WA community pitches in to help dairy farmer diagnosed with prostate cancer

Updated

A small Western Australian community has banded together to rake, cut and cart 60 hectares of silage for a dairy farmer who has just been diagnosed with prostate cancer.

For 45-year-old Brett Milner and his family, who live in Acton Park, just outside of Busselton in the state's south west, the diagnosis came as quite a shock.

"It's very unusual as a mid-40-year-old man to be diagnosed with prostate cancer," he said.

"I myself thought it was just one for the old fellas.

"But the more I've gone through the testing just made me realise it's really important that you listen to your body."

According to figures from Cancer Australia, the most common age to get prostate cancer is between 65 and 69.

About 40 people from the community helped out on the day, finishing it off with a barbeque at the local town hall.

Mr Milner and his wife, Jo, said they were overwhelmed by the support.

"For me, to have all of these people to do this work, is something I can never repay them for," Mr Milner said.

"I just can't believe that people would do this for us.

"It's up to me now to not let them down and to try get well."

'Get regular check-ups'

The 60 hectares of silage was completed in one day — a job that would usually take Mr Milner six to eight weeks by himself.

While the event was a huge help to the family, Mr Milner said was also important that the day be used to raise awareness of prostate cancer.

"I was just like every other stubborn farmer, I was feeling a bit sick and though 'Oh well, I'll just plough through it," he said.

"I'd encourage everyone in farming to make sure they have a backup plan, because I never thought something like this was going to happen to me."

According to Cancer Australia, prostate cancer was the most commonly diagnosed cancer in Australia in 2013.

This year it is forecast to be the third-most commonly diagnosed cancer, with more than 3,000 people dying from cancer this year alone.

Community man

The event was organised by dairy farmer and life-long friend to Brett, Ian McGregor.

Mr McGregor said there was no way they would have let him do it on his own.

"He's done a lot for the community and the kids and his involvement in the junior footy," he said.

"This was an opportunity to repay him in a way, I guess."

He said the news took everyone by surprise, especially considering Brett's age.

"Out of all our kindy class, Brett's the fit one out there coaching the kids," he said.

"So it's a real shock for sure."

Topics: rural, prostate-cancer, acton-park-6280, wa

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