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SPRING EDITION eNewsletter |
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Photo courtesy of
Daniel Blake |
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Do you use Facebook?
Stay up to date with our news and events,
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Foundation’s Page |
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Far North
Queensland Hospital Foundation news |
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Pedal power
"I
don’t know whether to
smile – or spew!" said
one exhausted, but
elated rider as she
dismounted from her bike
at the end of the 2012
Cardiac Challenge on 1
October.
Fortunately, smiles,
hugs and laughter
dominated the scene as
331 riders gathered on
the outskirts of
Cooktown that day, prior
to cycling down the main
street in a blazing
cavalcade of orange,
purple and gold.
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The 2012
Cardiac
Challenge
cavalcade
sweeps into
Cooktown on
1 October |
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The demanding three-day,
335-kilometre
fundraising ride from
Cairns to Cooktown
tested not only physical
stamina, but the
teamwork skills of the
participants – ranging
in age from 10 to 74
years – who rode in 13
packs.
Foundation
Fundraising and Marketing Manager, Glenys
Duncombe, said the camaraderie shared by the
riders, their support crews and the SES, army
and navy volunteers was a valued feature of the
Cardiac Challenge, as well as the personal sense
of achievement experienced by each participant.
She pronounced the
2012 Cardiac Challenge an outstanding success.
"We
had a record number of participants, who raised
a record amount of money – and had a fantastic
time as well," said Ms Duncombe.
To date, the 2012
event has raised more than $330,000 to enhance
cardiac care services in the Far North
Queensland region.
Check out the
Cardiac Challenge Facebook to view some of the
great photos taken during this year’s ride,
click here.
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Fundraising events
calendar |
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They’re off … and fundraising!
Help ensure the Foundation is a winner this
Melbourne Cup Day (Tuesday, 6 November) by
celebrating the event at one of the following
venues, which will donate a portion of their
Melbourne Cup luncheon ticket sales to the
charity.
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Pullman Reef Hotel Casino, Cairns
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Lunch: |
Champagne on arrival, followed by a
delectable seafood buffet |
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Activities: |
Live
entertainment, fashion parade,
sweeps, raffles, lucky door prizes
and an auction of tempting items |
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Time: |
12
noon - 3 pm |
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Cost: |
$100
per person |
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Contact: |
Phone
4030 8798 or email
events@reefcasino.com.au |
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Angsana Resort, Palm Cove
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Lunch: |
Welcome drink and
canapes, followed by a sumptuous
two-course a la carte set menu |
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Activities: |
Live entertainment,
exciting horse race on Palm Cove
Beach, prizes for best dressed and
best hat/fascinator, door prizes |
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Time: |
12
noon - 3 pm |
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Cost: |
$89 per person |
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Contact: |
Phone 4059 3000 or
email
sales-cairns@angsana.com
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Nu Nu’s Restaurant, Palm Cove
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Lunch: |
Cocktail on arrival,
followed by a fabulous five-course
meal |
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Activities: |
A tempting selection
of sweeps and raffles |
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Time: |
11 am for an 11.30 am
start |
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Cost: |
$85 per person |
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Contact: |
Phone 4059 1880 |
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Bear-faced
ambition!
It’s time to bear all for
charity!
Sentimental teddy bear
owners and collectors, as well as stuffed animal
fashionistas are invited to enter their best
dressed teds in the Teddies at Work and Play
competition at Cairns Central on 10 November.
The entry fee for bears is $5 per
ted. Bear owners may take their teddies home
after the event – or donate them to raise funds
at a silent auction.
All money raised from the
competition will be donated to the Foundation’s
Paediatric Playground Project.
For further information, phone
0432 128 004 or email
ozgramps@gmail.com.
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Making waves for charity
Liquid assets will be
on the agenda in late November, when
sea-faring fundraisers set off on
the 2012 "Unit's" Jet Ski Fundrun
from Cairns to Fitzroy Island.
The annual
event aims to raise money to improve
facilities for terminally-ill cancer
patients at the Cairns Base
Hospital.
This year’s Fundrun
will commemorate the tireless
fundraising efforts of Manunda
resident, Brian ("Unit") Wilson, who
sadly lost his own battle with lung
cancer at the age of 46, on 19 May
this year.
