LAURIE Tracona’s gift to the Mareeba Friends of the Foundation, mean his legacy will be remembered forever.
His $100,000 bequest to the Foundation means they have raised enough to buy endoscopy equipment to provide a new service to the community.
Mareeba Friends chair Ida Portella said she had known Laurie her whole life and his gift meant he would always be remembered for the gift of the incredible equipment, he had helped provide.
“This is our largest single donation to date and together with a $50,000 grant from Bendigo Bank which is the largest we have received from them, the auction proceeds from the Mareeba Fruit and Vegetable Growers dinner, and some other donations, we have enough to buy this equipment,” Ms Portella said.
“This money came from an amazing man and it’s because of him that we now have enough to finalise this purchase and buy the equipment,” she said.
“The Mareeba Friends group actually started as a result of a donation from his mum so it’s a beautiful gift and legacy to the community.”
Mareeba Hospital Medical Superintendent Dr Nikki Patching said the new endoscopy service would be up and running next week and allow the hospital to test residents for gastrointestinal tract diseases and tumours.
“By providing endoscopic services locally, we will be able to treat more patients within clinically recommended timeframes and meet increasing future demand for endoscopic services,” Dr Patching said.
“An endoscopy allows doctors to see the lining of a patient’s oesophagus, stomach or colon. If abnormal areas are seen, biopsies can be taken for testing.”
The equipment purchase coincides with an upgrade to the Mareeba Hospital theatres to allow the new service to begin.
Recently Health Minister Steven Miles visited the hospital and said demand for endoscopy services was expected to increase by almost six per cent a year over the next 10 years, making the new service, important for local residents.
Photos: (Top) Executor Peter Apel, Foundation CEO Tony Franz, Mareeba Friends of the Foundation members Angela Toppin, Maree Lopez, Stephen Gear and chair Ida Portella.
(Below): MDFS director Charles Khan, Mareeba Friends of the Foundation Robyn Boundy, chair Ida Portella, Cairns and Hinterland Hospital and Health Service chair Dr Clive Skarott, Foundation CEO Tony Franz, manager Bev Dayes.
