Mount Isa's Kath Swift calls time on 40 years of charity service

Her services to the Leukaemia Foundation date back for more than 40 years, when she found out her friend's 16-year-old daughter was diagnosed with cancer and fundraising was needed.

From there Ms Swift refused to stop helping those in need, and she created the Leukaemia Foundation Mount Isa in 1978.

"Our foundation's first ever purchase was a microscope worth $30,000 which is still being used to save lives to this day," Ms Swift said.

Her next challenge was helping seven young boys through their treatment.

One boy in particular, who was close to the end, had a dream of going to Disneyland.

Knowing that they could not use the foundation's money, Ms Swift and her sister Joyce went all over Mount Isa to try to collect money for the young boy's dream.

"It only took us a month to raise the money for him and his mother to make it to Disneyland, he then went on to live for two more years. That was always a great thrill that he got there in the end," Ms Swift said.

Ms Swift said there were so many beautiful stories attached to her 40 years.

For the past seven of those years you may have seen Ms Swift and her crew outside Mount Isa Coles selling raffle tickets for the Leukaemia Foundation.

"I am sad about leaving Coles, all the staff have been so lovely and helpful over the years, I just can't do it any more," Ms Swift said.

As her services draw to a close, Ms Swift said she would not be closing the branch, and if anyone needed help she would always be there.

It's this type of attitude that has earned Ms Swift an Order of Australia honour, an International Rotary of America Paul Harris award, and even an episode on Andrew Denton's Enough Rope television show.

Her story in Mount Isa began when she was just 10 years old, and World War II had begun.

"We used to listen to the war on the radio, we were terrified the Japanese were coming and believe me they got close," Ms Swift said.

"There were 30,000 troops in Mount Isa and Soldiers Hill was named accordingly."

Ms Swift would continue her life in Mount Isa raising four kids, getting married and working in a chemist with her sister Joyce.

"My husband died when he was 57 but he would help me with everything," Ms Swift said.

"Everything has changed since I arrived, we have come through good times and we have come through bad times, but we always look ahead and think more good times are on their way."

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