Mr Wilson
channeled his energy into assisting
Cairns Base Hospital Oncology Nurse
Unit Manager, Danielle Peever and
her staff to raise funds to create
a Tranquility Room - a special,
home-like retreat for terminally-ill
cancer patients and their families –
within the oncology ward.
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Brian
"Unit" Wilson
participated in the Jet
Ski Fundrun in November
2011, four months before
he died from lung
cancer. |
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Mr Wilson’s mother, Dawn Butler,
and step-father, Harry, will also travel from
Victoria this year to support the fundraiser
that was so close to their son’s heart.
The 2012 event has been extended
to two days: participants will leave the Cairns
Esplanade at 11.30 am on Saturday, 24 November;
stop for lunch at Vlassof Cay; and then head to
Fitzroy Island for a special presentation
ceremony and dinner.
Those who prefer sails snapping
in the breeze or the leisurely chug of an
outboard motor will be pleased to know that the
Fundrun is not restricted to jet ski riders.
Participants who register as "non-riders" can
utilise any form of sea craft – including ferry
services – to make their way to Fitzroy Island,
as long as they fulfil their fundraising
requirements.
In addition to paying a
registration fee (to help cover event running
costs), each participant is expected to raise a
minimum of $200 – which will go directly towards
the purchase of furnishings for the Tranquillity
Room.
Among the list of items on the
wish list for the room are extendable
"sleep-over" chairs and lounge chairs, a coffee
table, bar fridge, flat screen television and
DVD player, a CD player and e-book.
For further information about the
2012 "Unit" Jet Ski Fundrun, contact Paula
Campion on 4226 6723 or
fundraising1@fnqhf.org.au
or visit
www.jetskifundrun.com.au.
Note: Register online before 31
October to take advantage of the early-bird
registration fee of $75 (which increases to $90
from 1 November).
Registered participants will
receive an eye-catching event shirt, lunch at
Vlassof Cay and dinner with live entertainment
on Fitzroy Island. Breakfast will also be
provided on Sunday.
However, participants will be
required to book and pay for their own
accommodation at the Fitzroy Island Resort on
Saturday night. The Foundation has organised
generously discounted rates for Fundrun
participants. Visit
www.fitzroyisland.com for further details.
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Time to wrap it up
A number
of people are not rapt about gift wrapping.
For a gold
coin donation, they are more than happy to pass
the parcel contents to one of the
nimble-fingered recruits in the Foundation’s
Christmas gift wrapping service.
The
Foundation is currently seeking volunteers who
are willing to take the wrap and assist
Christmas shoppers this year.
The
charity will be operating gift wrapping services
at two locations: the Cairns Central Shopping
Centre (from 3 December) and the Good Guys store
at 285 Mulgrave Road (from 12 December).
Last year,
the Foundation’s gifted wrappers raised a total
of more than $24,000 (and went through nine kilometres of wrapping paper) in the lead up to
Christmas.
Money
raised through this year’s wrap sessions will
help fund the Foundation’s Paediatric Playground
Project, which aims to raise the spirits of
young patients in the Cairns Base Hospital.
The
Foundation needs to raise another $500,000 to
meet the estimated $1.2 million cost of the
playground, which will transform a barren,
concrete second-storey deck outside the
paediatric ward into an airy, bright and
entertaining world, where children can escape –
at least temporarily – the clinical reminders of
their health problems.
If you
enjoy gift wrapping and wish to assist the
Foundation, please contact the Volunteer Program
Manager, Anne Chirio, on 4226 8993 or email
anne.chirio@fnqhf.org.au.
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Pick a card …
The
Foundation can’t help you compile your Christmas
card list, but we can help make your gift card
selection as painless as possible for you – and
also of benefit to us!
Charity
Greeting Cards offer a range of affordable,
high-quality cards which can be tailored to suit
your needs, whether personal or corporate.
Check out
their selection at:
http://www.christmascards4charity.com.au/fnqhf
You can
order online or through the following options:
Phone: 02
9779 1533
Email:
sales@christmascards4charity.com.au
Fax: 02
8305 0555
If you
wish to make a direct donation to the Paediatric
Playground Project, please visit:
www.fnqhf.org.au/ppp |
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Our
supporters - their latest
achievements |
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Calling "Doctor" Short to aisle five
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Several
Woolworths Earlville staff donned
nurse and doctor costumes on 24
August in an attempt to access the
"hip pocket nerve" of amused
customers and obtain donations for
the Foundation’s Paediatric
Playground Project.
