FUNDRAISING

PROSTATENEWSISSUE 61 / AUGUST 2015REDUCING THE IMPACT OF PROSTATE CANCER

IT’S A BLOKE THING

CONTENTS, CEO MESSAGE & NATIONAL BOARD

I am pleased to announce the launch of PCFA’s Network Online (networkonline.pcfa.org.au). At the moment Network Online is only open to Ambassadors,

Prostate Cancer Specialist Nurses and Support Group Leaders, but in time we will widen the membership to include everyone in the prostate cancer community.

The ultimate aim is to allow men, their partners and families affected by prostate cancer to connect with each other regardless of where they happen to live in Australia. It will enable members to access information and resources, such as Ambassador presentations, the Support Group Handbook and Support Group Leader Training Modules; share experiences; participate in advocacy campaigns; receive regular updates on latest research results; upload photos and ask questions of other members.

Some discussion forums will be open to everyone to participate in whilst others will be restricted to members of particular groups, such as men with advanced prostate cancer and gay and bisexual men. We are working closely with existing groups such as Australian Advanced Prostate Cancer Support Groups (www.jimjimjimjim.com) to ensure we don’t duplicate some of the fabulous resources that already exist.

Participation in our online community won’t suit everyone in the PCFA family, but for many it will rapidly become an important and exciting way to keep in touch and up to date with developments in prostate cancer.

Best wishes,Associate Professor Anthony Lowe,Chief Executive Officer, PCFA

CEO Message

National BoardChairmanJim Hughes AM

Deputy ChairmanSteve Callister

Finance & OperationsChris Hall (Chairman)

Awareness & EducationDr David Malouf (Chairman)

National Support GroupsIan Wagner (Chairman)

Marketing & FundraisingSteve Callister (Chairman)

RotaryJohn Palmer

National DirectorProfessor John Mills AO

State ChairmenTony Sonneveld OAM (NSW/ACT)

Peter Gebert (VIC/ TAS)

Bill Munro (WA)

Distinguished Professor Judith Clements AC (QLD)

Michael Brock (SA/NT)

Contents Resources ........................... 02

Research ............................. 03

Awareness ........................... 05

Opinion ................................ 07

Support ................................... 09

Fundraising ............................... 11

Around the Country ............. 12

Partnerships ........................ 13

Cover shot: The 2015 QantasLink It’s a Bloke Thing prostate cancer luncheon was launched at the new Brisbane West Wellcamp Airport. IABT is Australia’s most successful daytime fundraising lunch and will be held this year at the Brisbane West Wellcamp Airport on August 11.

PCFA values your feedback. If you prefer a digital copy, to unsubscribe, or to order more copies, please send us an email at enquiries@pcfa.org.au

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RESOURCES

PCFA has developed a range of resources to assist men, their partners and families following a diagnosis of prostate cancer. To view these free resources on our website, download or to order: www.pcfa.org.au/publications-resources/

Maintaining wellbeing with prostate cancer

Understanding surgery for prostate cancer

Understanding brachytherapy for prostate cancer

Understanding hormone therapy for prostate cancer

Understanding urinary problems following prostate cancer treatment

Understanding sexual issues following prostate cancer treatment

Understanding bowel disturbance following prostate cancer treatment

Guide to PCFA Resources

2. For recently diagnosed men and their families: Prostate Cancer Information Packs: a series of five information packs with more detailed information for men diagnosed with prostate cancer:

1. General Information Leaflets, which cover the following topics:

3. Further detailed information on treatment and side effects:These web-based PCFA Information Guides are more detailed, and may help with further discussions with your doctor and other health professionals:

LOCALISED PROSTATE CANCER

ADVANCED PROSTATE CANCER

GAY AND BISEXUAL MEN

YOUNGER MEN

PARTNERS AND CARERS

Each Information Pack contains four separate booklets each covering a major topic during the cancer journey:

Diagnosis: information on how prostate cancer is diagnosed

Treatment: treatment options available

Side Effects: side effects of treatment, with tips on how to cope

Wellbeing: dealing with practicalities of living with prostate cancer

What you need to know about prostate cancer

Overview and general information about prostate cancer and PCFA

Support groups for people affected by prostate cancer

Overview of the community support group network available for men and women affected by prostate cancer

