Diane has been advocating for dialysis chairs in Cobram for more than six years to support her mum, who has had to travel long distances for treatment.
Sue came on board a couple of years ago after her husband started dialysis and said the announcement was incredibly important for the Cobram community.
“It has been a long road,” she said.
“After years of letter-writing, lobbying and raising awareness, it’s heartening to see this issue recognised and acted upon.”
Sue said they were immensely thankful to the community and local service clubs for all their hard work and commitment, including state Member for Ovens Valley Tim McCurdy and NCN Health chief executive Mark Ashcroft.
“This announcement reflects years of persistence from our community, patients, families, volunteers and advocates, who refused to give up,” she said.
As part of the campaign, Sue interviewed all the dialysis patients in the area and put their stories together in a folder, sending copies to the health minister.
“Most of all, we want to thank the dialysis patients who bravely shared their personal stories,” she said.
“Their honesty about the hardships of travelling long distances for treatment helped people understand the real human cost.
“We also want to thank the ABC and other local media outlets, such as the Cobram Courier, for their excellent support.”
Sue and Diane are now looking towards the future with optimism.
“We are excited, appreciative, and truly thankful for the Victorian Government’s decision to fund the planning for a new dialysis and day-stay hub, along with support for patient transport while the service is being developed,” she said.
