05 June 2008

St George Hospital’s Cancer Care Lodge
celebrates its 10th birthday

St George Hospital’s Cancer Care Lodge (Bezzina House) is celebrating its 10th birthday this month.

The Hospital’s Lodge has provided an incredible 42,000 accommodation nights to more than 3,500 families since opening its doors a decade ago.

St George Hospital is the major cancer treatment facility for St George and Sutherland Shire residents – and also provides treatment for patients from country NSW and interstate.

The Lodge provides comfortable, affordable accommodation for patients and their families who need to be within close proximity to the Hospital, but do not live in the local area.

St George Hospital’s Director of Radiation Oncology, Professor John Kearsley, said that the Lodge was located near the Hospital’s Cancer Care Centre which allowed patients easy access to treatment facilities at the Hospital.

“St George Hospital provides an average of 53,000 occasions of service to patients every year, with more than 1,600 new patients being treated at the Centre in the last year alone,” Professor Kearsley said.

“Many of these patients need to travel from country NSW and interstate to access cancer services at St George Hospital,” he said.

Chairman of the Cancer Care Lodge Appeal Committee John Green said that a vigorous fundraising campaign was launched in February 1994 to raise funds to build the Lodge.

“The Committee worked tirelessly to rally support to fund the project and the response from the local community, businesses and clubs was overwhelming,” he said.

“The Appeal received a huge boost when local builder, Michael Bezzina undertook to build the Lodge with the help of his suppliers.

“Four-and-a-half years on, and with a total of $1.6 million fundraised, the Cancer Care Lodge (Bezzina House) officially opened its doors on 20 June, 1998.”

Celebrations kick off on Saturday 14 June with a “Friends” of Bezzina House picnic from 10am at Hogben Park, Kogarah (corner Harrow Road and Railway Parade). Tours of Bezzina House will take place from 10am to 2pm. For further information, please call 9570 5332.

Media enquiries: South Eastern Sydney & Illawarra Health
Media Officer Maxine Brennan 9350 2601, 0413 028 776