Caring for someone with prostate cancer

General information for family and friends and where to go for help

Understanding prostate cancer

More detailed info regarding prostate cancer detection and diagnosis, including glossary of common terms

(English only)

Available in English, Arabic, Chinese, Italian, Greek and Vietnamese

Also available on USB cards Information Packs Information Guides

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RESEARCH

Our Research, your future an overview of the Annual Research Update Forum 2015

Men living with prostate cancer, women living with ovarian cancer and their carers, researchers and other health professionals, gathered in Melbourne to talk about the latest in clinical management of both cancers. The latest news in the treatment of both ovarian and prostate cancer was delivered by Prof Gary Richardson, A Prof Clare Scott and Prof Ben Tran. Some of the most insightful talks on the wellbeing of the body and the mind during cancer treatment were covered by Dr Jane Fletcher and Ms Debbie Summers. We were extremely grateful for the lovely presence and facilitation by Ms Catherine Deveny, comedian and column writer for The Guardian. Invited science writer Fiona McMillan, PhD BSc, put together summaries of the news presented on the day, which we have posted on our website for everyone to access:

http://www.prostate.org.au/research/research-updates/2015-annual-research-forum/

Chemotherapy is not traditionally offered as an early stage treatment for prostate cancer. It is usually given much later, following initial treatment with surgery and/or radiation, and androgen deprivation therapy (ADT). ADT is a front line treatment for good reason. According to Dr Ben Tran the development and progression of prostate cancer is driven by a class of hormones called androgens, including testosterone. ADT deprives the tumour of these androgens, reducing the tumour burden. But eventually prostate cancer cells find a way to produce their own testosterone. This is the major reason most prostate cancers become resistant to ADT. New therapies that address this are becoming available. For example, the

drug Abiraterone blocks the production of testosterone inside the cancer cell, and the drug Enzalutamide stops testosterone from interacting with its target in the cancer cell. These new treatments are currently offered after chemotherapy, but Dr Tran believes that this restriction could soon change, allowing for more clinical flexibility. Moreover, in some cases certain chemotherapies may soon be offered much earlier. Docetaxel is a very tolerable chemotherapy often given after resistance to ADT arises; recent research in patients diagnosed with metastatic disease indicates that giving docetaxel at the outset could provide a significant improvement in survival. Other advancements are being made with treatments that slow down the spread of prostate cancer, particularly to bone, such as Radium-223 for advanced prostate cancer.

Lab Tours at Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research

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RESEARCH

A Prof Clare Scott spoke at the forum about recent advances in genetic profiling technology now allowing researchers to rapidly and accurately map the human genome, enabling identification of genetic mutations that can be targeted by drugs, in particular mutations of BRCA1 or BRCA2 genes. When genetic errors accumulate, cancer develops more easily. But too many mutations can cause cancer cells to die. To survive, cancers with faulty BRCA genes depend on a backup DNA repair pathway, which itself relies heavily on a protein called PARP. Drugs that stop PARP from working have been shown to extend survival for women with ovarian cancer who carry faulty BRCA genes or mutations in other genes that affect DNA repair. PARP inhibitors are approved in the US and Europe but are still experimental in Australia but Australian women who carry BRCA mutations may be able to access the drugs via a global access program.

BRCA mutations also play a role in prostate cancer, though in a much smaller percentage of cases. The subset of men who carry faulty DNA repair genes may benefit from treatment with PARP inhibitors. This is still in the experimental stage.

Another promising area of targeted cancer treatments relates to the way tumours access nutrients. A Prof Richardson explained that like normal tissues, tumours need nutrients to survive so they grow blood vessels in a process called angiogenesis. “If you can stop that,” said Dr Richardson, “the blood vessels shrivel up and die… then the cancer shrivels up.” New drugs are now being explored so it remains an area of avid interest.

Tumours hide from the immune system by sending chemical signals to local immune cells that effectively say ‘nothing wrong here, move along’. The recent discovery of critical molecules involved in this process is leading to new treatments that prompt the immune system to fight cancer. This includes a class of drugs that target a protein called PD-1. These drugs allow the immune system to ‘see’ and destroy cancer cells. They are showing promise in melanoma and lung cancer, and are in the experimental stage for both ovarian and prostate cancer.

