10/03/2025
Wagin Woolorama
It was an early start for John and Ian, as we needed to arrive in Wagin (approximately 200 km southeast of Perth) by 8:50 a.m. to set up for a 9:00 a.m. start at the Wagin Woolorama.
The main objective was to host an information table to discuss prostate cancer with men and women while promoting the work of PCFA and the Southsiders Prostate Cancer Support Group.
Friday saw temperatures soar into the high 30s, resulting in a lower-than-expected crowd. Despite the heat, we had a productive day, engaging in about 12 meaningful discussions.
Saturday brought much cooler weather, with temperatures staying in the low to mid-20s, which encouraged a higher turnout. With assistance from four additional support group members—two from Southsiders and two from Kalamunda—we had over 36 valuable conversations.
A highlight of the event was a conversation with a lady concerned about her friend (a father figure), who lived in a large country town. He was planning to travel to Perth for treatment, a one-way journey of 280 km. After consulting Greg from the Albany Prostate Cancer Support Group, we were able to inform her of treatment options in Albany, only 170 km away. We hope she contacts Greg to explore these local options.
Additionally, we referred several others to Greg, as well as to Ray at Ocean Reef, the team in Mandurah, and one individual to Busselton.
One notable takeaway was the number of men who were already proactive about testing or aware of its importance. This awareness is partly thanks to Men’s Regional Health, with whom we’ve built a strong relationship over the years. Regional healthcare workers also showed interest, taking materials from us to share further.
The atmosphere in the “air-conditioned” sports area was lively, allowing us to have engaging conversations with visitors and neighbouring stallholders.
Overall, our time in Wagin was well spent. This year, we were fortunate to secure accommodation in Wagin itself. However, as with Dowerin, accommodation can sometimes be located up to an hour away. While we see the need for future visits, resolving accommodation challenges will be critical.
In conclusion, we believe our efforts at Wagin Woolorama were both time and money well invested.
John and Ian
