Wendy Benson passed away on 17 May 2023 after succumbing to a lengthy cancer battle.
Wendy was a great example of the consumer community within the VCCC Alliance, which is of course focused on improving cancer outcomes, as she had extensive lived experience of dealing with a serious cancer diagnosis.
Wendy volunteered to donate her time to the VCCC Alliance, at the invitation of Alliance partner St. Vincent's Hospital Melbourne, initially as a member of the Cancer Consumer Advisory Committee (CCAC), a VCCC Alliance Board sub-committee. She came to CCAC in 2019 with extensive and broad experience in representing the health service patient and consumer perspective as chair of the St. Vincent's Consumer Advisory Committee (CAC) and also in a managerial position at the Australian Patients Association.
Whilst at the VCCC Alliance, Wendy sought to be an active member of a number of working groups, standing committees and research projects, with her great interest in improving the experience and outcome for cancer patients and consumers. She also readily and regularly offered to be an accountable, lived cancer experience, expert member of various governance committees within the VCCC Alliance Strategic Program Plan, even up to her last few weeks with us.
Vale Wendy, and thank you for your service to make a difference for your fellow travellers.
Wendy was a good friend and close colleague of Sophy Athan, Chair of the Cancer Consumer Advisory Committee.
Reflecting on Wendy’s many admirable qualities and contributions, Sophy highlights Wendy’s passion and high standards in advocating for patients: "Wendy never settled for second best and continued to advocate until the right solution was reached. Patients found her empathic and understanding. They had nothing but praise for how she supported them. Wendy’s positive, can-do attitude is such a great example to us all,” she said.
“Wendy was a caring consumer and a good friend who always put others first. I will dearly miss her.”
