Over $50,000 have been donated by the community to help oncology services.
Central Highlands Rural Health put out a call for donations for the oncology department at the Kyneton Health campus, with the highest donations coming from members of the Kyneton Uniting Church Community Op Shop, who donated $17,847.
CHRH clinical operations acting director Susan Whitfield said the health service was thrilled to receive so much support from the community.
“Our oncology team will undertake training in the use of the scalp cooler and then it will be introduced to our patients,” she said.
“We know that locals have been travelling to other health services to gain access to a scalp cooler and we are grateful that we can now enhance our care at Kyneton Health.”
Oncology nurses requested the scalp cooling machine to minimise the impact of cancer treatment and support patient wellbeing.
Patients receiving chemotherapy treatment often experience hair loss which can be physically uncomfortable and emotionally distressing.
Kyneton Uniting Church Community Op Shop volunteer Kathleen Wyatt said the op shop prides itself on supporting the local community through initiatives like these.
“Christine Stephenson, one of our volunteers, has been a patient at the oncology unit. Christine has shared that the loss of your hair during treatments impacts your dignity,” she said.
“For country people to have the same opportunities as city people, taking the travel out of treatment eases the financial burden as well as easing the physical impact on the patient, their family and friends.”
Another donor, Linda Stathopoulos said the scalp cooler will make a big difference to how people approach their treatment.
“Losing your hair is very distressing and all consuming,” she said.
“I used it while undergoing my chemotherapy for breast cancer, it works and makes the situation easier to deal with.”
Individuals, businesses and community groups responded to a letter to the community from CHRH’s chief executive Maree Cuddihy in March 2025, with $40,000 raised in under two months.
This has been added to funding from Spirit de Cure and Suncorp who contributed $10,000 in August 2024 to kick-off the appeal.
