Today I found out that a wonderful and compassionate woman that I have known my entire life, was diagnosed with brain cancer.

She has always been kind and supportive of me, and forever an optimist with her cheery demeanour and outlook never seeming to fade, at least not that I’ve ever seen. Just the epitome of a “friendly neighbour” who you’d instantly trust.

Even as I grew into adulthood and moved away from the old neighbourhood, seeing her infrequently, whenever I did run into her, around town or out walking the dog with her husband along the Gorge Waterway, she was always keen to hear what I was up to in life, and quick to offer encouragement. She even jumped at the chance to do a mail drop for my City Council campaign in 2014.