Recent years have seen a dramatic increase in treatment options and improved knowledge of the underlying biology of prostate cancers. The aim is to optimise the selection of treatments, their order and their frequency to best suit the needs of an individual patient.

Ms Debbie Summers, a physiotherapist who works closely with people undergoing cancer treatment, spoke to the audience about how exercise is an important complement to any cancer treatment. “Exercise is medicine,” she explained. It can decrease blood pressure, increase energy levels, improve cardiovascular health, promote good sleep, and facilitate weight loss. It can also improve self-esteem and reduce depression. For people

who have been diagnosed with cancer, three types of exercise are important: aerobic, resistance, and flexibility. Research reveals that 150 minutes a week of moderate intensity aerobic exercise or 75 minutes a week of vigorous intensity aerobic exercise (or some combination of both), can provide important health benefits. She explained the components of resistance and flexibility exercise and the group muscles involved as well as the standard length of exercise for people undergoing cancer treatment. Her talk on Pilates, a type of exercise that focusses on resistance and flexibility, was one of the highlights of the meeting.

Well-known psycho-oncologist Jane Fletcher spoke about the psychological impact of cancer diagnosis. She explained how mindfulness can help people cope with the inherent uncertainty that a cancer diagnosis brings. She talked about how managing your own fear, as well as the fear of loved ones, can be very stressful. Ms Fletcher pointed out that these psychological responses are adaptable, and that means we can do something about it. Accurate, quality information can reduce anxiety she explained. Another important psychological tool is mindfulness. “Whatever your prognosis, your challenge is to stay focussed on what is happening to you now,” said Ms Fletcher. “Mindfulness being rather than doing… it is the process of paying attention and being present.” You can practice mindfulness with increased awareness of what you are doing in any given moment, and by doing this in a non-judgmental way. Extended info about Jane’s talk can be found on our website.

Question from the audience from PCFA Ambassador and Prostate Cancer Support Group Leader, Wolfgang Schoch

2015 Annual Research Forum facilitator Catherine Deveny

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AmbassadorsPCFA Ambassadors have had a busy few months of increasing awareness in their communities. After participating in a highly successful International Men’s Health Week in June, they are now preparing for Prostate Cancer Awareness Month in September.

Recent highlights of the Ambassador Program:• As the Ambassadors continue to give

more presentations, they are increasingly looking for ways to better connect and learn from one another and to network with Ambassadors in other states. The WA Ambassadors have taken the unique step of forming The Ambassadors Club. The Club meets quarterly at PCFA’s Perth office, with all WA Ambassadors invited to attend, or to connect by teleconference.

• Ambassadors can now connect to one another through our recently launched Network Online. Within the site, there is a private group for Ambassadors, and a forum for them to connect, inspire and learn from one another. With over 60 Ambassadors connected so far, the forum is proving a great way for Ambassadors from different states to meet each other, and share tips on presenting and public speaking.

• Also in WA, PCFA is very excited to be partnering with the Automotive Holdings Group (AHG) to offer a series of “Tool Box Talks” to AHG dealerships throughout WA. This is a great chance to increase awareness and education of prostate cancer within the automotive industry.

• In Victoria, PCFA worked together with Lend Lease Retirement Villages to host a series of Ambassador presentations at various villages as part of Men’s Health Week. These talks, titled “Be Inspired”, occurred at seven villages and were very well-received by all attendees.

AWARENESS

Prostate Cancer Specialist Nursing ProgramThe initial three year funding for the pilot Prostate Cancer Specialist Nurse (PCSN)program has come to an end, and of the 12 pilot sites, 9 of the hospitals have accepted funding responsibility, and Latrobe Regional Hospital has received funding via the Biggest Ever Blokes Lunch (BEBL) initiative.

This pilot program would not have been possible without the support and generosity of the Movember Foundation. This seed funding was instrumental in getting the program up and running in 2012 and subsequently securing additional funding via the Department of Health for the next wave of 14 Prostate Cancer Specialist Nurses by mid-2014. Community funding from Shepparton BEBL supported an additional position at Goulburn Valley Health, bringing our total to 27 PCSNs.

