A new respite facility for Queanbeyan residents is one step closer today with the sod turning at the site of Yvonne Cuschieri House, which is planned to open late next year or early 2025.
Named for the founder of the ACT Eden Monaro Cancer Support Group, Yvonne Cuschieri OAM, the House will provide respite for Queanbeyan residents who are aged 18-60 and suffering from a terminal or chronic illness.
Federal Member for Eden-Monaro, Kristy McBain joined NSW Member for Monaro, Steve Whan, Respite Care for QBN Chair, Paul Walshe OAM and members of the Queanbeyan community on Friday to turn the sod on a block allocated by the Queanbeyan-Palerang Regional Council.
Through the ACT Eden Monaro Cancer Support Group, Ms Cuschieri provided financial support and friendship to more than 30,000 cancer sufferers and their families over three decades, before her death on 18 June 2021.
“Yvonne’s vocation began in 1985, when she raised funds to send 13 teenagers with cancer to a Canteen camp,” said Mr Walshe.
“It wasn’t long before social workers were knocking on her door on behalf of other families needing help and Yvonne began hosting support group meetings in her dining room.
“Yvonne is known for always putting others first, but her desire to help others affected by cancer comes from a deeply personal space. While continuing to fight her own battle with lung cancer, she lost her son to a brain tumour in 2013.
“This personal pain made Yvonne even more determined to support others and to build a respite care facility in Queanbeyan; a facility that was not available for her son prior to his passing,” he said.
From humble beginnings, the ACT Eden Monaro Cancer Support Group (now known as Rise Above) assists around 700 patients at any one time with money for treatment and ongoing living expenses.
Construction of the respite facility is being backed by $750,000 in funding from the Federal Government, $1.35 million from the NSW Government, and $250,000 from the John James Foundation.
The project is also supported by grants from Hands Across Canberra, and Snow Foundation and Aspen Foundation ($25,000).
The Federal Government will also provide an additional $1 million into the facility to support its initial operations, as committed by Labor during the 2022 election.
Ms McBain said she was “thrilled to see shovels in the ground for Yvonne Cuschieri House, because it means that people in Queanbeyan are one step closer to getting the patient-centred, integrated respite care that they need.
“We know that right now across Queanbeyan, carers are providing ongoing, unpaid support to family members or friends who have terminal or chronic illness, which is why this facility will make a huge difference,” Ms McBain said.
“It’s why I worked hard to secure an additional $1 million in funding to support the facility’s first year of operation – on top of the $750,000 we’re delivering to get the building off the ground.
“I want to thank Respite Care for QNB for their continued advocacy for the Queanbeyan community and for driving this critical project,” she said.
Mr Whan said it was a great day for the local community and a fitting way to remember the amazing determination Yvonne had to help people and families with chronic and terminal illness.
“Yvonne Cuschieri was inspiring, and the commitment the Respite Care for QBN committee has shown in getting us to this day shows they share that same drive and commitment to our community. Congratulations to Paul Walshe and his committee.”
Mr Whan said it was always rewarding to be able to help a project that is initiated and driven by the community.
“Our community is going to get a facility that will help many families during very tough times; it will help carers get a break, it will take a load off them and our health system, while giving appropriate loving care to people who need it,” he said.
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