Cancer patients who have no support can depend on June Hansen.
The 82-year-old Spotswood grandmother, who has been volunteering for more than half her life, was last week honoured in the Victorian senior of the year awards.
Ms Hansen, who visits patients at the Western Hospital, Royal Women’s Hospital and Peter MacCallum Cancer Institute, was among 14 senior citizens recognised for their contribution to the community.
After she was diagnosed with breast cancer 53 years ago, Ms Hansen swore that when her two-year-old daughter was older she would help others.
“I started off in the Children’s [hospital] but not up in the cancer part – in the creche looking after the people, the ones who had leukaemia, and we’d look after their well children while they were up top.”
She said she believed her purpose on earth was to look after people.
Presenting the award at Government House, Minister for Ageing David Davis described Ms Hansen as a “very resilient woman”.
