On 21 October 2025, Can Assist commemorated a remarkable milestone - celebrating 70 years of assisting country cancer patients across NSW with a special event at NSW Parliament House - honouring the volunteers, donors, and supporters who have made seven decades of care possible.

The celebration brought together Members of Parliament, volunteers, and supporters from across New South Wales, paying tribute to seventy years of kindness, generosity and local support for country people facing cancer far from home.

The celebration was hosted by David Graham as MC and featured heartfelt speeches from Dr Joe McGirr MP, Can Assist patron John Colvin, and president Justine Turnbull.

Dr McGirr - a long-time advocate and supporter of Can Assist’s mission - acknowledged the charity’s unique role in bridging the healthcare gap between city and country.

“The cost and the separation from their loved ones were always something that could stop people seeking treatment for cancer. It’s important for them and their families that care comes from their community, and that’s what Can Assist provides - it makes a difference to people’s lives with cancer. Thank you Can Assist,” Dr McGirr

Other members of parliament such as Paul Toole (Bathurst), Roy Butler (Barwon), Dugald Saunders (Dubbo), Wendy Tuckerman (Goulburn), Brendan Moy-lan (Northern Tablelands) and Philip Donato (Orange) attended the celebration, met with the branch members from their electorate and commended Can Assist’s ongoing contribution to health equity for rural and regional NSW residents.

From humble beginnings in 1955, when a small group of Sydney women came together to raise money for cancer patients in need, Can Assist has grown into a state-wide network of 57 branches, all powered by volunteers. Every branch is driven by one shared belief - that no one should face cancer alone, no matter where they live.

Today, Can Assist sup- ports more than 4000 country cancer patients every year, helping cover the hidden costs of cancer exacerbated by distance to treatment - travel, accommodation, groceries, utilities, and out-of-pocket medical expenses - so patients can focus on getting well.

“This milestone is a testament to the power of community,” said Justine Turnbull (Can Assist president). “It’s a testament to vision, dedication and the belief that together we can change lives. We’re celebrating the countless individual moments of kindness, compassion and community spirit that have brought us here. This milestone belongs to every volunteer who has baked a cake, cooked a sausage, or sold a raffle ticket - together we’ve built something extraordinary - a community that cares”.