In the regional hub of Orange, NSW, Andrew is a familiar face. A diesel mechanic by trade, he began his apprenticeship at just 15 and spent decades working on heavy trucks before stepping up to run the family waste management business.
But if you ask Andrew who he is, he won’t point to his resume. He’ll talk about his wife, Vanessa, their two daughters, Edie and Macie, and the well-travelled caravan parked in the driveway.
Our spare time is consumed by caravan life,” Andrew says. “We wanted our girls to see that there is so much more out there than just life in Orange. The memories we’ve made with friends and family across Australia, that’s what makes the hard work worth it.”
The festive season of 2025 was meant to be another time of celebration. But shortly after New Year’s Day, something changed. Andrew began to feel unwell. At first, it was easy to put it down to holiday fatigue, but as the weeks passed, his condition worsened.
When the family went to the emergency department, the mood quickly shifted.
The look on each doctor’s face started to tell us what we didn’t want to believe,” Vanessa recalls.
Annie was the “light that lit up a room,” someone who could turn any space into a dance floor and make sure everyone felt welcome. She was also a strong country woman who didn’t want to burden others with her pain. By the time her back pain was diagnosed as pancreatic cancer, it was already Stage 4. She passed away just three months later.
Andrew’s diagnosis, Stage 3 pancreatic cancer was devastating.
“It was a blur,” he says. “I was on my own when the doctor told me. Then came the conversations with my wife, my family, and my children. Nothing can prepare you for that. It breaks you—but you find a way to keep going.”
Despite the weight of his family history, there is one important difference in Andrew’s experience, time. Because he sought medical attention earlier, his cancer was diagnosed at Stage 3. This means there is now a possibility of surgery, an option his mother never had.
Andrew and Vanessa are passionate about changing how people support those facing cancer. His advice is simple, but powerful: sometimes the best support is helping someone feel like themselves again.
“The support you need is from people who can help you forget, even just for a moment, what’s happening,” Andrew says.
It’s not always about asking how treatment is going. It’s about having a laugh and taking your mind somewhere else.”
Today, caravan life remains a source of strength for the family. While the road ahead includes treatment and surgery, Andrew continues to draw on the positivity his mother was known for.
Andrew and his family know what it means to be a community. Together, alongside a few Orange locals, Andrew raised over $10,000 for Pankind, which will be used to fund pancreatic cancer research. In addition to these funds, Andrew and his family shaved their heads to raise awareness for pancreatic cancer. A truly amazing effort for all involved.
Now, by sharing his story, Andrew hopes to encourage other families, especially those with a history of pancreatic cancer to understand the importance of awareness and early action. His brothers are already taking proactive steps, with the hope that one day families won’t have to face this diagnosis at all.
Stay positive,” Andrew says. “You’re not alone, and you’ll be surprised by the support around you. My hope is the same as everyone else’s, better ways to detect this early, and one day, a cure.”
