The local group has donated the beanies to the oncology unit at Armidale Rural and Referral Hospital.

Ron worked locally for most of his life but he in particular like driving the passenger bus from Ebor to Guyra. He remembers only hitting two kangaroos over many years.

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Ron has been receiving chemotherapy regularly for the last twelve months, for lung cancer, which he understands is related to his life time of smoking. He is pleased to report his tumours are reducing in size and so now attends the hospital only once every three weeks.

Ron said "At the moment the treatment is good."

Ron spoke of his smoking history: "I started when I was 15 and I have tried to stop but instead I just ended up rolling my own tobacco trying to make the cigarettes smaller in size."

"I have the last couple of years given up for a few months at a time but also I have friends who have just stopped. I don't seem to be able to do it".

If you are thinking of quitting then the following information might help, contact the NSW Quitline, simply dial 13 7848 (13 QUIT).

The cost of your call is the same as a local call from a landline, with higher costs for mobiles.

Once you've contacted the NSW Quitline, there is an option to request an automatic return call - this means you'll only have to pay for making the initial contact.

The NSW Quitline Advisors (including Aboriginal and multilingual advisors) are available at the following times:

Monday - Friday: 7am to 10:30pm

Saturday, Sunday and public holidays: 9am to 5pm