Local man happy to be back at work after battle with cancer

Port Macquarie man Terry Weatherby was working for a laundry company when he starting noticing a rapid decrease in his weight.

Initially Terry thought it might have been from stress but when he went to hospital they confirmed he had bowel cancer.

“My mum had died from it which scared me because I didn’t know which stage I had progressed to,” Terry said.

“I had tests, operations, chemo, radiation and I now have to wear a bag for the rest of my life. I couldn’t work for three years and had to go on the pension.”

When Terry felt ready to return to the workforce he didn’t know what to do, so he approached Disability Employment Service provider ETC.

“ETC helped me with everything when I was looking for work. Jacqui and Ashley have been like friends to me right through,” Terry said.

“I started some volunteer work and then got a job at Norman Brothers Haulage. ETC put me through a Forklift course to help with my new job after my existing license had expired.”

Terry said he was really enjoying his new job and that it felt great to be working again.

“They treat me like part of the family here. I was upfront with them from the beginning so they were aware of my health condition,” he said.

“Now I have my job – it keeps me going. Also with the support from my family, friends and ETC, I feel like I’m back to the happy person I used to be.”

Distribution and Warehouse Manager Jason Bradshaw had worked closely with Terry since he commenced employment with Norman Brothers Haulage two months ago.

“It’s a lot to take in but Terry has been fitting in really well. We’re quite impressed with how he has stepped up and shown initiative to take on what we’ve been giving him to work on,” Mr Bradshaw said.

Norman Brothers Haulage approached ETC when they were looking for someone to help out in their warehouse.

“We were specifically looking for a mature aged worker and someone who was reliable. During the interview we knew that Terry would be a good fit for our business. He came across as being really keen, genuine and we could see that he really wanted to work,” Mr Bradshaw said.

“ETC has been really helpful. Their open communication has been great and got us to where we need to be.”

ETC provides specialist help to people with disability, illness or injury to find and keep a job. For further information call us on 1800 007 400, visit etcltd.com.au or drop into an ETC office in Port Macquarie, Wauchope or Laurieton.