Why We Need Centenary House

Gippsland has historically lacked cancer treatment facilities and as a result patients and their families have                   had to spend extended periods in Melbourne undergoing treatment.  This has been a major disruption to their            families and accommodation for family carers has been an expense many could not afford.  As a result many               seriously ill patients have opted to undergo more radical and intrusive treatment and sadly some have even                 opted to forego any treatment rather than face the family stress of long and expensive stays in Melbourne.

New Treatment Centre

A major new treatment centre for cancer has been constructed at Latrobe Regional Hospital in Gippsland. 
This is the best equipped centre in regional Victoria.  The centre opened early in September, 2006 and is                      expected to treat about 35 patients a day.

Accommodation Needed

Patients will travel from across Gippsland to this new centre.  However treatments will take place over
several days and patients and their families will need convenient and affordable accommodation.

While the focus of the accommodation will be on supporting cancer patients it will also be available for any
family who has a seriously ill patient undergoing treatment at Latrobe Regional Hospital.  The need for such
a local facility is obvious when one considers that it is estimated that 85% of the people who use the
Ronald McDonald House accommodation facility at the Monash Medical Centre in Melbourne come
from Gippsland.

Easing Stress

Gippsland Rotary Centenary House is within walking distance to Latrobe Regional Hospital. 
It will be easy for families to both visit seriously ill patients but also be able to take a short break back at
the accommodation facility.  The facility offers comfortable accommodation but also provides a
supportive environment, all within call of the hospital.