On Monday, 12 years of effort by the community came to a conclusion with the Shoalhaven Linear Fundraising Committee handing over its final contribution to the $36 million Shoalhaven Cancer Care Centre.

The community raised more than $1 million towards the project, which has now seen a second linear accelerator machine installed in the centre.

Director of Cancer Services Anthony Arnold said the second linear accelerator would be operational by the end of October or early November.

He said having a second linear accelerator in the Shoalhaven was a “huge achievement”.

“The first linear accelerator is running at capacity, treating between 30 and 40 patients per day,” he said.

“It has averaged 90 per cent capacity over the last financial year.

“The time is right. We need the second machine.

“It is here through a wonderful partnership with the community.”

He said the second machine gives the centre the platform to treat patients from the Far South Coast.

“It gives this facility some redundancy through breakdowns and allows us to treat patients from the far south and bring them to our accommodation facility on site,” he said.

“That region is under serviced. They are a long way from any radiation oncology facility so having this machine opens the door to better cancer treatment locally.”

The latest generation machine produces both X-rays and electrons to treat patients and cost $4.4 million. With extra work to adapt the facility the project has cost $5.3 million.

“The new accelerator has the same capability as the other machine but with some added extras to allow the delivery of different types of radiation treatments,” Mr Arnold said.

“High dose treatments and stereotactic body treatments which we currently can’t deliver will now be available,” he said.

“Which is a  huge plus.”

The machine became centre property last week with around four months of testing for data collection and quality assurance expected.

“We need to build the radiation model and we expect the machine to start clinically in late October, early November,” he said.

Members of the fundraising committee and Kiama MP Gareth Ward inspected the new machine on Monday.

“It is hard to believe the first machine and the cancer centre has been up and running for three years,” said Paul Dean, who was co-founder of the fundraising committee with the late Dr Ray Cleary.

“This centre is a fantastic achievement by the community,” he said.

“In 2004 a group of us were frustrated by the need of people to go to Wollongong and Sydney for cancer treatment.

“It put a lot of pressure on family and supporters of cancer patients.

“The fact we were able to raise $1 million by 2009 was a fantastic contribution by the whole community.”

The committee was left with $750,000 after donating $1.1 million for the initial facility which built the adjoining 10 unit accommodation facility.

“We decided to contribute those left over funds to the second machine,” he said.

“That exhausts our finances and we can put the charity to bed.

“It’s been a wonderful journey and the community been fantastic in supporting it.”

Founding committee chairman, Greg Watson, who was also mayor at the time, said it was “the most successful community driven project there has ever been.”

“When we started this project I never thought I would need it,” he said.

“I have just finished 37 treatments on other machine and can say first hand how great staff are here.

“From the committee’s perspective, what a great community we have, which assisted us to raise these funds.

“Thanks to the community, the state government and commonwealth government for funding this facility.

“Without this partnership this would not have happened.

“It’s a fantastic facility and one that will provide treatment and save lives into the future.”

Kiama MP Gareth Ward said it was great to see the second machine installed.

“This is a fantastic piece of new equipment for the Shoalhaven,” he said.

“At the last election we said if we were re-elected we would invest $5 million for a second linear accelerator for the second bunker at the centre.

“The demand for cancer services has been much quicker than expected and have reached a peak.

“This will make a real impact to people’s lives.

“Congratulations to Paul Dean and Linear Accelerator Committee and everyone in the community who raised funds to start this project off but also to supplement the money invested by the state government.”

Mr Ward said the state government would also provide ongoing funding to allow for growth of the facility.

“We’ve seen record funding for this health district in this region and I look forward to that continuing,” he said.

“As a government we want to continue to invest in health care. We understand how important it is in this district.”