The CICA Canberra Regional meeting attracted an audience of over 50, including a number of crane owners from various regions throughout the ACT and NSW as well representatives from crane manufacturers and suppliers to the industry.
NSW Vice Chair Stephan Becherand hosted the event and introduced various topics and industry updates delivered by leading industry experts. These included updates and presentations from Steve Miller and Rochelle Mathews from NHVR, Brett Graham from TfNSW, a finance and market update from Chris Burke, a National CICA update from Brandon Hitch, and presentations about Road Vehicle Standards Legislation from the Federal Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development, Communications and Art, and separate presentations from Graham Evans and Finlease and a Roads Update from CICA’s Damien Hense. These presentations will be covered in more detail in future editions of Cranes & Lifting.
For many, a highlight of the day was the Crane Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEM) Question and Answer session, with panellists including John Stewart from Manitowoc, Neil Webb from TRT representing TIDD and Kobelco, Michael Cawston from Pace Cranes representing Sennebogen and Maeda, Matt Molross from XCMG, Andrew Esquilant from Liebherr and Jay Gower from Tadano. The audience was left in no doubt that our industry will continue to navigate difficult times relating to the parts supply and availability of new equipment. However, the Crane OEMs reassured attendees that the transition to alternate fuels was underway and will be managed in an orderly manner with various options being researched and developed.
The meeting then moved to dinner and the fundraising auction, which is always a highlight, but before this commenced CICA had two surprises. John Farrier from FS Cranes and Anthony Davis from The Baden Davis Crane Connection were recognised for their dedication to the industry. Both have given hundreds of hours over decades to various CICA committees and lobbying government departments for the betterment of the crane industry.
CICA ACT & NSW had decided the proceeds of the auction would be donated to the battle to eliminate children’s cancer. With the help of Paul and Anthony Heeks the audience was introduced to an inspirational young lady, Sarah Brookes, and this is her story.
“Like most other children I was a happy and healthy. I played about every sport possible and enjoyed every part of it but more than anything else I loved soccer and had made a high-level representative development team,” she told attendees.
“During late 2015 and into early 2016, aged eight, I started to develop a sore right shin. As anyone would, due to the amount of sport I was playing, we put it down to bruising, growth, or a twisted ankle.
“Unfortunately, the pain became worse, with no bruising or obvious swelling. Because of the pain I began coming home from dancing crying, and was unable to run around and kick a ball on the pitch. Noticing this unusual behaviour mum and dad decided to take me to the physio,” said Sarah.
Upon initial consultation, it was suspected that Sarah may have developed a stress fracture. However, a week later subsequent scans revealed that Sarah had a rare cancerous tumour in her shin bone called osteosarcoma.
The next two years were filled with emergency rooms, isolation, chemotherapy, surgeries, scans, blood tests, infections, feeding tubes, transfusions, bed sores, orthopaedic appointments, plastic surgeon appointments, physiotherapy…the list went on.
“Throughout these two years I was never home for more than two weeks at a time before returning to the Sydney Children’s Hospital in Randwick. I would reach temperatures of 38 degrees-plus and I was forced to return to avoid spread of infection.
“It also became very apparent, in unfortunate circumstances, how lucky I was to have the support of my family and friends. Mum and Dad never left my side with Mum taking the day shift and Dad staying nights whilst both, together with other family members, tried to keep life as normal as possible for my younger sister at the time,” said Sarah.
Sarah underwent many rounds of strong chemotherapy between August and November of 2016. Two weeks before major surgery to remove the tumour routine scans were done in preparation.
“Unfortunately, after the months of chemotherapy, we were told the tumour had not reduced in size but instead had continued to grow. On November 7, 2016, I underwent a 10-hour operation to remove the tumour from my shin. The tumour was radiated and my shin placed back into the tibia. My fibula (a non-weight bearing bone) was removed and grafted onto the tibia with a 20 cm plate and multiple screws.
“Following this I spent many days in the intensive care unit. We could not rate the medical team or hospital staff highly enough but like many of these procedures it was not without complications. For example, after the surgery and whilst in ICU, alcoholic wipes were accidentally left between my body and the bed, dissolving the skin. So whilst my leg was in traction I was treated as a burns victim as well,” said Sarah.
Sarah also had adverse reactions to blood transfusions, which were resolved incredibly with antihistamines. Chemotherapy commenced again at the start of December and continued for another six months. On May 3, 2017, on her 10th birthday, she rang the bell.
“I was cancer free and in remission. Whilst I was cancer free, I was unable to return to school until the end of 2017 as my body was without an immune system. I endured many sessions of physiotherapy to learn to walk again and I underwent further surgeries to remove central lines which had been placed during my treatment. As a result of my weak bone structure the plate and screws that had been placed in my ankle snapped, which required replacing.
“In 2018, during my final year of primary school, I decided I wanted to do something to give back and ultimately make the brutal reality of childhood cancer one that would never have to be endured by any other child or family. I was inspired by a young girl who had made handmade bracelets to raise money for childhood cancer research,” said Sarah.
“With the help of my mum and the sacrifice dad made in letting me turn his man cave into a candle factory, I was able to develop Sarah’s Charity Candles from which I have donated one hundred per cent of all proceeds to Children’s Cancer Research.
“Since then, I have been fortunate enough to participate in various charity events, fundraisers, and school fairs, together with my own candle sales, raising over $51,000, all of which I have been so proud to donate to kids cancer research and awareness.
“Please never underestimate the need and appreciation of your support. I remain one of the lucky kids who survived; however, many others sadly do not. We live for the day zero childhood cancer becomes a reality.”
Jon Brookes introduced his daughter with these words.
“In 2015 I sincerely considered myself to be the luckiest man in the world, having a beautiful wife, two beautiful daughters and a successful business, the result of of over 25 years hard work. As a family we wanted for, nor needed anything.
“However, an Xray, followed by a scan and phone call turned our world upside down with our daughter Sarah, aged 8, being admitted to Sydney Children’s Hospital Randwick with osteosarcoma, an aggressive bone cancer.
“Like so many, I grew up in an environment where I was told if you work harder, trained harder and studied harder, you will have every opportunity to succeed in our Lucky Country. In this instance, I learnt very quickly it didn’t matter what I had worked for, what we had and who we knew, we simply couldn’t buy our daughter’s health,” said Jon.
“In a heartbeat, I would have swapped places rather than have my daughter exposed to this insidious disease and the treatments including extensive chemotherapy and major surgeries. But as we all know, it unfortunately doesn’t work that way.
“With the assistance of an amazing team of doctors, oncologists, orthopaedic surgeons, nurses and various affiliated organisations, Sarah thankfully faced and beat adversity and today, we remain one of the lucky families.
“So many families don’t share the same prognosis and story and have sadly lost their child to this insidious disease. We remain forever grateful to organisations such as CICA, which are generous with overwhelming contributions. These will continue to make a difference in realising our shared wish that one day, we will all live in a world free of childhood cancer. We would also like to thank Anthony, Paul and Faye of Pace Cranes for the invitation to be involved in CICA’s special occasion and tell our story,” said Jon.
With the audience listening to every word, it was apparent that when Sarah finished her story, there wasn’t dry eye in the room. This translated to vigorous and generous bidding on the many and varied items and CICA was delighted to announce the auction had raised over $42,000!