THE Wimmera Base Hospital is one step closer to a new oncology wing after Prime Minister Tony Abbott pledged $1 million from the federal government.
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Mr Abbott made the announcement at a Wimmera Health Care Group fundraising breakfast in Horsham on Thursday morning.
He said it was great see people rallying together for a good cause.
"Member for Mallee Andrew Broad came to me some time ago wanting federal government support the cancer centre," he said.
"We wanted a partnership between the people and the government.
"It's a tough time in the economy and things are tight but where people are prepared to support a cause, the federal government should step in and help them.
"With that, I am announcing $1 million for the oncology centre.
"This is about our readiness to have a go, take responsibility and help out."
Wimmera Health Care Group chief executive Chris Scott said the announcement was a hallmark for the hospital, Horsham and the Wimmera.
"It's an incredible thing to have the prime minister here to announce this," he said.
"I thank Tony Abbott and the Wimmera Health Care Group Foundation for their vision and commitment to this project, which is just going from strength to strength.
"The community is behind this fundraiser and there is so much energy here.
"People have already raised $4500 in additional donations already, we have the $1 million for the federal government and we hope the state government will also embrace the project.
"We have $250,000 from the foundation, so we have already have $1.25 million committed to the project and we are well on our way to our $3-million goal."
Mr Scott said about 970 people drove past Wimmera Base Hospital each year to receive cancer services the hospital did not offer.
He said only 50 per cent of people who needed to access cancer services in Horsham could do so.
"There just is not enough access here," he said.
Mr Scott said never in his wildest dreams did he think the prime minister would come to the hospital.
"It's unbelievable and it means the attention is on our service and our community," he said.
Mr Scott said construction on the new wing was due to start in 2017.
"We have given ourselves a three-year window," he said.
Wimmera Health Care Group board president Mark Williams said the idea for the oncology centre started about a year ago.
"When Wimmera Health Care Group Foundation reached their target of raising $1 million, they looked for a new goal and they embraced the idea of an oncology centre," he said.
"Since then the idea has got more legs and we have a stronger vision.
"The survival rate of cancer in the region is about 60 per cent, but the state wide average is about 66 to 68 per cent.
"We need a better outcome and we need to have more access to cancer services."