IN A deeply personal revelation, Rachel Rendall, a brave CFA volunteer from Dandenong and breast cancer survivor, has candidly shared her journey to inspire fellow firefighters. Her story serves as a reminder, especially during Breast Cancer Awareness Month, of the financial aid available via the State Government’s presumptive rights compensation scheme, a lifeline for her during her battle with cancer.
Rachel, donning the hat of a firefighter since 2004, had her world shattered in June 2022 when diagnosed with breast cancer. “It was a shock to hear the news. There is no family history of cancer. I was worried about how I would cope during treatment, and what my prognosis would be,” she confessed. The road to recovery was fraught with challenges, but with treatment completed and now declared “cancer-free”, she chooses to use her experience as a beacon of hope for others.
Despite being aware of the presumptive rights for listed cancers, Rachel initially believed it targeted men predominantly. It was upon the suggestion of her 1st Lieutenant that she discovered compensation was also available for breast cancer. “I was pleasantly surprised by how simple and quick the process was,” she commented. Rachel is possibly one of the first female CFA volunteers to benefit from the scheme, raising important awareness about its applicability for women firefighters.
CFA Chief Officer, Jason Heffernan acknowledged the importance of such legislation. “I’m really pleased to hear how successful this process was for Rachel and other firefighters who have also benefited from the scheme,” CO Heffernan remarked.
This story serves as a clarion call for unaware firefighters to seek due help and turn a life-threatening wellness challenge into another triumphant battle fought.
