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Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 2000 Week 5 Hansard (11 May) . . Page.. 1540 ..

MR OSBORNE (6.40): Mr Speaker, I wish to speak briefly about the recent campaign run by the ACT Eden Monaro Cancer Support Group to raise funds for Millie Hagan. I am sure that most members would be aware of the campaign and the amount of publicity that was generated by it. Millie is five years old and suffers from a rare immune deficiency called leucocyte adhesion deficiency. I hope I got that right; perhaps Mr Moore or Mrs Carnell will correct me. It is a life-threatening disease which had taken the life of Millie's older brother-I think his name was Jack-a couple of years ago. A new form of treatment has been developed in the USA and it has had some successes. A campaign was organised to raise $104,000 to pay for Millie to undergo a transplant and the subsequent treatment.

Mr Speaker, it would be a gross understatement to say the campaign was successful. It was, in fact, an unbelievable success. The Canberra community got into the spirit and over $400,000 was raised. No doubt, the ACT Eden Monaro Cancer Support Group will use the extra money to help many more families as they battle through difficult times.

As one of the patrons of this group, I would like to say a special thankyou to two very special people. The first is my friend and co-patron Marty Haynes from FM 104.7, who drove this campaign like a man possessed. His support for the group is a blessing to all of us. He has been a vocal advocate for just about everything and every cause raised by the cancer support group. He has been a true friend of the workers and the families who make up the ACT Eden Monaro Cancer Support Group. Thanks, buddy. Without your help, none of this would have been possible.

Secondly, and more importantly, I would like to say a few words about a very special lady, Yvonne Cuschieri. Most of us in here would have met her and I am sure that all of us, without exception, admire the job that she does. Yvonne set up the ACT Eden Monaro Cancer Support Group in 1985 or 1986 to help families of children with cancer. Over the years, over 300 families have been helped by Yvonne and her team. The groups are comprised solely of volunteers. It was only two years ago, through the generosity of this government and, in particular, the Chief Minister, that they first received some government support. I have known Yvonne for five years and I continue to be constantly amazed by this special lady. She has been a friend and a constant support for me and my family, and I love her dearly.

MR HARGREAVES (6.43): I just want to follow on from Mr Osborne's speech and echo his support. I would like to name somebody else who was responsible for a significant contribution to that very same fund, that is, Lindy Frampton. Lindy Frampton worked in my office during the last couple of years. She has now taken 12 months off without pay. Her efforts brought about the massive auction held in Tuggeranong for which Marty Haynes was the MC. Through her efforts, $20,000 was raised at that auction. I am pleased to say that many members of this chamber supported it either at the time or in kind. I would like to add my thoughts to those of Mr Osborne.

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