Jervis Bay Evening Group of CWA's annual high tea supports Can Assist

Dressed to the 'bling into spring' theme, guests were greeted by jazz musician Hans Kieft at the Huskisson Community Gall and enjoyed a glass of champagne on arrival.

This function was strongly supported by the community with gifts for what seemed like a never ending raffle.

Organisers thanked all the businesses and individuals who contributed to the success of this day, where funds raised are being donated to Can Assist, a local cancer support group.

Food was in abundance and provided by the ladies of CWA Jervis Bay Evening Group.

CWA member Monica Fafeita thanked everyone for their efforts in bringing the event together.

"Months of planning by an enthusiastic and hard working team guarantee the success of this day and we wish to thank everyone involved, our generous community, to Hans Kieft who donates his time and music unstintingly for this event every year and, not least, the guests who come long to support our efforts," she said.

About Can Assist

Can Assist Shoalhaven is one of approximately 50 branches of the Cancer Patients' Assistance Society of New South Wales (Can Assist).

Can Assist is a membership-based, volunteer-driven charity that provides financial assistance to country people in NSW affected by any type of cancer.

The Shoalhaven branch has 17 members. The Branch raises its own funds and receives donations to provide financial assistance to families in the Shoalhaven region experiencing financial stress resulting from a cancer diagnosis.

This financial stress can be due to the direct costs associated with undergoing cancer treatment such as medication and/or the reduction or loss in income resulting from the patient or carer being unable to work.

Often, the applicants for assistance are on aged-care pensions or other forms of welfare and any additional costs brought about by a cancer diagnosis are simply not able to be met without assistance being provided.

The Branch does not provide money directly to families or individuals, out assists by paying bills for them.

The Branch routinely pays for utility bills, such as electricity, gas, telephone and rates, medical scans, food supplements (including for tube feeding), dental treatment (where this is required before cancer treatment can commence) and vehicle running costs including, registration, compulsory third party and repairs. The Branch also provides food and petrol vouchers.

The Branch has established a relationship with social and health workers at the Shoalhaven Cancer Care Centre and all applicants for funding are referred to them in the first instance.

This ensures that the applicants are genuinely in need of assistance and also allows the social and health workers to direct them to other services and support available.

The Branch is seeing an increase in the number of families requiring financial assistance to meet day-to-day living costs.

In 2014/15 the Branch provided 93 instances of support to 38 families to the value of $24,448.77 whereas in the last financial year ending 30 June 2019, the Branch provided 127 instances of financial support to 78 families totalling $34,143.63