On 28 February 2020, Cancer Council WA celebrated the 20th anniversary of the opening of Crawford Lodge.
Located in Nedlands, right near Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital, Crawford Lodge was purpose built to provide accommodation and vital support services to country cancer patients while they undergo treatment in Perth.
The Lodge was officially opened on 29 February 2000 by then Premier, His Excellency the Honourable Richard Court AC.
Crawford Lodge is a testament to the potential of philanthropy to make an enduring difference on the lives of others.
A large capital campaign in the late 1990s raised $5 million to build the Lodge and to help ease some of the extra burdens faced by country patients after a diagnosis. Many generous donors gave gifts to the campaign to ensure this vision was realised and a 'home-away-from-home' existed.
One driving force behind the success of the campaign, was support from the A.H. Crawford Cancer Treatment Society, who not only gave a large donation, but offered their dedication and commitment to make this accommodation service possible.
The late Algernon Henry Crawford, a former wheat and sheep farmer from Brookton, is the name and in many ways the spirit behind Crawford Lodge.
Algernon was determined to find a way of using his estate to provide practical assistance to anyone affected by cancer, particularly country people. He achieved this by establishing the A.H. Crawford Cancer Treatment Society in 1976.
Algernon explained he was driven by a desire to ensure no country person missed out on treatment due to prohibitively expensive accommodation in Perth. Algernon's determination came not only from his own mother dying of cancer, but from seeing two country children die of cancer without being able to afford treatment in the city.
Although Algernon passed away in 1977, the generous gift he left in his Will is still helping cancer patients throughout the state every day.
As well as providing much-needed accommodation close to treatment centres, our Crawford Lodge offers a range of support services designed specifically for country cancer patients such as support from a Cancer Support Coordinator, complementary therapies, Wig Service and transport to treatment.
Our Cancer Information and Support Services Director, Melanie Marsh, said the generosity and unwavering support of the WA community was a significant contributor to the Lodge's longevity.
"It is only thanks to the generosity of the WA community that our Lodges are possible," Ms Marsh said.
"The support has given hope to thousands of regional cancer patients, family members and carers who have stayed at Crawford and Milroy Lodges since they opened, and will continue to do so for the thousands more who will stay with us in the future."