Unfortunately for 2 locations – Royal Adelaide Hospital and Tamworth Rural Hospital, ongoing funding was not secured and these PCSNs look likely to be lost to these communities.

Today, PCFA has 25 nurses across Australia, and is committed to the ongoing professional development and support of

these positions. In comparison, there are 100 McGrath Breast Care Nurses, despite more men dying of prostate cancer annually in Australia than women dying of breast cancer.

This is where YOU can help support the Tamworth and Adelaide communities. PCFA urges you to contact the local PCFA support groups and support their advocacy campaign.

Tamworth Rural Hospital Contacts• Tamworth Prostate Cancer Support

Group: Ray Dart – (02) 6765 2287

• Armidale Prostate Cancer Support Group: Gary Conyers – 0427 726 346

• Inverell Prostate Cancer Support Group: Kerry White – 0437 194 810

Royal Adelaide Contacts• National Support Council Chair:

Ian Wagner – 0409 534 950

• Central Chapter Chair: Joan Manfield – (08) 8632 1324

Prostate Cancer Specialist Nurses

WA Ambassadors and WA Support Group and Outreach Coordinator Emilia Hay attend the inaugural Ambassadors Club meeting at PCFA’s Perth office.

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donations@pcfa.org.au

In less than 20 years, the use of Prostate Specific Antigen (PSA) for prostate cancer testing has saved many thousands of lives. With this test, many prostate cancers are detected at an earlier stage, often when they are confined to the prostate. Whilst PSA testing, and improved treatments, have led to improved cancer outcomes through early detection and intervention, the inability of PSA to distinguish between the non-aggressive tumours (the ‘kittens’) and the more aggressive tumours (the ‘tigers’) has led to the diagnosis and treatment of many prostate cancers with a low potential to cause harm. Throughout the world many men diagnosed with low risk and very low risk disease have undergone treatment for a condition which may never have caused them harm. These men have been ‘cured’ of prostate cancer, but some will be living with the complications of treatment including erectile dysfunction and urinary and bowel incontinence. This is the ‘over-treatment’ phenomenon and one of the leading criticisms of the widespread use of prostate cancer testing.

Active Surveillance (AS) refers to the management of slowly growing, non-aggressive prostate cancers with careful observation and monitoring, rather than with immediate surgery or radiotherapy. With the recognition that some prostate cancers demonstrate patterns of growth measured not over weeks and months, but over years and decades, patients and their doctors have been willing to adopt AS as their primary management. Another description of this approach is deferred primary treatment, i.e., treatment when treatment is necessary, not 5 or 10 years earlier. This way, exposure to the potential side effects of treatment can be delayed, and an increasingly large number of studies have demonstrated that AS can be implemented safely and with minimal risk to the man undergoing AS.

Active Surveillance is frequently confused with Watchful Waiting and the distinction between the two is important. Active Surveillance is not passive – it is cure if and when cure becomes necessary. Watchful Waiting is typically used in older men with prostate cancer, many of whom have other health issues to deal with. These cancers are managed with observation, often over many years. If there is evidence that the prostate cancer is growing, hormone therapy (medications which switch off the production of testosterone) can be introduced which controls the cancer in most of these men for many years.

Whilst there are many different AS protocols around the world, the fundamentals are similar. The ideal man for AS has low volume, low grade disease. This can be assessed with PSA, digital rectal examination (DRE) and biopsy results. Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) scans are increasingly being used to select those men who are suitable for AS, as well as a tool for monitoring men on AS programs. Typically the Gleason Score (a measurement of the aggressiveness of the tumour) will be 6 out of 10, though some men with small volumes of Gleason 7 disease can also be managed with AS. After initial assessment of suitability for AS, monitoring involves periodic PSA tests, DREs and repeat prostate biopsies. The biopsies are usually performed every 3 years, though the introduction of MRI may reduce the frequency of follow-up biopsies. A younger man can also be managed with AS. Whilst his greater longevity means an increased chance he will eventually need treatment, many men diagnosed with low risk prostate cancer in their 50s are keen to put off the potential urinary, bowel and erectile complications of treatment for as long as possible. Some men find that anxiety associated with deferral of definitive treatment is a challenge, though studies have confirmed

