Whether the donation was labour, equipment or just plain enthusiasm, a great debt of gratitude is owed to all those involved in raising funds to help the Cancer Council in fighting diseases that, according to the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare website, will claim more than 47,000 lives in 2017. 

Despite the frighteningly high toll however, there still is hope.

Husband and wife Ken and Shirley Bevan are Merriwa-born locals who have been happily married for over 46 years. 

Both agree: “We’re best mates!” 

And, each have fought bravely against cancer.

A vibrant woman, renowned for both her gardening skills and talent as a fine ceramicist, Shirley looks like the epitome of health – but as she tells, things were quite different in 2015.

“In all my working life I only had one sick day,” she explains.

“Then back in October I was told I had cancer and the news hit me like a truck – I was in shock.”

Ken was also stunned: “I just couldn’t believe it”.

Shirley didn’t wallow in self-pity though. 

“After the news, I made up my mind that I was going to fight this,” she said.

“I had to do a lot of travelling for tests. 

“I went to hospitals in Gosford and Newcastle and family’s also very important. 

“Our daughter Kylie was wonderful.

“Eventually my specialist booked me in to the John Hunter Hospital for my operation that lasted over 13 hours.

“I owe a lot to all the hospital staff at both the John Hunter and at Merriwa who looked after me as I was recovering – thank you.

“I’m still recovering – but I’m so glad to be telling my story.

“About 14 years ago, four of my brothers were diagnosed with cancer, all within a few weeks of each other - three are still alive but my brother Brian (Byfield) fought for 13 years and died recently.”

Ken has also lost family to cancer.

“Billy (Cashen) was one of my cousins and we were both in our 50s at the time when I saw him at the hospital, I could barely recognise him,” he added.

Shirley’s lovely smile faded as she recounted the loss of her father (Arthur Byfield) to cancer at the relatively young age of 69.

“It was an ordeal telling my children that their grandfather was going to die – they were only in their teens,” she said.

Ken received his diagnosis eight months ago. 

“I was in shock, I felt numb,” he admitted.

However like Shirley, Ken chose to fight.

“I wanted to live for my family, my wife, my daughter, my grandkids – sometimes I’d lie in bed at night and pray that I would still be alive to see my grandkids all reach their 20s.”

So how did Ken and Shirley cope?

“For me it was gardening – putting your hands in soil takes your mind off things,” she said.

“If I didn’t have my garden to work on in the first two weeks after my diagnosis, I would have gone mad.”

For Ken, it was his lawn bowls where he could seek refuge. 

“And my TV – I love my TV,” he chipped in.

Shirley also added: “And helping around. Ken’s really good at washing clothes and hanging them up”.

Ken and Shirley often agreed with what each other was saying. 

They sometimes finished each other’s sentences – you could see that they share something special. 

Ken explained that cancer had “changed our lives, the things we worried about before don’t really matter now and it`s brought us closer together, we look after each other”.

Shirley agreed and remarked further: “You’ve got to hang in there for the person affected and offer heaps of support. Be positive, and if you can help someone, please help – that’s why we`re talking now”.

The Cancer Council of Australia’s Helpline is 13 11 20.