
NEW VENUE FOR BAILEY'S DAY '08

Over the past four years Woodlands Golf Club has
generously played host to our annual charity golf day, luncheon
and auction. The club has been a marvellous host, waiving green
fees and clubhouse hire costs to ensure that all the day's proceeds
go directly to helping kids with cancer.
However, due to renovations that will no doubt make Woodlands
an even better facility than it already is, we needed to find a
new venue for this year's Bailey's Day. We're thrilled to be able
to announce that this year's event will take place at the Southern
Golf Club in Keysborough.
Southern is renowned as one of the best-kept golf courses on the
Melbourne sandbelt. The keen golfers among you will love the challenging
championship layout, while for those heathens who think golf is
a good walk ruined, the magnificent clubhouse provides unrivalled
comfort.
The PGA nominated the course Victorian Pro-Am Course of the Year
1999/2000, while the club itself is the Golf Club of the Year 2008.
So, while we're disappointed not to be able to hold the event at
Woodlands this year, we could not have found a better replacement
venue. Many thanks to general manager David Haggett and all the
staff and members for their generosity.
NEARING THE HALF-MILLION MARK
In
four years Bailey's Day has so far contributed more than $470,000
to the Monash Medical Centre’s
Children's Cancer Centre and the Royal Children's Hospital. This
money is crucial, funding the employment of a Clinical Oncologist
at Monash, and contributing badly needed funds to brain tumour
biology research at RCH.
Last year's event attracted a record 270 attendees and raised
$130,000 and we're hoping to go even better this year. So many
of our colleagues and friends have adopted the cause as their own
and our gratitude is eternal.
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Left
to Right: Patrick Tessier,
Mark Sawicki & Keith Corr |
|
THANKS BOYS!
No two people have embraced the meaning and spirit of Bailey's
Day more enthusiastically than Keith Corr and Mark Sawicki. Mark
generously donates his time and considerable personality to conduct
the auction each year, while Keith's support and generosity have
been immense. One year Keith paid $4,000 for a weekend for 10 people
on a houseboat, which he immediately donated back to Monash to
be used by weary parents of patients.
Without the support of these two wonderful men, Bailey's Day would
not be the success that it is. They and others who have done so
much for the cause were recently honoured by Monash Medical Centre
with certificates recognising their contributions. We're lucky
to have them.
And we're lucky to have you. Thanks to your continued support,
sick children now receive better care from more qualified people
than ever before. And all the while, those dedicated researchers
work towards a cure.
All this is only possible because of the way Bailey's Day has
been embraced and supported. It's a great day, one that has become
incredibly important to so many people. We hope to see you there
at Southern Golf Club on December 9.

Baileys’ Day
2007 raises over $130,000 for
the battle against childhood cancer
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| Dr.
Peter Downie, Kerryn and Patrick Tessier with the Bailey’s
Day trophy and Bailey’s Guitar |
|
The
fourth annual Bailey’s Day, held to honour the memory
of Bailey Daniel Tessier who died from a brain tumour aged
just 2½, has once again successfully raised a large
amount of money which will benefit the Monash Medical Centre’s
Children's Cancer Centre as well as the Royal Children's Hospital.
Since
it began three years ago, Bailey’s Day has built up a loyal
and dedicated band of supporters and this year, a record number
270 people sat down to a fine meal at Woodlands Golf Club in
Mordialloc. Attendees included family, friends and business
acquaintances of Bailey’s parents Patrick and Kerryn Tessier,
many of whom are prominent members of the Victorian retail automotive
trade, as well as some famous faces such as host Ian Leslie,
former 60 Minutes reporter and entertainers Brian Cadd, Lisa
Edwards, Normie Rowe and Wendy Stapleton.
Brian
performed his signature songs “Ginger Man” and “A
Little Ray of Sunshine” accompanied beautifully by Lisa
and Wendy. The host, former 60 Minutes reporter, Ian Leslie
ensured that the day went smoothly and updated the attendees
on how and where the previous year’s money had been spent – clearly
demonstrating that the money raised so far and that would be
raised that day is very well spent.
The
key to Bailey’s Day is that every dollar raised goes to
a clearly defined goal – more doctors to support children
with cancer. During its first three years, more than $340,000
has been raised. That money has so far funded the employment
of three clinical fellows at the Monash Medial Centre’s
Children's Cancer Centre and furthered research into brain tumour
biology at the Royal Children's Hospital.
Funds
are raised from the golfing luncheon hosted at Woodlands Golf
Club as well as a charity auction generously supported by many
who donated items for sale. This year’s charity auction
was again very successful as were other activities such as a
raffle on the day. Yesterday’s efforts mean that
to date, over $470,000 has been raised.
Bailey’s
Guitar, a Maton guitar signed by the Who’s Who of Australian
music, was the highlight of the auction and it alone raised $25,000. The
purchaser, a good friend of Patrick and Kerryn’s, took
to the stage to add his thanks to everyone who attended. He
paid tribute to the Tessier’s efforts in overcoming their
own personal loss to stage Bailey’s Day and added a personal
homage noting that he’d been fortunate enough not to have
suffered the loss of his own child, now aged 17, who when aged
two years, survived leukaemia.
Dr.
Peter Downie, Head of Unit – Children’s Cancer Centre,
Monash Medical Centre and Dr. Martin Campbell, Fellow Paediatric
Haematology/Oncology, were both in attendance at this year’s
Bailey’s Day. Dr. Downie was Bailey’s doctor
and continues to treat other children affected by cancer. At
the time of Bailey’s treatment, Dr. Downie worked largely
alone but more help was needed and this was the impetus for Bailey’s
Day. Since the inception of Bailey’s Day the necessary
funds to secure additional doctors has been available, giving
young cancer patients a greater access to quality care.
Today
Dr. Downie has the support of three other Paediatric Oncologists
as well as a full time Fellow, which enables more patients to
be assessed and treated on every day of the working week. This
support would not have been possible without the valuable funds
raised by Bailey’s Day, which have contributed to the training,
facilities and upkeep required by the three new doctors. Dr.
Steven Keogh was the first appointment to be sponsored by Bailey’s
Day funding, and he is now fully trained to support young cancer
patients. In 2007 Dr. Keogh was joined in the fight against
cancer by Dr. Pratiti Bando and Dr. Martin Campbell, thanks to
the many generous supporters of Baileys Day.
The
Monash Medical Centre’s Children’s Cancer Centre
was officially opened in July 2006 and cares for between 20-30
per cent of Victoria’s childhood cancer patients. Incorporating
purpose-built treatment rooms, a child and parent friendly waiting
area, consulting space and enhanced equipment resources, the
unit is a modern and welcoming place for children living in Melbourne’s
east and south east who require treatment.
The
legacy of Bailey lives on through the commitment of his parents
to ensure that the chances of the many little Baileys who exist
today are greatly improved. |