$210,000 raised for local cancer support

A record breaking $210,000 was raised at the annual A Girls' Day Out event on Saturday when 670 women gathered at Lardner Park for a day of "bubbles, boobies and belly laughs."

Surpassing last year's record by $50,000, the organising committee was overwhelmed with the final figure when it was announced before the event finished.

The community's generosity again overwhelmed the volunteer committee when the record breaking tally was announced. Committee treasurer Kat Lehmann said they had topped a figure she never thought they would achieve.

A hardworking locally based committee delivered the spectacular event with all proceeds raised benefitting the West Gippsland Hospital's oncology department, local breast care nurses and families through the Kristy's Gift initiative.

A Girls' Day Out committee chair Lou Leighton said over the past nine years, the event had raised $623,000.
She said the money had assisted families, provided bra fitting services, donations to research and supported women living with cancer.

"We see how much the women in our community want this event, look forward to this event and raise an incredible amount of money. The power of community is strong," she said.

Lou also paid tribute to former committee member Kristy Telford who lost her battle with breast cancer. In her honour, the committee established the Kristy's Gift initiative in 2023.

A portion of money raised from A Girls' Day Out is put into Kristy's Gift each year to help ease the financial pressure for local cancer patients and their families, to let them know their community was behind them.

"She would be so proud that while she is no longer Earth-side, her legacy and spirit lives on. And, I am sure at the end of each event, she gives us the energy to do it all again," she said.

Lou also acknowledged the wider community benefit of the annual event. "This event brings extra revenue to many businesses in our towns. We have 670 women here who have bought new outfits, had their hair done, nails or makeup done or had a spray tan. The community benefit flows on to our businesses."

Major sponsor Trish Castle of Warragul Crownlea praised the work of the committee and the community for supporting the event each year.

She said she remembered the first event she attended in 2018 - "the vibrancy and love in the room was undeniable."

Breast cancer surgeon Chere McCamley said the annual event was a "chance to stop and celebrate the unity and strength of women in Gippsland."

She spoke about the world class cancer technology now available at West Gippsland Hospital because of funding from A Girls' Day Out.
She said A Girls' Day Out had "changed the treatment of breast cancer" for local women.

The Scout technology has enabled precision identification of tumour depth and location.
Ms McCamley said women with lesions that could not be felt had to travel to Latrobe Regional Hospital.

She explained a thin wire was placed through the skin. This meant the procedure had to be timed for the day of surgery and, as the wire could not be inserted at WGH, patients had to travel with the wire in place.

"It was uncomfortable and emotional on an already stressful day. Because of A Girls' Day Out, we have access to the Scout device, which is the size of a grain of rice.
"For many women the treatment is out of reach (financially) and adds another burden but because of A Girls' Day Out, it's provided free.
"This is what happens when a community comes together and women support women. A cancer diagnosis does not just affect health, it affects families, finances, mental health, work places and the confidence to get through each day," she said.

Ms McCamley said her team had formed a breast cancer working group to develop Gippsland special projects and outcomes. "We are striving towards a public Gippsland clinic bringing together clinicians from across Gippsland."

"Progress in regional healthcare can happen because communities decide it can happen; because A Girls' Day Out continue to raise funds; because local businesses donate and support these events; because clinicians push for better care; and, because women and their families show extraordinary strength and resilience," she said.

In an afternoon that aimed to connect and support women, and provide plenty of laughs, comedians Denise Scott and Geraldine Hickey lifted the belly laughs to tears of hysterical laughter.

Their separate shows, focused on their own "boobie" journeys, bringing a very light hearted insight to the challenges of women's health.

Among the major fundraisers contributing to the $210,000 total were a car raffle, an auction on the day that raised more than $24,000 and opportunities to win a travel voucher and a diamond ring which were both popular giveaways on the day.