Childhood Cancer Support

Narelle Wockner

‘Supporting Children with Cancer since 1975. Desperate parents of children with cancer, formed Childhood Cancer Support to address needs faced by families.’

Camp Crystal

Dealing with a diagnosis of cancer is an earth shattering event which sends shockwaves through your entire body, but can you imagine, as a parent, being told that your precious child has cancer. The emotional impact that this has on everyone concerned, including the child, parents, siblings and the entire extended family involved, is indescribable.

Life as they know it as‘ normal’ will never be the same from this point on, and everything else that once mattered in life will be insignificant. Each year in Australia, more than 625 children are diagnosed with cancer with many of those living in regional areas, in some cases thousands of kilometres from the specialised care and life-saving treatments which they will require. Services including counselling to offer emotional support to the family during this journey, are just not available in these remote areas.

A group of desperate parents of children with cancer, decided to form an organisation in 1975, which would address these important needs faced by families. As a result, ‘Childhood Cancer Support’ was established in Queensland and this ‘one of a kind organisation’, would offer assistance for families to receive the kind of support that they require.

As a family focused organisation, they had identified the importance of keeping a family together during this turbulent time and were able to purchase a residential facility which would provide these families with some form of normality during their stay in Brisbane for treatment.

The ‘not for profit’ organisation offers comfortable self-contained units, with private play areas and BBQ facilities for regional families. From as far away as the Northern Territory, far North Queensland to Northern NSW, a place away from the hospital, specialists and somewhere to just chill out comfortably while keeping the whole family together is essential. Many children undergo long treatments which can extend to many weeks, months and even years and to have a place which represents some form of a ‘normal life’, is also very therapeutic for everyone during this traumatic period. The organisation also offers free transport services and recreational therapies with the introduction of the ‘Healing Hearts’, empowering hearts through creativity program which has been proven to be very helpful during the treatment process.

The relocation of the Children’s Hospital from Herston to South Brisbane and with the new Lady Cilento Children’s Hospital, the organisation now has 3 buses to provide free transport for families, from their accommodation at Kelvin Grove to the new hospital.

Plans are currently in progress for the future to open family style accommodation nearby in South Brisbane close to the new Children’s Hospital.

Recently, Camp Crystal was held for the 26th year, by Children’s Cancer Support on the property owned by Bill and Narelle Thompson at Aratula, whereby hundreds of people, including 33 families, attended for the weekend.

Bill and Narelle have themselves been touched by cancer and its devastating effects on the family, when their son Jeremy was diagnosed and successfully treated for cancer 32 years ago.

They both work passionately to see this annual event a success and have constructed a ‘purpose built’ shed with a commercial kitchen, able to feed 500 people in one sitting, plus an amenities block to cater for families.

The days prior to the Camp Crystal event are hectic and full of activity, with volunteers stepping into get the slashing and mowing done, setting up the flying fox, numerous other tasks and bringing in the food provisions for the meals which will be prepared to feed everyone.

The RAAF personnel, based at Amberley, also become involved, with erecting dozens of tents, with beds, which the families and volunteers will call home for the weekend.

With an amazing team working on the board and the support from so many volunteers and organisations, this weekend provides families, with children dealing with cancer, a reprieve for a couple of days.

Bruce and Reshma Elder from Russell Island also know the heart wrenching feeling of being told that their child has cancer, not being told this once, but twice with two of their 5 children. Their daughter Davina at 6 years old, was diagnosed with cancer and is now 20 and has been left with health issues, whilst their son, Andrew, has had 8 brain tumours and is facing further surgery to remove another 2 after this event.

Andrew is now 18 years of age and although disabled, through Camp Crystal, he has developed an amazing skill for archery, which he was introduced to at Camp Crystal and now competes in a local archery club.

Working as a volunteer, Bruce assists with anything that he can put his hand to and tells me that he really looks forward to this gathering every year.

You may have wondered what the words “Camp Crystal” represents, it stands for: Cancer Related Youth Support Time Allocated to Laughter.

The weekend provides an opportunity for families to just chill out or get involved in activities such as horse riding, petting zoo, arts and crafts, jewellery making, trivia, face painting, jumping castle, archery and wood working. Of course there are lots more adventurous activities such as the experience of traverse/flying fox, 4 WD driving adventures and Rally Car rides which were extremely popular with both the kids and adults. Two tracks were purposely designed, one for each activity and with the strong support of the Brisbane Sporting Car Club, bringing along 14 off-road vehicles and over 20 rally cars, there was plenty of opportunity for those feeling the need for speed. The smiles on the children’s faces were enough to warm anyone’s heart.

As the night closed in and dinner was over, the kids took to the hill behind the campground to hunt for yowies, a Camp Crystal tradition. What a vision looking up at the hill into the darkness to see glow sticks everywhere!

Astronomy was another popular activity with both the kids and adults, and with some very impressive telescopes, a clear sky full of stars, it was a perfect stage for some wonderful star watching.

Bill and Narelle’s neighbours Dick and Kate Buckham also like to be involved offering their support for the weekend and as Dick is a farrier, he demonstrates to the children how he shoes a horse and Kate always volunteers, wherever her help is required.

Speaking to the many parents over the course of the weekend, there was one thing that they all had in common, which was to say, “This weekend offered them an opportunity to do something together as a family which didn’t involve oncologists, hospitals or treatments.”

The idea of being able to forget the everyday things as they had become accustomed to, even just for a weekend, was amazing. It doesn’t take too long when visiting the camp to experience the powerful fellowship shared between parents with other parents and between the children, a special bond.

A place where everyone shares ideas, gives support to each other with even just a cup of tea and a chat. Many parents spoke about how this had affected their own relationships with each other, since their child’s cancer diagnosis and the separation which had occurred, saying that this weekend allowed them to spend time together as a family and to also reconnect with each other as a couple. To see a look of relief on the parent’s faces as they enjoyed the smiles and laughter of their children, has made this trip worthwhile.

Another wonderful year at Camp Crystal and a sincere thank you to all the sponsors and volunteers for their continuing support …