General News
19 November, 2025
TDHS promotes cancer charity
TALKING about children’s cancer can bring up difficult and confronting emotions, but it is a reality many local families face and an issue which deserves understanding and support.
Timboon and District Healthcare Service (TDHS) are grateful to have the chief executive officer of children’s cancer charity ‘My Room’ Margaret Zita OAM presenting at their ‘The Year that Was’ event on Tuesday, November 25, which also includes TDHS’s annual general meeting (AGM) and staff awards presentations.
“Margaret will talk about discovering her deep commitment to the cause of children’s cancer and volunteering her services to the My Room children’s cancer charity for over 20 years,” TDHS board chair Frank Carlus said.
“During this time, she raised vital awareness and funds to support families, enhance clinical care, and invest in research aimed at finding a cure for all childhood cancers.”
Local community members Pene Riedl and her son, Hugo, will also be sharing their personal experiences and insights.
Their story offers a meaningful perspective on the challenging times but also the hope and strength found in the support of the My Room charity.
“When Hugo was fighting for his life in intensive care, My Room arranged emergency on-site hotel accommodation for us,” Mrs Riedl said.
“This meant we could stay close and check in on him at any time, day or night – a comfort that words can’t fully describe.
“During the early stages of Hugo’s maintenance treatment, we faced three hospital visits a week for six months.
“My Room provided us with a healing home in Brighton, allowing our family to be together again and giving Hugo the stability and warmth he needed to recover.”
My Room funds critical clinical care positions at the Royal Children’s Hospital, which Mrs Reidl said was significant to Hugo’s care.
“For Hugo, this meant access to an incredible multidisciplinary team – including an occupational therapist, social worker, dietitian, physiotherapist and comfort care clinicians – who supported not only his recovery but our entire family,” she said.
Mrs Reidl said the experience organised by My Room was beyond her expectations, allowing her children to be a part of something bigger.
“Through My Room, our family has also shared joyful experiences that reminded us of life beyond hospital walls,” she said.
“The boys attended a kids’ tennis clinic and Felix even had the unforgettable honour of flipping the coin at a celebrity match – where he met Novak Djokovic and Stefanos Tsitsipas.”
Mr Carlus said no RSVP was necessary to attend.
“We would love for as many community members as possible to join us on November 25, which commences with our AGM at 10am and concludes with our staff awards and a light lunch,” he said.
“By coming together, we can build awareness, offer support and create a space for compassion and connection.”
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