In our 90 Seconds With series, we go behind the scenes to learn a little more about the incredible people who make up the Cancer Wellness Support team.
This time, we’re catching up with Gail Searle – a familiar face to many who have visited or donated to our Op Shops over the years. Since 2013, she’s been our Retail Manager, overseeing our Op Shops in Penrith and Katoomba.
What drew you to CWS in the first place, and what keeps you here?
After my 23-year career with Franklins came to an end, I was already heavily involved in community fundraising and volunteering. When I discovered there was a role that combined retail with purpose, I couldn’t quite believe it existed.
From my first meeting with our founder, Robyn Yates OAM, there was an instant connection, and I was offered the role on the spot.
More than a decade later, what keeps me here is still the same – the meaningful conversations, the strong sense of support, and the connections we build every day with volunteers, staff, and customers.
What’s one moment at CWS – big or small – that has really stayed with you?
One moment that has always stayed with me is a client who used to come into the Penrith Op Shop after her therapy sessions at the Wellness Centre. She called it her “happy place.”
She once told me, “Cancer Wellness Support is the only place I can come to where people don’t look at me with sad eyes.” She explained that everywhere else, people saw her diagnosis first – but here, she just felt a warm embrace.
That’s something I’ll never forget.
How does the power of community show up in the work you do each day?
I see it every single day through the generosity of our community. We receive quality donations daily, and it’s incredible to know that those items help fund vital support.
In 2024-2025 alone, our Op Shops helped deliver 8,546 complementary therapy sessions for people living with cancer and their carers. Together, our two stores raise more than $2 million each year.
I always remind people that every $35 spent in our Op Shops funds one therapy session. So every purchase really does make a difference. It’s a beautiful cycle of giving that supports our people, our community, and our environment.
What book or show are you enjoying at the moment?
My guilty pleasure at the moment (along with the rest of Australia) is MAFS!
But I’ve also been reading quite a bit lately. After visiting Auschwitz a couple of years ago, I’ve gone down a bit of a rabbit hole with books on that period. I recently finished The Tattooist of Auschwitz and The Midwives of Auschwitz, which were both incredibly moving.
What’s your ideal travel destination, or a place that’s still on your wish list?
I’d absolutely love to go to Norway and see the Northern Lights – staying in one of those glass domes where you can watch the sky from bed sounds amazing (even if it means setting an alarm in the middle of the night for the best view!).
In the meantime, I’m heading off on a cruise going right around Australia for a month in October, which I’m really looking forward to.
Thank you Gail, for everything that you and your team do! Located at Katoomba and Penrith, our Op Shops are a thriving circular economy, providing affordable goods to our local community and reducing waste, all while generating vital funds for our purpose.
