Motions

Caroline Bristow Wig Library

Adjourned debate on motion of Ms Chapman (resumed on motion).

Ms COOK (Fisher) (15:39): It is my great pleasure today to rise on behalf of the government to support the motion about the Caroline Bristow Wig Library. Firstly, I would like to offer my congratulations to Ellen Traeger, the chair, and the Caroline Bristow Wig Library committee itself for the development and establishment of the Caroline Bristow Wig Library, located at the Barmera Hospital near the women's health team in the Riverland.

Caroline Bristow was a former South Australian police officer and Renmark resident, and the primary driver behind this project. While undergoing chemotherapy, Caroline saw the benefits of wearing wigs and wanted them to be available to all cancer sufferers, not only to those who could afford to buy one. They are extraordinarily expensive, if you were to purchase one. Caroline did not let her illness stop her from achieving her vision. She tirelessly worked throughout her illness to establish the wig library in Renmark for people undergoing chemotherapy in the Riverland region.

In January 2009, my family began its own battle with cancer. At the age of 31, my youngest sister went to the doctor with a small cyst in her breast. Her doctor did investigations and said that she felt it was quite benign and not an issue. In fact, that was true: it was a cyst without a problem. However, the very diligent doctor decided to send her for a scan to rule out any other possibilities. Buried well beneath this surface cyst was a very dangerous form of breast cancer that would never have been found had the doctor not been so diligent.

We laughingly referred to that cyst as 'the hand of God', as in the soccer match, and said that the cyst was reaching out and giving us a message. In her early 30s, and with a two year old and a six year old, my sister started undergoing aggressive chemotherapy. When I was researching the Caroline Bristow Wig Library, I spoke to my sister about her experience. She is now seven years clear and doing extremely well. Since then, she has qualified as a nurse and now works at the beautiful Lady Cilento hospital in Brisbane.

She told me that some of the most important things as a young woman undergoing chemotherapy treatment are the ability to just walk down the street, to be with your children, and to just feel beautiful. For her, it was very important to have the confidence to cover up her head with something beautiful. I know that for many women undergoing cancer treatment that in fact involves a wig, so I can fully understand the great work of Caroline Bristow and her supporters.

The library was named after Caroline in honour of her service to the South Australian police force and for her contribution to the Riverland over the past 25 years. Thank you to Caroline's family, friends, work colleagues, and the local community, for their support and effort in keeping Caroline's name alive, and their effort with fundraising and donations. I am sure that the member for Chaffey fully understands the great work that continues on a daily basis. Thank you to the Renmark community, to the Renmark Lions Club, and also to Bonnie Wigs, a great organisation, for their contribution to the cause—a really wonderful legacy to a really brave and remarkable community woman.

Mr WHETSTONE (Chaffey) (15:43): I rise to close the debate, and I thank the member for Bragg for her contribution. To correct the last contribution, I would like to put on the record that it was Senator Anne Ruston who had the insight, and she was the architect, for bringing the wig library back to the Riverland. We must congratulate the chair, Ellen Traeger, and her committee for developing and establishing the wig library, which was named after Caroline Bristow. It really is a 'good news' story about a woman who was taken tragically so early in her life.

To give a bit of an update about the library, it now has 75 wigs thanks to the kind donations of people in the local Riverland and Mallee community with many coming from Adelaide as well. This is something that is an ongoing addition to the library. Fourteen women have now borrowed wigs from the library, and they have been extremely happy in being able to find a wig that suits them and makes them feel confident about themselves when they are out and about. 'So, please, keep on letting the community know we are here,' says the wig library. I am sure there are many people out there who they would love to help. Remember, it is at the Barmera Hospital's women's health wing. I ask the government to support this motion.

Motion carried.