John Carpenter
ORANGE'S specially-formed committee to raise funds for the CareWest Lodge at the new Orange Base Hospital for radiotherapy patients says it is astounded the former Orange Community Resource Organisation has chosen and launched a similar name.
Last week OCRO launched its new name, CareWest Inc, to reflect what it said was a changing focus for the organisation.
Head of Cancer Care Western NSW John Carpenter said he registered the name CareWest Lodge with the Department of Fair Trading more than a year ago.
“The board of Cancer Care Western NSW agreed on that name and I went down the next day and registered it,” Mr Carpenter said.
He said several of his board members have expressed concerns the two organisations with the same spelling and similar names will create unnecessary confusion.
Mr Carpenter said since numerous towns and cities across the central and far west have thrown their weight behind fund-raising to build the lodge, almost $300,000 had been raised.
CareWest Inc president Anne Hopwood said she understood the disappointment of the CareWest Lodge group.
“We did our research and we were told it (CareWest Inc) was not a registered name,” said Ms Hopwood.
“We are a service delivery organisation and and CareWest Lodge is a fundraising organisation.
“We are serving different target groups and our board will work with the CareWest Lodge board to minimise any confusion.”