Nepean and Blue Mountains PCSG

Formation

The Support Group came into being following a series of Awareness meetings in the Lower Blue Mountains in 1999 & 2000 sponsored by the Rotary Club of Lower Blue Mountains Inc. and the Uniting Church, Glenbrook.

Affiliation

Since its inception the Group has been affiliated with the Prostate Cancer Foundation of Australia and Us TOO International.

Management

The Nepean Prostate Cancer Support Group was formally established in October 2001. Since that time it has been managed by a Planning Committee of 10 persons. In 2002 the Group changed its name to Nepean/Blue Mountains Prostate Cancer Support Group to better reflect its history. 

At the 2006 Annual General Meeting it was decided to become an Incorporated, on the 12th March 2007, our Group became incorporated with the Dept. of Fair Trading, the organisation is now managed by a Board of Directors with at least two of that number being carers.

Area Serviced

The area serviced by our Support Group is the Council areas of Blacktown, Blue Mountains, Hawkesbury and Penrith.

Major Focus

The major focus of the Group is to provide information, support including emotional support to persons diagnosed with prostate cancer and their carers, through the organisation of monthly meetings addressed by quality guest speakers. These meetings are also open to the members of the general public.

Meetings

We organise monthly meetings for the third Monday in each month. The meetings are held in:

Emu Plains Sporting & Recreation Club
1 Leonay Parade
Leonay NSW 2750

The meetings run from 6.30pm to 8.30pm approximately, with the guest speaker due to commence their talk at 7.00pm.

The meetings are advertised in the community notice section of the local media and on local and community radio stations and by email to members. The meeting venue is wheelchair accessible. 

The first 30 minutes is for ‘meet and greet’ and there is a coffee break at around 8.00pm. Currently we are averaging around 40 participants at each meeting. 

Our Librarian provides a large number of both printed and recorded items for the use of members. Our Newsletter Editor produces four editions of “Below the Belt” which is circularised amongst our members by both email and post. At the same time the newsletter is forwarded to all NSW Support Groups and other interested members of the wider community. 

Activities 

In addition to our monthly meetings, we are involved in the Penrith Relay for Life for the Cancer Council of NSW. We organise a number of activities during International Prostate Awareness month in September, it is also during this month that we hold our major fundraising event where the funds raised are used to purchase equipment for the Nepean Cancer Care Centre. 

Towards the end of October our Group provides scrutineers for the Hawkesbury Canoe Classic which is held at Windsor and throughout the year we provide guest speakers on Prostate Awareness, to service clubs operating within our area as well as Awareness Meetings.

The views expressed on the Nepean / Blue Mountains Prostate Cancer Support Group's website are those of that Support Group and are not necessarily those of the PCFA.

> Kingswood - Nepean / Blue Mountains Support Group Website