Incumbent Farrer member Sussan Ley has said while plans have not been put in place for getting the Griffith radiation therapy service centre up and running, it won't take long once certain steps are taken.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Meeting with cancer support workers and volunteers from cancer council and Griffith's Can Assist on Thursday afternoon, Ms Ley was warmed by personal stories of those working with MIA residents living with cancer.
While openly and warmly welcomed by those in attendance, Ms Ley gave no hint as to timelines or how this service would become a reality.
"(Timelines) are the most important thing, but after the election the first thing will be to find a provider," Ms Ley said.
"It will be terrific if it was MLHD as part of the new hospital complex."
But she says steps in the meantime need to be taken.
"But a machine needs to be bought, a bunker needs to be built, and a provider needs to be found."
She says that process "need not take long" but makes it impossible to give dates.
"I can't commit to a timeline because those things have to be in place."
She explained that normally, the model of providing this type of treatment that the provider pays for the machine.
"In this case they are not, which means we will have people prepared and ready to get on and do this."
For Grant and Denise Hearn, they were part of the team pivotal in getting the radiation therapy service set up in Wagga. Knowing that Griffith will be getting the same service is "the icing on the cake."
RELATED
"The whole process is extremely taxing, financially, physically and mentally," Grant said.
"We are so thrilled to see any improvement in the cancer treatment for Griffith and the surrounding areas, which will keep the family unit together and let people carry on with their lives."
This sentiment was echoed by Mayor John Dal Broi, who said the council and community welcomed this "fantastic" news, set to put Griffith's health services on a "regional level."
Ms Ley reiterated her joy Griffith would be getting brand new equipment.
"When I was health minister I used to visit towns who had hand-me-down radiotherapy machines, and I always felt that's not right," Ms Ley said.
***
WANT THE NEWS FROM GRIFFITH DELIVERED?
Get our weekly newsletter sent straight to your inbox at 6am on a Monday, sign up here.