The operation was
organised by Woolworths Earlville
staff member, Nicky Pearce, whose
four-year-old daughter, Jade, was
born with a condition known as
Pierre Robin Sequence, which has
required regular treatment at the
Cairns Base Hospital.
"I am committed to
helping the Foundation to raise
money to build a proper playground
outside the paediatric ward," said
Nicky. |
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Woolworths Earlville
staff members, "Doctor"
Rick Short and "Nurse"
Talia Grasso,
diagnose a healthy
future for the Paediatric Playground
Project |
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"Providing sick or
injured children with a familiar and
enjoyable space like a well-equipped
playground is bound to have a
positive impact on their recovery."
There were a total of
2,308 admissions to the paediatric
ward at the Cairns Base Hospital in
2011.
Young patients at the
hospital have already benefited from
funds raised through the ongoing
Woolworths Fresh Food Kids Hospital
Appeal, which have been used to
purchase exercise equipment,
laptops, and interactive learning
tools and programs, as well as a
variety of toys and other play
equipment.
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Dry July bears fruit
More
than 230 Far North Queensland
residents had the bottle to give up
the bottle – not to mention the
tinnies - to raise money for the
Foundation during Dry July.
This
was the first time the Far North
Queensland Hospital Foundation has
joined forces with Dry July, a
non-profit organisation determined
to improve the lives of adults
living with cancer.
Dry
July participants raise money
through sponsorship and donations,
in return for abstaining from
alcohol consumption for the entire
month of July.
By the
end of that month, the parched
participants had raised more than
$40,000 to help the Foundation fund
support services for adults living
with cancer.
Dry
July also raises awareness of
individual drinking habits and the
value of a balanced healthy
lifestyle.
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Banking on their support
Which bank
employees have shown huge support
this year for the Foundation’s
Paediatric Playground Project?
Commonwealth Bank of
Australia (CBA) staff have been
combining their financial and
culinary talents to raise money
through cake stalls and barbeques at
a number of branches, including
Cairns CBD, Westcourt, Earlville,
Smithfield, Clifton Beach, Edmonton
and Innisfail, along with the bank’s
Local Business Banking team and
Corporate Banking team.
Participants in the
bank’s annual Corporate Golf Day,
held at the Cairns Gold Club on 31
August, also raised funds, as well
as clubs.
In total, the
Commonwealth Bank’s sterling staff
have raised more than $35,000 for
the Foundation within the space of
several months (including grant
money channelled to the Foundation
through the bank’s staff community
fund).
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About face
More than 200 young
hopefuls entered The
Face of Cairns Central
quest in September. The
event, organised by
Lulu’s Model Management,
raised more than $2,000
(in entry fees) for the
Foundation.
The lucky
winner was Elyse Miller,
13 from Dimbulah.
Pictured right: The 2012
Face of Cairns Central,
Elyse Miller, takes a
triumphant trip down the
catwalk. |
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Dancing donors!
Students at
St Monica’s College in Cairns
danced the light fantastic (with the
assistance of glow-in-the-dark
accessories) on 17 August to raise
funds for the Paediatric Playground
Project. The Neon Night dance raised
$500.
The Cairns Tango
Club generated some passionate
support for the Foundation at a
special Tango Gala Fundraiser held
at the Cairns RSL on 24 August.
Argentine Tango
masters, Jairo Rivera and Amy
Teuchert, floored the audience with
their steamy dance display,
performed to the beat of the Red
Velvet Tango Orchestra.
Funds were raised
through a charity auction – with
some spirited bidding to secure a
tanda (dance set) with favourite
dancers!
The event, held in
conjunction with the "Tango in the
Sand" Festival and the Cairns
Festival, raised more than $1,000 for
the Foundation’s Paediatric
Playground Project.
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Hot off the press!
The Foundation
obtained more than $9,000 from The
Courier-Mail Children’s Fund to
purchase diversional therapy
equipment for children in the
paediatric ward at the Cairns Base
Hospital.
The interactive
equipment is designed to help health
professionals explain to young
patients – in an engaging and
reassuring manner – what kind of
medical treatment they require and
why it is necessary.