OPINION

Active Surveillance Gains Momentum

Prof Mark Frydenberg

Chairman, Department of Urology, Monash Medical Centre, Melbourne

President, Urological Society of Australia and New Zealand (USANZ)

Co-Chair USANZ PRIAS Steering Committee

Dr David Malouf

Head of Department of Urology, St George Hospital, Sydney

Past-President, Urological Society of Australia and New Zealand

National Board Member, Prostate Cancer Foundation of Australia (PCFA)

Co-Chair USANZ PRIAS Steering Committee

Dr David Malouf

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that good patient education can minimise this anxiety. Regular medical review and participation in a formal AS program has also been shown to keep emotional concern and distress to manageable levels. Over time, some men will need to move from AS to definitive treatment with surgery or radiotherapy as the periodic review detects changes in the volume or grade of their tumours. Many, however, remain on AS programs over many years.

Urological surgeons of the Urological Society of Australia and New Zealand (USANZ) have been quick to embrace AS. Many now have patients who have been managed with observation for in excess of 10 years without any signs of change in their low risk tumours. Recent data from the Victorian Prostate Cancer Registry confirmed that almost half of men diagnosed with low risk prostate cancer are being managed with AS. In 2010 USANZ, with generous financial support from the Prostate Cancer Foundation of Australia (PCFA), became a member society of the international AS program called PRIAS (Prostate Cancer Research International: Active Surveillance). USANZ has also been an active participant in the Movember sponsored GAP 3 Initiative which aims to improve patient outcomes by collecting information and bringing together many different AS programs into a common virtual database.

At the recent American Urological Association (AUA) Annual Scientific Meeting in New Orleans, Australian urological surgeons heard that the use of AS to treat low and very low risk prostate cancer is finally on the increase in the United States. In one study from the prestigious Johns Hopkins Hospital, almost 1300 men have been managed with AS. With average follow-up of 5 years, almost two-thirds remain on surveillance, the remainder having converted to definitive treatment.

Whilst 49 men have died over the period of observation, only 2 of those 49 deaths have been from prostate cancer. This led to a projected prostate cancer mortality of only 0.1% at both 10 and 15 years in this group of low risk patients. These encouraging results prompted the U.S. based and internationally renowned prostate cancer expert Dr Stacy Loeb to comment “The era of Active Surveillance is here. Use of Active Surveillance is finally expanding in the U.S. In the past, fewer than 10% of men in the U.S. with low-risk prostate cancer got active surveillance. Now we hear that more than 70% of a group of men in community urology practices are getting active surveillance.”

Despite many thousands of lives saved as a result of prostate cancer testing, many in the public health arena have criticised PSA testing for doing more “harm than good”. This is a result of the known limitations of the test and the significant over-treatment which has occurred in the PSA era.

With the use of Active Surveillance for suitable patients, and high quality treatments reserved for those who need to be cured, perhaps we are entering an era where we maximise the good and minimise the harm.

OPINION

Take home messages

• Not all prostate cancers are the same

• Many low volume low grade prostate cancers grow very slowly

• Active Surveillance is not the same as Watchful Waiting

• Active Surveillance means deferring the treatment of low risk prostate cancers until treatment becomes necessary

• USANZ urological surgeons are using internationally proven Active Surveillance protocols

• Long term studies confirm Active Surveillance to be a safe and effective strategy for many newly diagnosed men with prostate cancer

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SUPPORT

Support NetworkWe are excited to announce the affiliation of the Combined Prostate Cancer Support Groups of Rural NSW. This group meets via teleconference, bringing together group leaders across regional and rural NSW for networking, sharing experiences and enhancing group facilitation skills. This is a great step for people dealing with prostate cancer in NSW rural and regional areas.

Increasing support for gay and bi-sexual men dealing with prostate cancer PCFA and the Australian Centre for Sex, Health and Society jointly hosted a workshop in Melbourne on 22 May. Titled Prostate cancer and gay and bisexual men: social science research and stakeholders, the workshop provided an opportunity to hear the outcomes of recent social science research and development of support to gay and bisexual men dealing with prostate cancer, specifically men in regional and remote areas of Australia, where access to timely support can be more challenging.

