Local hero honoured for charity
AFTER experiencing six months of intensive chemotherapy for cancer and at least two years of physical and mental recovery, Jay Chipman was determined to help others in ways she only dreamt of being helped.
Mrs Chipman has been named a Tasmania Local Hero nominee in the 2022 Australian of the Year Awards for the non-profit organisation she founded called Homely Retreats.
The charity provides cancer sufferers and their young families the opportunity to have a heavily subsidised holiday together.
She was a young mother when she was diagnosed with cancer in 2014 and, after her recovery, she launched Homely Retreats in 2018, which has already helped 170 people.
“As I recovered I thought about what would have helped our family through my treatment and while there were financial and clinical services there was nothing that nourished the family as a unit,” she said.
“When a trauma hits a family of any kind it can be really fragmenting and the family becomes so wound up in the situation the family unit can break down.
“We give families the opportunity to escape the situation and take a break where they don’t have to do anything; just go out, have fun and make memories together.”
The Tasmanian recipients of the awards Australian of the Year, Young Australian of the Year, Senior Australian of the Year and Local Hero will be announced on October 29 at the Crowne Plaza Hobart.
The national awards to announced on January 25.