Landmark Court Case

Dying smoker donates $70,000 to Quit
April 27 2002

The dying Melbourne smoker who won a landmark tobacco damages claim has donated some of her payout towards educating young people about the dangers of smoking.

Rolah McCabe, who was recently awarded $700,000 in compensation from British American Tobacco (BAT), last night made a surprise donation of $70,000 to the Cancer Council of Victoria. The grandmother, who has been addicted to BAT-produced cigarettes since she was a child, made the announcement at a dinner held by health groups to honour her court victory.

"This case was about what tobacco companies did to me when I was a child of 10, and ever since," she told the audience.

"We all have to do our part to put an end to this terrible product. "I want to continue to play my part, that's why tonight I am announcing I am donating $70,000, 10 per cent of my damages, to the Cancer Council of Victoria, with the request that it be used to teach kids the real truth about smoking and cigarette companies."

The executive director of the Cancer Council body, Quit, Todd Harper, said Mrs McCabe had already done much for Australia's fight against smoking, and her donation was emotionally received.

"It caught us obviously a bit unawares, so we have not had the opportunity to think in precise terms about what the cancer council can do with the money," he said.

"We will start to plan straight away on how effectively we can use that money. "It's an incredibly generous donation. I certainly hope it inspires others to be financially involved (in Quit) as well."

The director the Cancer Council's Cancer Control Research Institute, Professor David Hill, said it was the largest donation of its kind.

"Usually people don't give large donations for that purpose," he said. "We promise to make it good as far as possible because it's a precious gift and I think incredibly good of her."