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Wheel of good fortune
Foundation
Fundraising Manager, Glenys Duncombe,
was happy to accept a cheque for
$1,000 from Julie Brzozowski, the
(then) President of the Inner Wheel
Club of Trinity After Dark.
The Inner Wheel Club
is an international women’s
organisation with a strong emphasis
on community service. The Club’s
donation to the Foundation will be
used to help fund the Paediatric
Playground Project. Club members
also donated a number of teddies to
participate in the Teddies at Work
and Play competition at Cairns
Central on 10 November.
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Foundation
funding - making a difference |
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Curtain raiser
Spending time in a hospital emergency department is a stressful experience for most adults. Imagine what it must be like for a sick or injured child.
Late last year, several staff members at the Cairns Base Hospital formed a special working group to find ways to lighten the clinical atmosphere in the children’s section of the ED and make it less intimidating to young patients.
The Emergency Department Paediatric Unit Working Committee recently obtained $8,600 from the Foundation to decorate the children’s ED cubicles with bright, marine-themed curtains to match the "under-sea" murals framing the doorways (which were funded by the Lions Club) |
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| Committee members (back row, pictured from left): Registered Nurse Julie Lentas, Clinical Nurse Consultant, Vicky Kenneally, and Administrative Assistant, Kath Fogarty (seated) |
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During
October,
local
artist,
Hayley
Gillespie,
will extend
the marine-theme
to the
interior
walls of the
treatment
cubicles and
behind
the nurses
station.
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Take a seat …
Waiting to undergo a mammogram, or follow-up assessment for signs of breast cancer, leaves most women sitting on the edge of their seats.
The last thing they need is tired, old seating.
The sympathetic staff at Breastscreen Queensland, Cairns, are keen to help anxious clients relax as much as possible. Ensuring they have access to modern, comfortable waiting areas is an obvious priority.
"Waiting for assessment can be quite a stressful time for ladies, and some may have to spend up to four hours here," observed Breastscreen Queensland, Cairns Business Manager, Joanne Brierley. |
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| Breastscreen Queensland, Cairns Business Manager, Joanne Brierley, tries out one of the new chairs purchased with a grant from the Foundation |
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Breastscreen
Queensland
recently
obtained
$3600 from
the
Foundation
to purchase
15 stylish,
dark
chocolate
bucket
chairs to
furnish
three
separate
waiting
areas within
the Cairns
clinic,
including
the breast
care nurse
room, where
women
diagnosed
with breast
cancer
receive
advice and
support.
"It really
has
modernised
the place
and made it
a lot more
comfy," said
Ms Brierley.
"It is
easier to
relax in a
pleasant
environment,
so hopefully
the new
furnishing
will make
visits a
little less
stressful
for women."
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High
expectations
Things are
looking up
for patients
with
mobility
problems,
since the
Cairns Base
Hospital
orthopaedic
ward
obtained 14
height-adjustable
chairs and
16 foot
stools.
The
hospital
obtained
$8,280 from
the
Foundation
to purchase
the
furniture,
which has
already
attracted
praise from
both
patients and
staff,
according to
acting Nurse
Unit
Manager,
Bridie
McCarthy.
"The
high chairs
are useful
for patients
who have
limitations
on how they
can sit,"
she said.
"They are
particularly
beneficial
for people
recovering
from hip
replacement
surgery, who
find it
difficult to
lower
themselves
comfortably
onto seats
of normal or
low height." |
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Sew far, so good!
The Foundation has more
than a few crafty characters on its list of
volunteers – and you don’t have to look very far
for evidence.
The Information Desk at the
Cairns Base Hospital is festooned with colourful
craftwork displays and the tables for the
monthly craft stall at the hospital groan
beneath the weight of delicious jams and cakes,
as well as charming knitted soft toys, pretty
crocheted blankets, impossibly cute baby clothes
and other tempting items.
Since the start of the year,
these Cairns-based volunteers have raised
$14,250 for the Foundation – and they haven’t
even hit "peak season" yet, (when customers are
on the prowl for Christmas presents).
Nimble-fingered volunteers
elsewhere in the region are also busily at work,
sewing and cooking up a storm for Foundation
fundraisers.
