By Dr Grace Maano, Rotary Club of Taree, NSW
For three years in a row, the Rotary Club of Taree, NSW, has participated in the Jean Hailes Women’s Health Week by hosting a Women’s Gala Dinner. This year, on September 2, 80 guests enjoyed an informative and entertaining evening.
Inspired by the show ‘You Can’t Ask That’, a panel of women’s health experts answered questions that are often considered embarrassing, awkward, funny and/or interesting. Guests were enlightened and inspired to start conversations and address their most pressing women’s health issues.
The panel of speakers included Dr Judith Gardiner, a women’s health GP from Port Macquarie, Grayce Gerke, a women’s health physiotherapist at Physio Collective on the Mid North Coast, Komal Thomas, a pharmacist at Incontrol Care, and Heidi Carney (via Zoom), a managing nurse at HNE Menopause Hub.
PICTURED RIGHT: The HandUp Congo Train the Trainers on Obstetric Emergency and Save Mums and Babies project was elucidated by Lucy Hobgood-Brown
Guests were also treated to guest speaker Kath Mazzella OAM, via Zoom, from Western Australia, who shared her vulva cancer journey. Kath is an inspiring woman who has lived to tell her story and continues to advocate for gynaecological awareness, which is now celebrated annually on September 10.
Funds raised from the gala dinner will benefit the Rotary Club of Taree’s local and international projects, including HandUp Congo’s Train the Trainers on Obstetric Emergencies and Save Mums and Babies, a DR Congo project that was elucidated by Lucy Hobgood-Brown.
The Taree Women’s Refuge, supported by the Samaritan Foundation, will receive dignity bags to benefit women and children fleeing domestic violence, often with only the clothes on their backs.
The dignity bags help them get through the first few days and remind them that there are other people/women who are thinking of them and do care for them.
Each guest received two women’s health bags – one for themselves and the second for them to fill with toiletry items.
Further funds for these projects were raised through raffles, with donations made by Rachel Pavitt Acupuncture, Manning Point Bowling Club, Bunnings, Sandra Lee Fishwick, David Denning, and Old Bar Men’s Shed.
MAIN PICTURE: Attendees at the Rotary Club of Taree Women’s Gala Dinner received women’s health bags to fill with toiletry items for the Taree Women’s Refuge.