Christine Nolan is well-known in Canberra for her previous role as executive director of the Office for Children, Youth and Family Support for the ACT Government, responsible for child protection, youth justice and family support.
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Since February last year, she has been chief executive officer of Breast Cancer Network Australia, the peak national organisation for Australians affected by breast cancer.
She has been based in Melbourne to be close to her daughter Caitlin Moorhouse who is fighting her own cancer battle – stage four bowel cancer.
The Canberra Times spoke to Caitlin earlier this year about her diagnosis which came soon after the birth of her first child, Violet, with husband David.
The family is now living in Melbourne where she is receiving treatment, including, to date, 16 rounds of chemotherapy and a new treatment not yet on the PBS called selective internal radiation therapy to help kill off the tumours on her liver.
Caitlin was well enough to travel back to Canberra on Wednesday to be by her mother's side as Breast Cancer Network Australia held its second annual Pink Lady luncheon at the National Gallery.
She said it was "emotional" to be by her mother, this time supporting her.
"She's been amazing," Caitlin said. "Not only emotionally but in practical ways, because she has so much knowledge, being in the cancer world. She knows which doctors to see and things like that."
It was a nice diversion to be back in the national capital after having to relocate to Melbourne for treatment at the Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre.
"It's good. I've seen some friends. We left in such a hurry it's nice to be back," she said.