Three nurses have completed a professional development course after receiving scholarships from the Albury-Wodonga Prostate Cancer Support Group. 

Four more scholarships will be offered by the fund, which has been boosted by more than $6000 raised through the support group’s Blue Tie Ball earlier this month.

Support group treasurer Andrew Randall said the course had proven helpful for the nurses.

“Obviously it’s orientated to prostate care nursing, but the spin-off came from that in general nursing for cancer patients,” he said.

“It can only benefit our broader community in Albury-Wodonga and that’s what we aim to do.”

The online La Trobe University course costs $3100 for each participant.

“The cost is prohibitive, particularly for young nurses when they’ve just completed their degree,” Mr Randall said. “It is a commitment, it’s over 13 weeks and that’s on top of your normal work.”

Glenn Rose, co-convener of the support group with David Ryan, said donors often wanted the money to be spent locally, which led to the idea of funding the enrolments.

“If we could make it easier for somebody who wants to do the course but maybe is baulking at the cost of $3000,” Mr Rose said.

“None of us being nurses … we were hoping it would turn out to be a worthwhile program for them and the feedback is that it’s great.

“Let’s say in a couple of years’ time we’ve got six or seven nurses or more who have been through that program.

“We’re addressing some of the needs of our constituents, if you like, the men and their families in Albury who’ve had treatment, because we know the understanding of the nursing staff that are looking after them has been improved.” 

Albury mayor Kevin Mack and his wife Jill joined 140 guests at Commercial Club Albury for the second Blue Tie Ball.

Mr Rose praised the efforts of all the ball volunteers, particularly organiser Yvonne Bensley.

“Yvonne has had lots of really positive compliments about the nature of the event and people wanting to know are we having it again next year –  we certainly will be,” he said.

The Albury-Wodonga Prostate Cancer Support Group has been running a stall at this week’s Henty Machinery Field Days, raising awareness of prostate health.

The group meets on the second Tuesday of each month. For more information go to awpcsg.org.