The petition calling for an integrated cancer centre in Dubbo is being recalled for presentation to the Federal Parliament.
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Rotary Club of Dubbo West’s Lyn Smith estimates 37,300 signatures are in hand.
She thinks the recall across the next two weeks may boost the figure to 40,000.
Federal Member for Parkes Mark Coulton secured a $25 million election commitment from the Coalition government towards the construction of the facility.
“With the Coalition now returned to government, a cancer centre located at the Dubbo Hospital will become a reality,” he said on Friday.
“However, with Federal Parliament now set to resume from August 30, I intend to present the petition to the parliament during September sittings as an indication of the strength of this campaign and the passion of the great people of Western NSW.”
Mr Coulton has seen the petition everywhere.
“As I’ve travelled around the electorate over the past few months, I don’t think there’s been one town I’ve visited that didn’t have at least one copy of the petition in circulation,” he said.
Mrs Smith reports of the petition making it to the eastern seaboard, Sydney, interstate and overseas.
The Rotarian is confident that the federal government will stump up the promised $25 million to “plug that hole in equitable health outcomes” in Western NSW.
“We know that Mark is talking with (Deputy Prime Minister and Leader of The Nationals) Barnaby Joyce and together they will talk to whoever is responsible for the finance that we need and have been promised for the cancer centre,” Mrs Smith said.
“The next step after that, I understand, is for Mark to continue his discussions with (state Member for Dubbo and Deputy Premier) Troy Grant who seems to be confident that the money will be matched by the state government.”
In May Mr Grant said Premier Mike Baird and Health Minister Jillian Skinner had agreed to "do our bit to make it a reality" if the federal government was returned at the July 2 poll.
The petition should be mailed to The Secretary, Rotary Club Dubbo West, Po Box 526, Dubbo, NSW, 2830, or dropped off at the Dubbo Visitor Information Centre.
“If people give them back to whoever gave them the sheets, then they will get back to us,” Mrs Smith said.
