Lorraine defies cancer to give to community

Member of Australian Diabetes Council, Lorraine Lusby, has received an Order of Australia Medal (OAM) for extraordinary community work.

The Lane Cove resident has lived with type 2 diabetes for 15 years, but has not let it slow her down.

She has volunteered her time over many years to the Red Cross, Lane Cove West Public School, Lane Cove Community Aid, Uniting Church, Lane Cove Council Social Development Committee and North Shore Community Safety.

She also helped with Meals on Wheels, transport services for medical appointments and became a ‘community visitor’ visiting the elderly and bed-ridden in nursing homes. With her public school work she has helped develop programs to keep kids active. As a past secretary of the Australian Diabetes Council North Shore branch, she has long been active in the branch’s fundraising activities.

In 1998, when Lorraine was diagnosed with cancer, she saw no reason why it should interfere with her busy life.

Her doctor gave her five years to live.

“I was determined not to dwell on it,” Lorraine said.

“I was on 12 different committees at the time and I was determined to not give up…”
Lorraine committed herself to a gruelling schedule of chemotherapy every two weeks, and radiotherapy every second day for six months.

She kept a brave face during her six-month ordeal - others around her often did not realise she was ill.

“All during my treatment I only missed one committee meeting,” Lorraine says triumphantly, “and seven and half years later – I’m still here!”

With the cancer in remission, it was just three months after her treatment that Lorraine was out doorknocking with the Red Cross, giving on-the-ground assistance to households devastated by the 1999 Sydney hailstorms.

The mother of two says it is her love of working with people - particularly with children - that has kept her going.

“There’s just so much out there to do,” she said.