Support Network Leaders from the gay and bisexual support groups in the PCFA network attended, along with representatives from beyondblue, Cancer Council, ACON, Victoria AIDS Council, Andrology Australia, Living Positive Victoria and the Movember Foundation. All stakeholders attending the workshop were invited to collaborate and participate in discussions to identify next steps in further research and training, and to develop culturally sensitive information and support for gay and bisexual men dealing with prostate cancer.

Chapter Councils plan aheadPCFA Chapter Councils, the committees that represent our support groups, have been busy working across the country on strategies to increase community awareness of prostate cancer and the work of PCFA. Each Chapter Council held a facilitator led planning day in the first half of 2015, and plans for the year ahead have been developed for PCFA presence at a range of local community events and for awareness activities throughout 2015/2016.

Men’s Health Night at the G A public health forum, took place in Melbourne on 24 March. Featuring iconic Melbourne newsreader Mal Walden as the moderator, and a keynote address from AFL legend, TV personality and prostate cancer survivor, Sam Newman, the forum proved to be a success, with more than 200 people in attendance. Local medical experts Dr Christopher Love, Prof Robert McLachlan and Dr Darren Katz each presented on a range of topics including

prostate cancer treatments and PSA Testing, while David Sandoe OAM and Pam Sandoe OAM, spoke about the prostate cancer experience for patients and their partners.

Parkes Open DayThe Parkes Prostate Cancer Awareness and Support Group attended an Open Day organised by Northparkes Mine on 16 May. The community awareness event was held at Northparkes Oval and attracted an estimated 3,000 people from across the Central West NSW region. The Parkes Support Group co-hosted a booth with the Parkes Palliative Care and Friends of Parkes Hospital organisations. It was a great opportunity to speak to families and individuals about prostate cancer and showcase the range of information, resources and support services available through PCFA.

Great Lakes Awareness NightThe Great Lakes Prostate Cancer Support Group held an awareness night with local urologist Dr Ben Kwok, in Forster on

Veronica Collins, Andrology Australia; Sue Merritt, Cancer Council Victoria; Marie-Claire Cheron-Sauer, PCFA

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SUPPORT

24 March. The event was well publicised in the local media and as a result, 92 people attended. Terry Wheeler, past Chapter Chair NSW/ACT and Gary Herrett, current Deputy Chair NSW/ACT, presented Phil Webster (Great Lakes PCSG Leader) with the Max Gardner award on the night.

Men’s Shed MeetingsAfter a warm reception following the Booleroo Men’s Shed meeting in February, members of the Port Pirie Prostate Cancer Support Group presented at Men’s Shed meetings in Jamestown and Peterborough in April. Support Group Leaders Allan and Joan Manfield, together with David Thomas, travelled to the Jamestown Men’s Shed meeting on 9 April. The Peterborough Men’s Shed meeting was attended by Allan Manfield and Colin Lang on 15 April. Around 500 kilometres were travelled to attend these meetings, and all considered the presentations a great success.

Brisbane Truck ShowPCFA QLD State Board member and Chapter Councillor Ian Smith hosted the PCFA exhibitors stand at the 2015 Brisbane Truck Show held in May, along with several Ambassadors, Support Group Leaders and PCFA staff. Considered to be Australia’s premier event for the transport industry, more than 30,000 people attended this biennial event. While truck sales and big rigs are the main feature of the show, men’s health was in the spotlight via an exhibition space known as the BP Health Tune Up Hub.

Beef Australia in RockhamptonThe Central Queensland Prostate Support and Awareness Group and Capricorn Coast Prostate Support and Awareness Group represented PCFA at Beef Australia 2015 in May. Held once every three years in Rockhampton, this national beef exposition attracts more than 85,000 people from across Australia and around the world. PCFA Support Groups organised an information stand at the exposition to raise awareness about prostate cancer and to encourage men to visit their doctor for regular health checkups

Dates for the diary

Consumer Education ForumsPCFA is proud to announce we will be hosting a series of consumer education forums, sponsored by Janssen Pharmaceuticals, in the latter half of 2015. The first of this series will be held in Canberra in September, which is International Prostate Cancer Awareness Month. Other forums are planned for Cairns in October and Hobart in November. The presentation panel will consist of medical and allied health professionals with expertise in prostate cancer and a consumer to provide a personal experience of the prostate cancer journey.

