Festival for Irene was held on Saturday, September 6 at the Merimbula Beach Holiday Park, Short Point, Merimbula, where the park grounds were transformed into an outdoor music and food festival.

Nearly 700 people attended with the festival raising just over $10,000 for the Trezise family which means they have reached the required target with some to spare for further medical treatment in the months after Irene's return from Moscow.

Wayne said: “It’s been a huge six months for our family. The people of our community and beyond have brought us the chance to give Irene a new life and we are forever grateful to you all.

"The people needed to be thanked for the Festival For Irene are just too many to list here but I believe I have thanked you all personally and if I have forgotten anyone, please take this as a thank you from my family to you.

Wayne also paid tribute to his fellow committee members, Lynne and Andy O'Donnell, Ken Vatcher, Darryl and Angie Dobson and Greg Whitby. 

“The event took months of planning and five days to setup up, perform and pull down. None of the planning would have achieved anything if it weren't for the efforts of those involved who donated their time and performances. Our family thanks you all,” Wayne said.

For nine hours people were entertained by Far South Coast acts including, the Stumblin’ Wilbury's, Blue Ruins, Roxygen, Figmentz, O'Donnell Bros, Gary Carson Jones & the Poddy Dodgers, Once Bitten, Ricky Bloomfield, Brett Ralph, Erin McMahon, Chris O'Donnell, Sapphire Coast Big Band, The Duck, and Wayne Trezise’s band Dr Fed & The Soviets, named after Russian doctor Denis Fedorenko and the Russian medical team that will be treating Irene.

A special presentation was made by St George Bank manager, Julie Lay and staff member, Nerida Cornwell to the Trezise family at the event. 

Wayne had asked the bank to waive the foreign exchange fee, about $1400, on the treatment payment, as the money had been raised from the community.

Senior management of the bank were touched by the family's plight and waived the fee as well as instructing Bega Branch to give a donation of $1000 towards the cause and provide a weekend in Canberra for Wayne and the children, Tanisha, Tegan and Dylan during Irene's absence from home to keep the kids minds off missing their mother, Wayne said.

Forced to travel overseas

Irene was diagnosed with MS in 2005 shortly after the birth of her first child. Since then her condition has deteriorated to the point she needs assistance to walk and suffers chronic fatigue and pain amongst a myriad of other symptoms and now her eyesight is starting to fail.

She has been accepted by Dr Fedorenko to receive HSCT ( Haematopoietic Stem Cell Therapy). Irene’s stem cells will be harvested prior to her receiving intensive chemotherapy to obliterate her immune system. Her stem cells will then be returned to reboot her immune system. Recovery takes up to two years.

Irene hopes to have similar results to those of hundreds of other patients that have been treated using HSCT over the last decade. One of those was Tina Stahmer of Pambula Beach who received HSCT in India 18 months ago after her MS took a rapid progression. 

Wayne said: “Tina was forced to use a wheelchair and required assistance to do most things, yet at Irene's festival she danced in front of the huge crowd to their utter amazement. Here is living proof of what HSCT can do for people with MS.

“Trials are just beginning in Australia, however Irene like so many others has been rejected for treatment by the very strict funding guidelines for acceptance to HSCT trials here and so has no choice but to travel overseas at great cost to her family,” Wayne said.

“It’s a cost that how has now been removed from our shoulders by the amazing support of friends and complete strangers throughout the Bega Valley and Australia wide,” Wayne said.

Irene flies to Moscow on Saturday, September 13 to begin her month long treatment escorted by friend Sharon George. Wayne will fly to Moscow to bring her home at the end of her treatment schedule where she will remain in isolation at home for at least a further month to avoid infection whilst her immune system rebuilds itself.

Wayne said: "My family can't thank all you wonderful people and  local businesses enough for you overwhelming support towards Irene's cause. God bless you all."

Two previous fundraisers were held at the Grand Hotel Bega and the Wolumla Hotel.