It was an epiphany while touring an Icon Cancer Centre in Brisbane that prompted now retired Director of Clinical Services’ Karen Woolfe to start investigating what it would take to establish a radiation treatment facility in Mildura.

Mrs Woolfe retired from the role at Mildura Health Private Hospital (MHPH) in early 2019 following an almost 50-year career that included working as a registered nurse and midwife, and 28-years spent at MHPH.

The seasoned nurse returned to Mildura in 1990 after 15 years in Melbourne, and six years later chemotherapy was introduced at MHPH. But there was still a noticeable gap in local cancer treatment services.

Mrs Woolfe said during annual planning meetings a team of medical staff discussed services that would benefit Mildura residents, with further cancer support a continual talking point.

“We were talking to a doctor who said cancer care is 50 per cent chemotherapy and 50 per cent radiation,” Mrs Woolfe recalled.

“I thought, well, we only have half a service. We had always been aware there was something more we needed but didn’t know how to go about it.”

Although she said it was obvious that the care needed to be brought to the patient.

“We know particularly with cancer, which is very emotive, if you have your treatment where your whole support network of family and friends are, you are going to accept the treatment better and have a positive focus on your treatment.

“We always knew the crux was bringing the services here to where the patients already are.”

As part of an Australian Private Hospitals Association conference one year, Mildura Health CEO Gerard Op de Coul and Mrs Woolfe had the opportunity to tour an Icon Cancer Centre in Brisbane, which provided both radiation and chemotherapy.

“That was the epiphany, Gerard and I looked at each other and said this is just what we need,” Mrs Woolfe said.

“It was aesthetically set out beautifully but it was there to provide a service, it wasn’t all frills, it was functional. It looked good.”

From there, many fact-finding missions, research and discussions were carried out, including a pivotal chat with Icon’s CEO the feasibility of such a centre in Mildura.

“Really that started the conversation,” Mrs Woolfe said.

“Icon had the knowledge and were very patient with us.

“But we had to look at how we could make it work, meeting all of the legislative requirements for a health fund to be involved.”

Following much hard work, the cancer centre became a reality, breaking ground in early 2022.

Mrs Woolfe said the new centre will provide some normality in the most stressful time of someone’s life.

“When you go to have six weeks of radiation in Melbourne or Adelaide, your treatment is only about 15 minutes a day, so you have all the costs and emotional toll and just 15 minutes of treatment.

“Here the patients can, with permission, have their treatment even in their lunch hour and go back to work and maintain their normal life.

“That’s going to be the beauty of it.”