Australian Mens Shed Association Conference PCFA will have a booth at Australian Mens Shed Association (AMSA) Conference in Newcastle in October this year. With over 600 people expected to attend it will be a fantastic opportunity for PCFA to showcase our suite of resources and raise community awareness of prostate cancer.

For further information visit www.pcfa.org.au.

Parkes Open Day: Peg Lynch, Michael Lynch and Pauline Gosper

John Milne and Gary Osborne from the CQ Prostate Support and Awareness Group at Beef Week 2015

Support Network

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A Walk in the Woods

Ben Smith and Sally Suy set off on 23 April to trek 4,265km from the Mexican/USA border into Canada. This inspirational duo chose to hike one of the world’s most treacherous trails, the Pacific Coast Trail, made famous by the Reece Witherspoon movie ‘Wild’. Their trek will raise funds for PCFA following Sally’s father’s diagnosis with prostate cancer three years ago. As Ben says, ‘Let’s be honest, it’s a bloody long way. To put it into perspective, it’s the distance travelled driving 45 hours non-stop from Brisbane to Perth, or the same as making a trip from Sydney to Melbourne... five times!’

Best of luck to Sally and Ben from all the team at PCFA.

FUNDRAISING

Selleys Milk Bucket Challenge Selleys hosted a quirky fundraiser for PCFA, with a Milk Bucket Challenge. Sixteen members of staff were nominated for the challenge, and fellow staff members then made donations via Everyday Hero to determine who would have a bucket of milk dropped over

them at their annual conference in May. Robert Guy, CEO, Inspirations Paint and Phil White, General Manager Dulux Trade Division, were apparently the lucky ‘winners’, and we understand that people paid for the honour of tipping the bucket! Well done Selleys!

Big Aussie Barbie PCFA will be running advertisements nationally throughout August and September to promote Big Aussie Barbie, Prostate Cancer Awareness month and the broader prostate cancer awareness message. We’d like to turn Australia blue during September just as it is pink in October for breast cancer awareness. We’re seeking the assistance of our Support Group and Ambassador networks to display our Big Aussie Barbie posters and postcards in their local communities and to encourage their friends, family and local community to make their barbie a Big Aussie Barbie during Prostate Cancer Awareness month in September.

To find out how you can help by hosting a barbie of your own, head to the Big Aussie Barbie website at www.BigAussieBarbie.com.au

The

Major Sponsor

Celebrating the weekend with a barbie? Help us to raise awareness of prostate cancer by encouraging the men over 50 to talk to their doctor about being tested at their next health check-up and ask your guests to donate to Prostate Cancer Foundation of Australia to enable us to provide information and support to the 120,000 Australian men and their families living with prostate cancer bigaussiebarbie.com.au Make yours a Big Aussie Barbie!

Celebrate the weekend

with a

Phil White, Robert Guy Joel Goodsir, Peter Marshall, Phil White, Robert Guy, Julia Myers

Ben Smith, Sally Suy

Big Aussie Barbie Events

QLD King George Square Brisbane

2 Sept

VIC Treasury Gardens Melbourne

3 Sept

SA The East End Adelaide 4 Sept

WA Central Park Perth 4 Sept

NSW Wynyard Park Sydney 10 Sept

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AROUND THE COUNTRY

WAThe WA Thankyou event held on 22 April 2015 at Government House Ballroom was attended by 130 guests, providing opportunity to thank our many valued sponsors, supporters, community fundraisers and volunteers. Thank you certificates were presented by our WA Patron, Her Excellency the Honourable Kerry Sanderson AO, Governor of WA, and PCFA National Chairman Jim Hughes AM. The award presentation to two Manjimup High School Boys received the greatest applause, representing the four who participated in the Mates 500 Relay 2014. PCFA thanks Mr Geoff Barrett, Managing Director Watershed Premium Wines for his generous support with select wines for the occasion.

