Since moving to Brimbank 30 years ago, Ann Wallace-Burleigh has lived at Taylors Lakes and Keilor. The Melbourne Airport volunteer tells Ben Cameron how her battle with breast cancer, and her love of parties, turned her into a fundraising superstar.
You moved to Brimbank 30 years ago. What’s been the biggest change in that time?
All the houses, all the new development. I live quite close to the village [in Keilor], which is really gorgeous, lots of trees around here – it’s got a nice feel about it. I’d be really sad if I had to leave. It’s close to everything.
You’re organising your fifth or sixth Girls’ Night In on October 24 to raise money for the Cancer Council – how are things shaping up this year?
I’m a single mum, I’ve got two girls, and I was working so I didn’t have much time for that kind of stuff. Then I was made redundant in January so I’ve got a little bit more time.
What was your job?
I worked at the airport, in retail. I loved it. I’m back volunteering at the airport now, as a customer service person. I show people where they need to check in their baggage, show them the new Tiger terminal … directing traffic, I just love it.
How did you get involved in fundraising for the Cancer Council?
I had breast cancer seven years ago, so I got roped into it. I’m not terribly organised so it all comes together at the last minute [laughs].
It must have been difficult when you were first diagnosed?
My girls were about 23 and 17. My mum had it, so it was a routine mammogram and they found it. I just took it all in my stride, I just thought, yeah I’ve gotta deal with this; let’s just get on with it.
You must be a positive person?
I think so, usually. When I was first diagnosed, I was in the waiting room and this woman said: “It’s okay, we’re going to treat this with brown rice and sesame”. So I thought, there you go, brown rice and sesame, we’re cured. So it’s been brown rice, sesame and humour – that’s what we use a lot.
What’s the current prognosis?
I don’t have to go back any more, apart from a mammogram every year. They put you on a medicine for a certain period of time and that runs out at the end of the year so, to me, that will be my end of treatment; that will be in December. When I was diagnosed I had a tattoo put on my arm which said: “Feeling like a Monday, but some day I’ll be Saturday night”. That will be my Saturday night, come the end of the year. I never thought I was going to die at all, I don’t know why. I just did it [the treatment]. I had to keep going. It was painful, it was awful, but you’ve just got to do what you’ve got to do.
You’re a pretty brave person, Ann.
People say that, but I just see it as normal. That’s just me. It is what it is; let’s get this over and done with. We’re very fortunate to have Medicare in this country. I got a boob job and a flat tummy out of it [laughs].
How do your Girls’ Night In events usually go down?
We get about 20 to my house. We’ve raised about $5000, not an awful lot, but every little bit helps. We have the usual raffle, an entrance fee and our very entertaining Dutch auction. The bidding gets quite rowdy, with lots of laughs.
