Wednesday, 18 June 2025

Bowel cancer

Chris CREWTHER (Mornington) (09:55): Today is Red Apple Day, Bowel Cancer Australia’s annual giving day. This morning MPs across the political spectrum gathered for a photo in the Assembly to show our united support. Thanks to all members who joined us and those wearing the red apple ribbon today. Your support means a great deal.

Red Apple Day falls within Bowel Cancer Awareness Month, held each June to raise awareness of Australia’s second-deadliest cancer. Bowel cancer takes the lives of 101 Australians every week, over 5200 a year, despite being one of the most treatable cancers if detected early. While often thought of as an older person’s disease, bowel cancer is now the deadliest cancer for Australians aged 25 to 54, which makes early screening and awareness more important than ever.

As many here know, my chief of staff and former member of this Parliament Donna Hope OAM was diagnosed with bowel cancer in 2014 while serving and now is an ambassador for Bowel Cancer Australia. To support this cause I recently completed a 27-kilometre trek along the whole Mornington electorate coastline, raising nearly $3,000 so far – and yes, I am still recovering. I will also be completing my bowel cancer screening test today and encourage each and every one of you to do the same. To those who can, you can also still donate to Bowel Cancer Australia on my page at redappleday.au or at bit.ly/chriswalk. Together we can save lives.