VIC/ TASThings certainly have been hectic in Victoria and Tasmania for PCFA. Major fundraisers such as ‘Pedal 4 Prostate’, Bairnsdale & Latrobe ‘Biggest Ever Blokes Lunch’ and ‘The Male Bag Ride’ via the ‘iSelect’ golf day have held amazing events. Our thanks go to all of our community fundraisers over the past 6 months. Our awareness programs have been supported by both the Country Fire Authority and Lend Lease retirement villages. In March PCFA Board member and founder of the ‘Biggest Ever Blokes Lunches’, Chris McPherson, was awarded the ‘National Volunteer of the year’ by the Fundraising Institute of Australia and in May we celebrated ‘Volunteers Week’ with our PCFA significant volunteers and ambassadors.

SASubway stores in SA, WA and Victoria continue to kick goals in the fundraising stakes. The Melbourne Police and Fire Games Club collectors in Victoria also benefit in a small way and with their funds sent a team of Fire Fighters to the USA to compete in the World Police and Fire Fighter Games – bagging lots of medals for Australia. A medal should go to the joint venture team at Hansen Yuncken Leighton Contractors who raised a massive sum at their 4th of July Gala Dinner in the spectacular new Adelaide Oval. The Mt Gambier Racing Club and local resident John Fartch also deserve a medal for their fundraising efforts at a lunch celebrating the annual Gold Cup Carnival.

QLDThe Bulls Masters kicked off their first event supporting PCFA with an Ambrose golf day at Paradise Palms Golf Club in FNQ presented by Suncorp Bank. The day was a great success in raising funds and awareness with over 20 registered teams taking part, including Bulls Masters Jimmy Maher, Ken Healy, Stuart Law and Andrew Symonds. Bulls Masters have been touring QLD since 2010 to promote and support regional cricket and local charities and plan to support PCFA through a series of golf days in QLD over the next 12 months.

NSW/ACT The Riverina Classic Catch and Release Fishing Competition celebrated its second year in February. Hosted by the Darlington Point-Coleambally Apex Club, the event welcomed over 500 participants, a great turnout considering the population of both towns is just over 2,500! This community effort raised money for PCFA and helped to ensure the long-term sustainability of the Murrumbidgee River with the release of 3,000 native fingerlings into the river system.

Chris Sutton, Apex; Barry Maples, Griffith Prostate Cancer Support Group Facilitator

Chris Trevean, Theo Tsianakas, Dave Bocarro, Steve Axup, John Jukes, Eddie McMullen: Subway franchisees

Bulls Masters golfers

Max Kay, Norma Kay, Paul Omodei, Geoff Barrett

Dates for the Diary

QLD It’s A Bloke Thing Luncheon

11 Aug

SA Friday Long Lunch 14 Aug

QLD SICYC Rendezvous 27-30 Aug

NSW Distinguished Gentlemen’s Ride

27 Aug

NT Darwin ‘Run with Dad’ 6 Sept

WA Prostate Active 11-12 Sept

For further details, please go to pcfa.org.au

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PARTNERSHIPS

New three-year Major Partnership

PCFA welcomes its new major partner New Holland Agriculture - one of the world’s most respected brands in agricultural machinery.

Renowned for its innovative nature and commitment to excellence, New Holland provides a complete range of products to suit a variety of applications. Backed by a highly professional dealer network, New Holland is passionate about the agricultural industry and its position in the marketplace.

Our partnership will see New Holland and PCFA working together to raise awareness of prostate cancer, primarily among rural areas, where men are 20% less likely to survive the disease than those residing in metropolitan areas.

Together with PCFA, New Holland hopes to educate and inform men from across Australia about the resources and support available. New Holland will be promoting the partnership with the PCFA logo to be featured on all New Holland tractors purchased throughout its dealer network.

The partnership branding will feature on all marketing materials and at all major New Holland events in the hope of reminding and encouraging men over 50 years of age, or 40 years if they have a family history of prostate cancer, to talk to their doctor about being tested as part of their annual health check.

Over the next three years, PCFA will also join New Holland at selected Field Days across the country.

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FUNDRAISINGNEW HOLLAND AGRICULTURE GLOBALLY RECOGNISED- COMMUNITY MINDED

www.newholland.com