Townsville Police fundraise $40K to brighten up walls at children’s oncology ward

Hours of chemotherapy have been made a little easier for some of Townsville’s tiniest cancer patients.

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HOURS of chemotherapy have been made a little easier for some of Townsville’s tiniest cancer patients.

Townsville University Hospital’s Children’s Oncology Ward has been given a bright makeover, with wall-sized, under the sea themed panels to spruce up three rooms that were once “clinical” and “barren”.

The new art panels, which were flown over from the United Kingdom, have been two years in the making after donations from Townsville Police.

Clinical nurse Jessica Loveday said one of her former patients showed immediate changes in her behaviour when she saw the new feature walls.

Paediatric oncology clinical nurse Jessica Loveday and Townsville Chief Superintendent Craig Hanlon with patient Blade Cook, 6, who is one of the children loving new police-funded artwork in the wards.

“It was in such a white area, and now just her persona (and) behaviour had changed,” Ms Loveday said.

“She was more calm, it was more inviting. We could distract her a little bit more with the rainbow fish.

“We wanted to make it a bit brighter, a bit more interactive and a bit more fun for the kids, so when they do come into the unit, it is more welcoming and more warm for them to come.”

About 10 to 15 children who require blood transfusions or chemotherapy pass through the unit every week, including six-year-old Blade Cook.

Blade has been receiving treatment at the unit for two years, and loved pointing out the animals and objects hidden throughout the new designs.

In two weeks, Blade is due to ring the bell and go home cancer free.

Chief Superintendent Craig Hanlon said it was rewarding to see fundraising from their annual ball go to a good cause.

“We have children, we get sick, and we’re lucky enough to be in a position where we can have an event and raise some funds to support the hospital,” Supt Hanlon said.

The last two events raised about $40,000 for the unit, which also went towards training tools to help practice wound dressing and central line accesses, and portable medical equipment, which ensures kids are comfortable when receiving their treatment.

Originally published as Townsville Police fundraise $40K to brighten up walls at children’s oncology ward