Our events are successful only because of our generous supporters so thank you on behalf of the patients and carers who benefit from your generosity.

I must thank my committee. They are an amazing group of working mothers who give their time to improve breast cancer outcomes.  And most importantly, thank you for your support.  We simply couldn’t do what we do without you.