Council donates $15,000 to Hilltop Cancer Accommodation Centre
Published on 17 September 2020
Fight Cancer Foundation’s accommodation centre, Hilltop has welcomed a $15,000 donation from Federation Council to assist with the construction costs of ten new accommodation rooms as part of the Stage Two Development.
Hilltop is a cancer patient and carer accommodation centre in Albury, and is funded by Fight Cancer Foundation in partnership with Rotary Club of Albury North, Lions District 201V6 and the Zonta Club of Albury Wodonga. Hilltop provides patients and their carers with motel style accommodation close to the Albury Base Hospital, Albury Wodonga Cancer Centre and other local treatment centres.
Federation Council Mayor Pat Bourke said Council was proud to donate $15,000 to the Hilltop facility that continues to make a positive difference in the lives of not only Federation Council residents but those throughout the wider region.
“In the 23 months, leading up to February 2020 residents from Federation Shire were welcomed to Hilltop for 1,906 bed nights,” Mayor Bourke said.
“This facility provides a comfortable and safe environment for cancer patients and their carers as they endure some of the toughest times of their lives. To have this type of facility, which is easily accessible and so welcoming is such a credit to the charity organisers and Council is pleased to be able to offer assistance to ensure this facility can grow in size and meet the demand for this type of relief accommodation.”
Flight Cancer Foundation Capital Fundraising Campaign Director Alice Glachan said for a couple of years now the need for the rooms has been regularly reaching capacity and the organisation are very excited they will now be able to meet the higher demand for rooms from across the wider region.
“Rotary, Lions and Zonta are delighted to be able to partner with the community and absolutely appreciate the incredible effort shown by so many to raise the much needed funds to ensure completion of Stage II to provide a further 10 rooms to increase the available rooms to 30,” Mrs Glachan said.
Hilltop has an enormous footprint, covering more than 32 councils and shires across northern Victoria and southern New South Wales. With Hilltop operating for a number of years now the regional community is able to see the immense support and the fantastic accommodation it provides to the regional cancer patients as they become guests of Hilltop while they are undergoing their Cancer treatment here in Albury.
Mrs Glachan said the wider community has always been very supportive of Hilltop and our fundraising for accommodation needed to support the patients of the cancer centre.
“The regional community being even more incredibly supportive with our efforts for Stage II, they in particular know how wonderfully welcoming and caring Hilltop is for the guests staying there during their cancer treatment. The regional guests can travel hundreds of kilometres to receive their cancer treatment and they need good, comfortable and cost effective accommodation during that treatment.”
Mrs Glachan paid tribute to the support that continues to come from a range of businesses, Shires and Councils, service organisations and also some very generous individuals, all from here in Albury and Wodonga and well out into our regional and rural communities, within our very large footprint.
“Our community should be very proud of our amazing Hilltop Accommodation Centre,” she said.
“On behalf of the Hilltop community, I would like to sincerely thank Federation Council for their donation today which will enable us grow our accommodation services for betterment of the wider region.”
Image from left to right: Hilltop Advisory Board Member representing Rotary Club of North Albury Syd Lukins, Flight Cancer Foundation Capital Fundraising Director Alice Glachan, Federation Council Mayor Pat Bourke and Federation Council General Manager Adrian Butler.