WA Liberals vow to fund $25m Geraldton radiation oncology service if it wins State election

The WA Liberals have pledged a radiation oncology service for Geraldton if they’re elected to government. Two Geraldton locals know firsthand how a radiation oncology centre in Geraldton would benefit the Mid West-Gascoyne community. During a visit to Geraldton on Wednesday, WA Liberal leader Libby Mettam promised to deliver a radiation oncology service in Geraldton, committing $25 million to cover project costs if they win the March State election. The Federal Government announced $9m towards the $19m project before the 2019 election, but Labor did not fund or proceed with the project, and now costs have ballooned to an estimated $25m. Father Robert Cross is the chancellor of the Diocese of Geraldton and in the past 12 months discovered he had skin cancer, requiring surgery and five weeks of radiation therapy in Perth to remove two squamous cells growing on his head. He said aside from the financial strain it took, the travel burden added to the emotional toll of his cancer journey, and believed a local oncology service in Geraldton, which would assist seniors, families and patients during theirs, was long overdue. Local government risk specialist Peter Wennekes was treated for cancer in his abdomen in 2008. He said more support was needed for regional patients, including access to specialists and local facilities. Both Geraldton men stayed at the Cancer Council WA’s Crawford Lodge, conveniently located at Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital, and while the Patient Assisted Travel Scheme did cover accommodation costs, they were still left out of pocket. “When you’re having treatment, well, I personally, I just wanted to be on my own,” Father Cross said. “There’s a lot of unknowns . . . you just don’t know what’s ahead of you.” Mr Wennekes is a father of four and said being away from his young children for long periods was tough. “Suddenly going from a busy household and family life to being by yourself down in Crawford Lodge with a lot of other sick people . . . it does take an emotional toll,” he said. Liberal candidate for the seat of Geraldton Tim Milnes said it was important Geraldton had an oncology service locally to support the community. “We know that the population of Geraldton is ageing, and we’ve got more and more people who are not from Perth, so they’re sent there in isolation and you can imagine it would be pretty lonely,” he said. “Geraldton is the third largest city in Western Australia, so I think it’s important that we do have these facilities.”