HUNDREDS of HMAS Cerberus personnel came together last month to raise funds and awareness for the National Breast Cancer Foundation (NBCF).
Petty Officer Belinda Rendell was diagnosed with stage-three breast cancer in April 2024 and has since become a fierce advocate for breast cancer awareness.
She organised the event, which took place at The Navy’s Anchorage Millies café. More than $2000 was raised for the NBCF and attendees were provided with information on breast cancer diagnosis and treatment. Rendell gave a moving speech to guests and spoke about her story and experience fighting against breast cancer.
“The event was amazing, and we are so proud of Belinda’s efforts,” Command Warrant Officer HMAS Cerberus, Warrant Officer Dayle Lovell said.
“I think everyone took away a greater awareness of breast cancer and its impacts on people all across society. Lots of people walked away committed to self-checking regularly, which is a great result.”
The breast cancer death rate in Australia has reduced by 40 percent in the last 30 years, however, in the past ten years, diagnoses have risen by 21 per cent.
“I’m determined to raise breast cancer awareness among Cerberus and wider Navy personnel,” Rendell said.
“It is so important to be breast aware, to detect cancer as early as possible and increase chances of survival. Service personnel are usually so fit, healthy and busy, that we often don’t take the time to think about or conduct checks like this.”
Rendell’s journey started with a lump and an ultrasound. Since, she has had surgery, six months of chemotherapy, five weeks of radiation, and several years of hormone therapy.
“I couldn’t believe what I was hearing from my breast surgeon,” Rendell said.
“I’d had a clear mammogram and ultrasound just 12 months before I found my lump, and yet here I was being told I had cancer that had spread into my lymph nodes.”
Rendell joined the navy in 2003 and graduated Recruit School as an Able Seaman Musician. She has since served in Melbourne and Sydney full-time bands and numerous overseas deployments.
Rendell said the treatment “has been hell”, but that she got through it thanks to support from the Royal Australian Navy Band Melbourne, Cerberus Command, her support team at Personnel Support Unit, and her family.
“Belinda is an inspirational senior sailor, woman and mother,” Commanding Officer Cerberus Captain Ben Favelle said. “The fact that she is so focused on sharing her experiences with, and seeking to protect other Navy members, is a credit to her resilience and humanity.”
Rendell is now undergoing preventative hormone therapy but has returned to work and is due to commission to Maritime Human Resources Officer this month. She continues to advocate for funding to advance breast cancer research and support the NBCF as they work towards their vision of zero deaths due to breast cancer.
You can still donate to Rendell’s fundraiser here: fundraise.nbcf.org.au/fundraisers/belindarendell
All proceeds will go towards the National Breast Cancer Foundation.
First published in the Western Port News – 26 November 2025
