Cannon Family

Just over six weeks ago, Mick and Jacinta Cannon made a decision no parent ever wants to face. Their son Balin urgently needed mental health support, and the closest specialist care was nearly eight hours away in Orange. With a heavy heart but unwavering love, Mick packed up the car, and he and Balin set off on the long journey from their home near the Victorian border.

They didn’t know what the days ahead would hold—but they did know one thing: Ronald McDonald House Central West in Orange would be there for them, just as it had been during so many difficult times before.

For the Cannon family, Ronald McDonald House had become a thread of comfort through years of navigating Balin’s complex health challenges. They had stayed in several Houses across NSW and Victoria—but this time felt especially overwhelming. Balin was admitted to an acute mental health unit, and Mick found himself alone in a new town, spending 12 to 15 hours a day by his son’s side.

“I honestly don’t know how I would’ve coped without the House,” Mick said. “Some nights, I’d come back exhausted, mentally and emotionally. Having a home-cooked meal waiting for me—it felt like someone was looking after me when I didn’t have the strength to look after myself.”

Four weeks later, Jacinta arrived with their youngest son, Hunter—just in time to celebrate his 13th birthday. Despite everything, that day turned into a beautiful, unexpected moment of joy.

“Balin was able to come back to the House for the celebration,” Jacinta said, smiling. “And Mick had organised a birthday cake for Hunter.”

But the House had a surprise of its own. Volunteers and staff, sensing just how much the day meant, went above and beyond.

“They gave Hunter a gorgeous gift bag, and local chefs were here cooking up an incredible meal,” Mick added. “It turned into this magical day. It wasn’t just a birthday—it was a memory we’ll never forget.”

For the Cannons, Ronald McDonald House in Orange became far more than a roof over their heads. It was peace. It was understanding. It was connection.

“There’s something about this place,” said Jacinta. “You walk in and it just feels like home.”

From the warm meals to the calm, nature-filled surroundings, every part of the House offered comfort and healing. Balin, who finds peace in the outdoors, especially loved walking the green paths around the House with his mum.

“There’s so much wildlife here,” Jacinta said. “He lights up when he sees the birds and trees. It’s grounding—it’s healing.”

Mick praised the thoughtful design of the Orange House, with quiet spaces for solitude and shared spaces for connection—giving families the freedom to be themselves, to rest, and to support each other in whatever way they need.

“Being here is therapy in itself,” he said. “We’re just so incredibly grateful—to the volunteers, the staff, the donors… all of it. Without this support, we simply wouldn’t have been able to stay. Thousands of dollars for accommodation? That’s impossible for most families.”

Though their journey is far from over, the Cannons know they’re not walking it alone. The love and generosity they’ve received from Ronald McDonald House Central West has helped carry them through the hardest days—and reminded them, even in darkness, that there is still light.

“We still have many challenges ahead,” Mick said. “But this place… it makes them feel a little less impossible.”