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Queensland Cancer Fund - Cairns "Relay for Life"

Held at Barlow Park on Saturday 31st May and Sunday 1st June 2003
The Relay begins at 4.00pm on the Saturday and continues through the night until 10.00am on Sunday

A note from Sharon
Australia Post Staff at the Earlville Business Centre entered a team in memory of


SUANNE ROHAN
who was one of our staff for 5 years and who died on the 28th February 2003.
Our team, just one of the over 140 teams that are participating, consists of 15 people made up of staff from Earlville Business Centre, Cairns Delivery Centre, and their families and friends.
We have raised almost $1500.00 through donations, raffles, and biscuit sales - and the final amount should be near $1700.00.

and see below these "ready-to-go" photos to read Sharon's notes on her 'overnight walk'
plus more shots of both Sharon and Tanya taken during the night

PHOTOS
Sharon -
(1) dressed in her "Stamp" (2) outside her overnight accommodation - aka tent!!! (3) with a few members of the Post Office team
Tanya - (1) in her "Better Bodiez Cancer Commandos" shirt (2) warming up before getting on the track (3) having a snooze

Well, I have had my sleep and recovered from the effects of my sleepover at Barlow Park!

We arrived at about 3.00pm and went to our area - all the campsites were set up in long lines with street names and numbers in the middle of the walking track.

We watched the survivors walk - two of our team have had cancer and are in remission.
It was amazing!

Then we all got our gear on and walked together for the first half hour.
We had bright Postie shirts and specially made 'stamps' and we looked great!

We then made ourselves comfortable at our campsite and proceeded to make up a roster of half hour walks
We just sat and talked and walked around and visited with people that we knew and listened to the bands playing and generally enjoyed ourselves.
I went and listened to some of the John Farnham concert which was on next door - you could hear him very clearly!

At 7.00pm the Candlelight ceremony began - you write the names of people you wish to remember on a white paper bag - put some sand inside and put a tealight candle on the sand in the bag and place it around on the inside of the track.
Then the lights go out and it is very dark with just the glowing candles around the track.
The walkers kept on walking quietly and you could have heard a pin drop during the two minutes silence. I went for a walk around while the lights were out and it was an awesome sight and it was very moving - so sad that so many people have died.
The lights came on again and we kept on walking.

Suanne's partner Gordon came for a while - he is still pretty sad but was pleased I think that we made an effort to do this in Suanne's memory.

After 12.00 midnight we just had single walkers so people could sleep a bit longer - I of course wasn't tired and most of the people went and snoozed.

At about 12.30 am when I was sitting alone like a big Nigel I took my chair and half a mug of Port and went and sat down where the band was playing until 3.00am - it was great!
When I went back to our tent it was Ann's turn to walk but, as she was asleep, I took her turn and told her husband to wake her at 5.30am to do my turn.

I went to lay down which was difficult because Tanya, whose campsite was right next to the stage where it was loud all night, had a headache and came and slept in my spot with my sleeping bag and pillow but we made do!!
She made it up to her team by walking for an hour and a half when she got up!

I woke at 5.00am (only two hours sleep) as bright as a button and because Ann was still asleep I started her shift but she came out and took over which was good because I had some serious blisters.
We usually did six laps in 30 minutes but I was down to 3 laps in 30 minutes - took it real slow!!

A couple of the posties who didn't sleep over came back at 4.00am because they are pretty bright at that time and did the shifts till the last 30 minutes when we all walked.

We had a nice breakfast - instead of the provided one, there was a tent from the Hilton Hotel and we had scrambled eggs, bacon, sausgaes, hash browns, lovely fruit and proper coffee!

During the last 30 minutes everyone walked, the band was playing - we had the wave going round the track for most of the last 30 minutes and it was good fun.
I even saw Councillor Diedre Ford dancing up a storm to "Dancing Queen"

A few presentations (a record amount was raised - will have to check the papers tomorrow - I don't remember numbers!) and home to bed!!

And there you have my story!
Should have some pictures soon!