Professor Susan Sawyer from the Centre Adolescent Health, RCH was invited to be part of a lunch held a few times a year at the Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre. They have run a Guest Chef Program at Peter MacCallum for the past 10 years where a Guest Chef hosts a lunch for a small group of patients in the centre’s board room.
The basis of their Guest Chef Program is to encourage people to think about the importance of food in our daily lives and particularly to think about the impact of illness in the ability of our patients to enjoy food, not only for its nutritional value but for the pleasure that food brings to all of us – which in the company of friends and family is part of the celebration of life. On each occasion, they invite 12 or so patients with a partner or friend.
This year, the focus of the lunch was on adolescents and young adults with cancer, through the Peter MacCallum’s onTrac@PeterMac program. Prof Sawyer was invited to chair the statewide committee on AYA (adolescent and young adult) cancer. Mr Tobie Puttock from “Fifteen Melbourne” was the Guest Chef.
Notable Melbourne chefs who have previously donated their time to cook for the patients are, Guy Grossi, Teage Ezard, Elizabeth Chong, Michael Lambie, to name but a few.