Girls raise $95,000

There was bling, bubbles and loads of generosity in the room when 700 women supported A Girls' Day Out on Saturday, raising $95,000 for breast cancer.
A hardworking locally based committee delivered a spectacular event at Lardner Park after a two year absence forced by COVID.
The committee already had the runs on the board for its annual contribution to the West Gippsland Hospital's oncology department and local breast care nurses, but this year's event added another $95,000 to the fundraising tally.

Organising committee president Jeanette Radford said the past two years had been difficult for the committee to continue its work.
She said the committee was grateful to the 2020 event sponsors who chose not to have their money refunded and "trusted us to look after the cause" which enabled the committee to donate $25,000 to the oncology department.
In 2021, Jeanette said the generosity of Turnbull Motors owners Craig Turnbull and Mary Lynch in donating a car enabled the committee to continue its fundraising efforts, raising another $40,000 for the oncology unit.

She said the funding helped local people "to receive the care and support they needed at öne of the most vulnerable times of their life."
Jeanette introduced guest speaker, Food and Fibre Gippsland chief executive officer Nicola Pero, who she described as a "powerhouse of a woman."
Nicola said she was a "breast cancer traveller" whose journey had included two breast cancer diagnosis and a double mastectomy. "My story is not once but twice,"
In 2017, Nicola was told a mammogram "found something suspicious."
"I don't have any cancer on either side of my family and I didn't know anyone who'd had breast cancer.
"When the doctor told me, you have breast cancer and the best option is a mastectomy, it was the weakest and most loneliest time of my life. Everything he said after that was just white noise.
Within two days, Nicola was in Melbourne meeting with her surgeon, and feeling like everything was spinning.
With her best friend's 50th birthday coming up, Nicola asked the surgeon to delay surgery a few weeks.
"I undertook a heavy medicinal cannabis journey and I spent quite a few weeks on the couch feeling stoned.
After that period, one of Nicola's cancers disappeared and two were reduced.
"I decided I needed to control my journey. I'm not dissatisfied with what happened but I'm angry I was pushed through.
The following year, Nicola received an email alerting her to the low risk of cancer linked to the breast implant she had post surgery.
"If I'd taken the time and was more informed I would've navigated the options better with my surgeon and pushed for a double mastectomy," she said.
As "scan-xiety" took hold over the following years every time Nicola was due for her check, what she, and all cancer patients dread emerged - "there's something suspicious on the other side."
Determined to avoid the annual anxiety of scans, Nicola requested a double mastectomy. Her risk profile of developing cancer again reduced considerably.
"Every single woman faces a 10 per cent risk of facing breast cancer in their life so three per cent was a winner for me. It wasn't about being a hero, it was about owning it.
One week post-operation, Nicola was told surgeons had removed two cancers.
She sent a strong message to women in the room to take the time to assess their options.
"It is brutal and it's really scary. But don't panic in the moment, just take a few more moments and breathe," she said.
Fundraising at the event included lucky bottles of Prosecco with a chance to win a pink diamond necklace and 10 auction items, which raised about $18,000 - one of the most sought after items being an at home dinner party with local chef Ann Vanderzalm which sold for $2900.