Cancer Council Queensland volunteer Jenny Hilcher calls for community’s support

A string of personal tragedies led a Rockhampton cancer survivor, who also lost her son, sister and dad to the disease, to volunteer her time for more than a decade to help others affected by cancer. Here’s why she’s calling for her community’s support.

Jenny Hilcher has known the heartache of cancer more than most.

She has lost her eight-year-old son to brain tumour, her sister to breast cancer at 50, then her father to lung cancer.

And Jenny has fought lung cancer herself.

So you could understand if she would want nothing to do with cancer.

Yet for more than 15 years, the Rockhampton survivor has been volunteering with Cancer Council Queensland.

Her reason is simple. She just likes helping people.

And with her own family history, she’s better placed than anyone to do it.

Jenny started volunteering with Childhood Cancer Support after her son Thomas was diagnosed with a brain tumour in 1995.

“Thomas was diagnosed with a Rhabdomyosarcoma tumour and unfortunately at the time it took a while to find out the diagnosis but it was a dumbbell connected to the brain and connected to the ear nose and throat area,” she said.

“Straight up it was inoperable.

“He went through surgery, he had chemotherapy and radiation and he lost his life in December 1995.”

She turned her personal grief into a powerhouse of compassion, becoming the founding president for Childhood Cancer Support in Central Queensland.

Through the organisation they were able to raise money and help many young children within the community be able to stay close to their treatment.

“Back then we didn’t have treatment in Rockhampton, all patients had to be transported to Brisbane,” she said.

Jenny Hilcher was diagnosed with lung cancer in 2006. Picture: Aden Stokes

Jenny was diagnosed with lung cancer herself in 2006.

“It was an incidental finding, I was not unwell at all when I was diagnosed,” she said.

“I had surgery ASAP and went on to have my treatment and I survived.

“I am one of the very lucky ones.”

Jenny’s sister Rhonda Warwick-Day was diagnosed with breast cancer around the same time as her cancer diagnosis.

“At one time my sister and I were both receiving treatment at the same hospital at the same time,” she said.

Jenny Hilcher started volunteering with the Cancer Council Queensland shortly after her cancer treatment. Picture: Contributed

“Unfortunately, she passed away from breast cancer at just 50 years of age.

“A few years down the track my dad, William ‘Bill’ Warwick-Day, was diagnosed with lung cancer, he passed away.

“He had a late diagnosis.”

Jenny started volunteering with the Cancer Council Queensland shortly after her cancer treatment.

“I just like helping people,” she said.

“It means a lot to me to be able to help out to get the reward back for the help we received over all those years.”

Jenny Hilcher first took on the role of transport driver when the service started in 2011 in Rockhampton. Picture: Aden Stokes

Jenny said the transport to treatment service was in need of volunteers.

She said the service involved transporting cancer patients from either the lodge or their own private residences to their place of treatment.

She first took on the role of transport driver when the service started in 2011 in Rockhampton.

She was motivated to become a transport driver when she realised the amazing impact of the service.

“I love how the service allows family members and carers to continue work and attend other commitments while their loved one is being cared for,” she said.

“It’s an absolute pleasure to be invited into a patient’s life and I wear my volunteering badge with pride.”

Jenny Hilcher has been volunteering for Cancer Council Queensland in Rockhampton for more than 15 years. Picture: Aden Stokes

Jenny said the numbers of volunteers had dropped off.

“To keep the service running we need two things, we need a patient and we need a volunteer,” she said.

“Volunteers are always welcome.”

Jenny said the most heartwarming moments of volunteering are the “simple thank yous”.

For more information or to sign up, visit https://cancerqld.org.au/be-involved/cancer-volunteer-programs/volunteer-opportunities/.