Beth Smith-Preston talked about her cancer journey.  She ran the Golden Grain Café in Barellan from 2006.  Along the journey she encountered many roadblocks including the 2012 floods but really enjoyed the hard work building up the business.  She wasn’t really prepared for the 2016 breast cancer diagnosis.  Nor was she really prepared for the fact that the operation had not removed all cancer tissue.  She took to opportunity to close the café for 2 weeks over Christmas in 2016 for further treatment.  Unfortunately, chemotherapy led to cellulitis which meant she had to discontinue chemotherapy and embark on a course of radiotherapy. She praised the role of the Breast Care Nurse in supporting her through the journey.  She sold the Café in 2017 and moved to Leeton where volunteering (at the Gerden Club and Yanco Club) has helped her life journey. 

Her troubles multiplied with the removal of a 3kg bowel tumour in 2023/24 followed by post-operation Pneumonia. A biopsy showed that the cancer had not spread to the liver but had moved to many lymph nodes which precluded the use of chemotherapy.  She is now being treated with immunotherapy, and this is having an effect.

She particularly acknowledged the support of Can Assist for financial and moral support.  She also encouraged all that we shouldn’t shirk the tests.

Rob Houghton talked about his agricultural life.  He always wanted to be a farmer but this did not always mean he concentrated at school.  His HSC results were very poor so he made a pact with himself that he would not deliberately fail again.  This led to a concentration on learning about farming (from his father and in partnership with brother, John). Then he went to Agricultural College.

Rob talked about the challenges of farming including managing the balance between farming and family.  He particularly highlighted the challenges of the millennium drought but noted that this gave him more time to re-connect with family. Rob, at 60 is now encouraging a younger generation into farming.

Daryl Clayton is School Counsellor at St Francis.  He has over 20 years working in the mental health field.  He particularly talked about the challenges for young people navigating the social media landscape – including cyber bullying and cybercrime.  He provided 3 examples.  He encouraged everyone to identify the risks in this new age and open lines of communication with young people.

A hearty congratulations to the organisers and the speakers for this very successful breakfast.

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Brain Teaser

Add me to myself and multiply by 4.
Divide me by 8 and you will have me once more.
What number am I?

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Director’s Reports

•  President Carmel
• Don’t forget the Vocational Visit to Rice Breeding Australia at Brady Way on Thursday night.  Don’t go to the Hydro or you will be dining alone. Pizzas provided but it is BYO.

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I am now scraping the bottom of the urn

In the great desert lived a bunch of nomads.

Their leader, Benny, had risen to his rank, due to his magnificent beard. His people believed a man's strength and courage came from his beard, and thus the man with the biggest beard was their chief.

After leading the band for many years, Benny began to feel uncomfortable wearing the beards, in this hot and dusty land. He wanted to shave it off, so he called his council together to get their advice.

When he said he wanted to shave, the councilmen were shocked. One said, "Do you now remember the ancient legend, dire? The leader who removes his beard is cursed and made into a piece of earthenware."

Benny had heard this legend, but being a modern man, he scoffed at the tale.

Being headstrong, he went ahead and cut and scraped away his once magnificent beard. As the final whisker was cut off, a huge dust storm came up. It lasted only a few seconds, and when it cleared, there was a man-sized clay vessel where only moments before had stood their leader.

The council then knew the legend must be true. Their conclusion? "A Benny shaved is a Benny urned."

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Editor’s Note

Thank you to Mary-Anne for the photos (although clearly not the poor picture of the happy couple – despite their early start).

A:  2    Note: 2 +2 = 4;  4*4 = 16; 16/8 = 2

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