Naracoorte’s Lachlan Haynes is leading a petition throughout the Mid and Upper SE calling for a regional radiation treatment service in the Limestone Coast, so far attracting more than 5000 signatures.
He hopes the petition will convince SA Health Minister Chris Picton to use $4.3 million allocated by the Federal Government for the service.
It is currently being stonewalled by SA Health bureaucrats – including the Limestone Coast Local Health Network (LCLHN).
A company which provides radiation services, the ICON Group anticipates around 200 people annually would no longer be forced to travel to Adelaide or Warrnambool in Victoria where they also face the expense of finding accommodation for weeks, sometimes months.
Mr Haynes – an SA vice-president of the Liberal Party – is also a member of the recently formed Limestone Coast Radiation Treatment Working Party, along with another Naracoorte voice, Erika Vickery.
“Throughout our district, most of us know someone whose life has been turned upside down by cancer,” Mr Haynes said.
“What people go through to have radiation treatment daily somewhere four hours away is an absolute rollercoaster for them.
“Through Tony Pasin’s hard work Federally, we have the funding for the machine.
“It is not fair morally or ethically that SA Health bureaucrats say we can’t have the service, or for the LCLHN to spend the funds on something else.
“We want as many people as possible to sign our petition so Minister Picton is convinced that what the people need and want – access to radiation treatment in our region – is a priority.”
Backed by the Federal Member for Barker Tony Pasin, who in 2020 helped gain the $4.3 million for radiation services, Mr Haynes has ensured petitions are available for people to sign throughout Naracoorte, Lucindale, Frances, Padthaway, Mundulla, Bordertown, Keith, Willalooka, Kingston, Robe and Penola.
Mr Haynes also paid tribute to Mr Pasin and working party colleagues – Ben Hood for designing the petition and a poster and Mrs Vickery who delivered them around Naracoorte.
“I couldn’t do this without their help,” he said.
This article appeared in the Naracoorte Community News.