If you want to start ticking off
items on your own Christmas list, don’t forget
to attend the Christmas Craft Fair in the Fred
Moule Pavilion at the Cairns showgrounds on
Sunday, 11 November. The Foundation will have a
cornucopia of craftwork available for purchase! |
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Friends of the
Foundation |
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Innisfail dough-nors!
Coles Innisfail
raised $850 for the Friends of the
Foundation through their doughnut
stand at this year’s Innisfail Show
in July.
Coles store
manager, Jodie Palmer, said the
staff had decided to raise funds for
the Foundation, following the death
of a former colleague due to cancer.
The Friends of the
Foundation also received a $1,630
boost from GF Rural Supplies and
Frank Lowe & Sons.
FOF
spokesperson, Dell Steve, said both
sums would go towards the purchase
of a $36,700 Bipap ventilation
machine to assist patients with
breathing difficulties at Innisfail
Hospital.
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Dale Smith, Denise
Grainger, Bronwyn Pawson
and Jodie Palmer savour
memories of Coles
Innisfail’s successful
doughnut stand at the
local show, which raised
$850 for the Friends of
the Foundation.
Photo courtesy of the
Innisfail Advocate |
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Cookin’ in Cooktown
Cooktown
FOF members wielded
spatulas rather than
golf clubs at the annual
Police Charity Golf Day
in September.
The
Foundation volunteers
ran a barbeque to feed
the hungry golfers. In
return, FOF
representative, Daphne
Fenton, received a
cheque for $1,000 to help
fund the Paediatric
Playground Project. The
Cooktown Volunteer
Coastguard also
benefited from the
event.
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Pictured
(from left)
Police
Administrative
Officer,
Robyn
Holmes,
Cooktown
Volunteer
Coast Guard
Commander,
Helen
Greave, and
Cooktown
Friends of
the
Foundation
President,
Daphne
Fenton, with
(back row,
from left)
Senior
Sergeant
John
McArthur,
Sergeant
Shawn Pipia
and
Constable
Andrew
Finall.
Photo
supplied
courtesy of
the Cooktown
Local News |
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Donations and grants received over
$1,000 (1 July - 30 September 2012) |
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$1,000
$5,000
$1,450
$1,000
$5,000
$14,433
$2,750
$2,558
$3,334
$2,000
$2,000
$5,000
$1,000
$4,300
$1,000
$20,704
$1,000
$1,000
$1,000
$1,000
$1,070
$1,898
$3,000
$3,630
$1,000
$1,000
$3,500
$1,650
$1,000
$1,170
$4,553
$2,000
$9,049
$10,000
$1,000
$1,000
$1,000
$1,000
$11,000
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Lions Club
of Trinity
Beach
Rotary Club
of Innisfail
Ergon Energy
Inner Wheel
Club of
Trinity
After Dark
Inc
Rotary Club
of Cairns
USM Events
Pty Ltd
Coffee Plus
Innisfail
Friends of
the
Foundation
The Good
Guys
Cairns Home
Loans
Astute
Financial
Management
Pty Ltd
Gordonvale
Cottage
Markets
Association
Inc
Coconut
Grove
Adams Motor
Group
Serenity at
the Avenue
Southern
Cross
Austereo
Community
Foundation
Ltd
Trinity
Accountants
Your Floor
Store
Halpin
Partners
Craig
Burrows
Custom Built
Homes
Cairns Tango
Club
Gordonvale
Friends of
the
Foundation
Enigma
Business
Products
FNQATC Inc
(Amateurs)
Haz-Elec
Industries
Pty Ltd
LJ Hooker
Cairns Edge
Hill
Freemasons
Gregory
Lodge
Crocodile
Express
Daintree
River
Cruises
Zinc
Restaurant
Cardiac
Maniacs
Commonwealth
Bank of
Australia
Qantas
Flight
Operations
HMAS CAIRNS
Peers of
Support for
Innisfail
FOF
Commonwealth
Bank Bank
Day
Commonwealth
Bank
Westcourt
Commonwealth
Bank
Earlville
Commonwealth
Bank
Smithfield
Events
Queensland |
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Where to find us:
Ground Floor
Block E
Cairns Base Hospital Car Park
Cnr Grove & Digger Streets
Cairns QLD 4870
Where to mail us:
PO Box 957
Cairns QLD 4870 |
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