With the construction of the Dr. Julie Zrna Centre well underway, and an anticipated completion date of mid-2025, Mildura Health Foundation has received a $25,000 financial boost, through the Euston Club’s Grants Program.
In announcing the successful grant application, Mildura Health Foundation Board Director, Ms. Amanda Phillips, said the funds will go towards fitting out of the ten apartments with home-away-from-home furniture and fixtures.
“We are very happy to receive the generous donation from the Euston Club, and it has come at a critical point in the project, where we are looking at internal design and furnishings, to ensure we provide options to suit people with varying needs.”
Earlier this year Chair of Mildura Health Foundation, Mr. Terry Hill and Ms. Phillips, visited the Euston Club to deliver a presentation about the Dr. Julie Zrna Centre project and Chief Executive of the Euston Club, Mr. Guy Fielding, said the information they provided was helpful in giving the board an understanding of the value of the project for the region.
“Having Terry and Amanda present in the way that they did, explaining the project, its aims and the long-term benefits it will offer our Euston-Robinvale community, was very important and on that basis, the board was pleased to accept the Foundation’s application to our grants program.
“The Club Grants is a competitive process, and this year was no different, with thirty-four applications received for the Club Grants sub-committee to consider.
“The fact that the Foundation was awarded $25,000, which is a substantial portion of our annual funding, is a reflection of the value the board and sub-committee see in the project.”
The Dr. Julie Zrna Centre will provide accommodation, at little, to no cost, for patients receiving radiation treatment at the Mildura Health Icon Cancer Centre, giving those living in outlying areas options for treatment much closer to home. Mr. Fielding said the importance of this was not lost on the board and sub-committee that includes Euston Club President, Mr. Steve Leslie, Vice President, Mr. Ian Bolt, and board member Mr. Grey Woodhead.
“The board and sub-committee recognised that the Mildura Health Foundation and the project it is embarking on is pretty special. It’s going to benefit not just people from Mildura, but the wider region and Euston-Robinvale is a big part of that.”
Ms. Phillips said that the Mildura Health Foundation is extremely grateful for the Euston Club’s support through the ClubGRANTS scheme which is a shared State Government-Club Industry program, funded by a 2.25% gaming machine tax rebate provided by the State Government to registered clubs with gaming machine profits in excess of $1 million per annum.
“We thank the board and sub-committee for their interest in our project and for their contribution.
“The opening of the Dr Julie Zrna apartments cannot come soon enough for people who want to receive cancer treatment much closer to home and it is the generosity of organisations such as the Euston Club that is helping make this a reality,” Ms. Phillips said.
The Board of the Euston Club is hopeful that their grant will encourage other organisations to learn more about the Mildura Health Foundation and to join them in supporting the Dr. Julie Zrna Centre.
“The statistics are such – cancer effects almost one in two people – that we all know someone who has been impacted by it. What better way is there to help the community, than by donating to something that could benefit you, or someone you care about, one day?
“This development is so important. When you consider that some people from our region can’t access healthcare in Melbourne, Sydney or Adelaide because it is too hard or too expensive, meaning ultimately, they make the call not to get treatment; those stories are sad. Travel and accommodation should not be keeping people from having treatment, so this project is such a worthy cause.
“Give what you can because all of us, together, can make the difference.”