• Home
  • News
  • Sport
  • Entertainment
  • Local History
  • Contact Us
  • Advertise With Us
  • About Us
  • Subscribe
  • Read Our Newspapers Online
    • Read the Latest Western Port News
    • Read the Latest Mornington News
    • Read the Latest Southern Peninsula News
    • Read the Latest Frankston Times
    • Read the Latest Chelsea Mordialloc Mentone News
  • Competition
Facebook Twitter Instagram
Trending
  • Resident road rage over reduced speed limit
  • Steele retires, ‘Stirts’ to Seagulls
  • Pythons and Tigers all square, oh my!
  • Frankston Football Club hold a successful fair
  • Home services crisis after switch to private providers
  • Call for help after donation drop
  • True passion the source of author inspiration
  • OAM for ‘Coodabeens’ Bill Baxter
Facebook Twitter
MPNEWSMPNEWS
  • Home
  • News
  • Sport
  • Entertainment
  • Local History
  • Contact Us
  • Advertise With Us
  • About Us
  • Subscribe
  • Competition
MPNEWSMPNEWS
Home»Latest News»Cancer drivers conned for lift
Latest News

Cancer drivers conned for lift

By MP News GroupDecember 3, 2018Updated:December 4, 2018No Comments3 Mins Read
Help for those in need: cancer patient Ron Carter with volunteer Southern Peninsula Cancer Support Group driver Kim Reynolds. Picture: Gary Sissons
Share
Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Pinterest Email
Help for those in need: cancer patient Ron Carter with volunteer Southern Peninsula Cancer Support Group driver Kim Reynolds. Picture: Gary Sissons

By Barry Morris

VOLUNTEER drivers are angry and disappointed that a woman who didn’t have cancer used a free transport service to get a lift to a Melbourne hospital for an x-ray.

The woman called the Southern Peninsula Cancer Support Group, where some of the drivers are former cancer patients, and asked for a lift to and from hospital.

The woman also requested that the service call her on the day of her appointment to wake her up.

She then asked for the driver to take her dog to a friend’s home so that it would be looked after.

Taking it a step further, the women negotiated with the driver to stop on the trip from Blairgowrie to the city for a cup of coffee that she would need desperately.

“We’ll have plenty of time,” she said.

On the trip up, the woman confessed that she did not have cancer but had been unable to find anyone else to take her to hospital to have an x-ray and see a doctor.

The driver told her that she would take her on this occasion, wait for her and drive her home, but that the service would not be able to take her again.

On the way back, the woman asked the driver to take her to the TAB so she could top up her account.

The driver told her it was either her dog being picked up, or the TAB. She opted for the dog.

The driving service’s principal co-ordinator Jan Harris said the woman’s action had placed pressure on drivers who were stretched to the limits carrying up to 50 patients a week.

“We are driving seriously ill cancer patients to hospitals and cancer centres in Melbourne, Frankston and elsewhere on the peninsula – this woman’s action would have cost us $150 in petrol reimbursement and other costs,” Ms Harris said.

“It’s unfortunate that someone should abuse our service in this way.

“It is also a reflection that few alternative transport choices are available.”

A Catholic nun, Sister Carmel McFaull, founded the cancer support service more than 30 years ago.

Sister Carmel, awarded an Order of Australia in 2007, started by driving a young Sorrento woman with breast cancer up to the city for treatment.

When locals heard of Sister Carmel’s actions, others offered to help leading to the formation of the cancer drivers’ group.

The group desperately needs more drivers and money to help with its work.

Anyone willing to help can ring the group on 0429 624 375.

First published in the Southern Peninsula News – 4 December 2018

Share. Facebook Twitter Pinterest LinkedIn Tumblr Email

Related Posts

Home services crisis after switch to private providers

July 4, 2022

Call for help after donation drop

July 4, 2022

Shire ‘no’ to Esso’s bid for power

June 27, 2022

Call for panel to consider future of green wedge

June 27, 2022
Add A Comment

Comments are closed.

Weather
Jul 6, 2022 - Wed
Mornington, Australia
6°C
clear sky
clear sky
4 m/s, ENE
70%
767.32 mmHg
wed07/06 thu07/07 fri07/08 sat07/09 sun07/10
sky is clear
10/9°C
light rain
12/11°C
light rain
11/10°C
light rain
12/9°C
sky is clear
10/9°C
Peninsula Essence Magazine

Click here to read

June 27, 2022
Peninsula Kids Magazine

Click here to read

May 26, 2022
Council Watch

Keeping watch on councillor costs

June 27, 2022

Leadership lacking for ‘neutral’ policy

June 20, 2022
Interview

True passion the source of author inspiration

July 4, 2022
Property of the Week

278 Dundas Street, Rye

May 11, 2022
100 Years Ago This Week

Frankston Football Club hold a successful fair

July 5, 2022
Contact
Street: 63 Watt Road, Mornington, 3931
Mailing: PO Box 588, Hastings, 3915
Menu
  • Home
  • News
  • Sport
  • Entertainment
  • Local History
  • Contact Us
  • Advertise With Us
  • About Us
  • Subscribe
  • Competition
About

Established in 2006, Mornington Peninsula News Group (MPNG) is a locally owned and operated, independent media company.

MPNG publishes five weekly community newspapers: the Western Port News, Mornington News, Southern Peninsula News, Frankston Times and Chelsea Mordialloc Mentone News.

MPNG also publishes two glossy magazines: Peninsula Essence and Peninsula Kids.

Facebook Twitter
© 2022 Mornington Peninsula News Group.

Type above and press Enter to search. Press Esc to cancel.