Josh Raatz from Crestani Scholarships, Port Macquarie MP Leslie Williams, scholarship recipients Katie Fisher and Sumie Namba, Mid North Coast Local Health District’s Director of Integrated Care, Allied Health and Community Services Jill Wong and Deputy Chief Radiation Therapist Matthew Hoffmann.
Crestani Foundation expands to Port Macquarie
Nov 29, 2022Port Macquarie cancer patients will soon experience the positive effects from a new partnership between the highly regarded Crestani Scholarships program and the Mid North Coast Cancer Institute.
The Crestani Scholarships were founded in 2007 by Yvonne Crestani in memory of her husband Chris Crestani who, as chief radiation therapist at St Vincent’s Hospital in Sydney, treated thousands of cancer patients, and sadly died from cancer himself.
The aim of the Crestani Scholarships is to give radiation therapists, physicists, nurses and other allied health professionals the opportunity for higher education and research study by providing scholarships both in Australia and overseas.
Funding for the scholarships comes from fundraising, donations and grants.
“The better the education, the better the treatment, the better the outcomes for cancer patients,” Mrs Crestani said.
“The Crestani Foundation is very proud in the knowledge that our contribution has produced more positive results for cancer patients.”
In 2013, Mrs Crestani redirected the foundation’s efforts to the Central Coast following the establishment of the Central Coast Cancer Centre and in the past few years the foundation has expanded its partnerships with the University of Newcastle and the Australian College of Nursing.
“We are pleased to announce that after talks with Matthew Hoffmann, Deputy Chief Radiation Therapist, we have now extended our scholarship awards to the Mid North Coast Cancer Institute at Port Macquarie,” Mrs Crestani said.
Two scholarships were presented to radiation therapists Katie Fisher – to study stereotactic delivery of radiation – and Sumie Namba – to study surface tracking in radiation therapy – at a special awards event on November 25.
The Crestani Scholarships is a not-for-profit registered charity run by a group of dedicated volunteers.
“All of us have been traumatised by the diagnosis of cancer, whether it’s for ourselves, a loved one or a friend,” Mrs Crestani said.
“We are always mindful of the plight of those who have been diagnosed with cancer and those who will be in the future.”