March 2014 Newsletter 

In this edition:

Welcome

Preparing your business for the new anti-bullying laws

FBT - time to get ready for 2014

How to survive a tax audit

Support our team in the Weekend to End Women's Cancer walk

A personal story from GCC team member, Debbie Adams
After losing her mum to cancer in January of last year, Goodwin Chivas & Co Financial Planner Debbie Adams was inspired to get involved in raising awareness of women's health issues, and funds to help fight cancer in Australian women. This is the story of how she plans to walk 60km in November as part of the "Weekend to End Women's Cancer", and how you can help her reach her fundraising goals.

Saturday, 8th March 2014 was International Women's Day, and so I thought it was an appropriate time to share with all of you a journey I am about to undertake to raise funds to end all women's cancer.

I'm sure we have all had a family member or friend who has been diagnosed with a form of cancer – unfortunately it's becoming a common occurrence rather than an isolated one.

My mum was diagnosed with bowel cancer when she was 65. Luckily for her they were able to operate and remove the tumour and she only needed a light dose of chemo to prevent any more tumours from popping up. She recovered well from the operation and went on to enjoy life.

Then around age 70 she found a lump in her breast which again turned out to be cancer – she elected for a full mastectomy which then meant she didn't need to go through a rigorous round of radiation and chemo. Mum eventually recovered from the operation and continued to do all the normal things in life.

When mum was 80 she started suffering from pain in the stomach area which was diagnosed as Pancreatitis but after a couple of years of scans, visits to hospital and bouts of severe pain, she was eventually diagnosed with Pancreatic cancer in September 2012. After a brave fight that lasted only 4 months, mum sadly passed away in January 2013. This was just one female in my life – there are so many more girlfriends, their family members and clients that I know that have suffered from this dreadful disease – CANCER!

Apart from having a very personal reason in trying to help in some small way in the fight against cancer, I have also seen first-hand through my work as a financial planner specialising in personal insurance advice, the devastating effect cancer has had on some of my client's lives.

When I saw the "Weekend to End Women's Cancers", benefiting Chris O'Brien Lifehouse, advertised on the television one night I knew that this was something I could do – not only by registering for the 60km weekend walk which is being held (in Sydney) on the 8th and 9th of November, 2014, but also by doing my part in fundraising some much needed money. This 2 day walk raises funds for cancer research and treatment for women's cancers.

I now have a team of family and friends who are going to join me in this quest and between us we hope to make a difference! I will be raising funds and training hard so I can make a huge impact in the effort to end all women's cancers - but I need your help! Every participant in the walk has been given a fundraising goal which I hope I can smash.

I will keep you posted in upcoming newsletters on how my team and I are going in our fundraising endeavours.

Debbie Adams