The Deck Marina Bar and Restaurant in association with Women Supporting Women Network are proud to announce a week of fundraising for GAIN. GAIN (Gynaecological Awareness Information Network) is a not for profit organisation driving awareness and education on gynaecological health matter.  It’s founder, Kath Mazzella (Order of Australia recipient) has endured the trauma of being diagnosed with, and treated extensively, for a gynaecological cancer – vulval cancer. Kath established GAIN Inc in Perth, Western Australia, in February 2001, when she sought a support network for women who had endured the similar trauma of a gynaecological cancer, and found none. Many women afflicted with gynaecological conditions feel alienated and isolated. They often suffer in silence and lack the courage to share their anguish.

The Downunder Fundraising week starts On Monday 31st October and will finish on Sunday 7th November. Several events will be held at The Deck Marina Bar and Restaurant and fundraising tins will be on display in the bar all week for coin donation as well as several prominent business’s in town. So come if you want to have some fun at the following events and support GAIN.  You have nothing to lose and everything to GAIN!

Starting with, Melbourne Cup on Tuesday 1^st November. Join the fun and excitement of Race Day at The Deck Marina Bar and Restaurant.  The price of a Melbourne Cup ticket is $69 for Deck Club members and $79 for non-members. There are limited seats available and tickets will be sold on a first in first served basis. The price of a ticket will include a glass of beautiful Spanish sparkling donated by McWilliams Wines or a middy of icy cold beer on arrival, a delicious three course lunch, viewing of the latest beautiful fashion paraded and organised by Hobs, dancing to the live entertainment by The Mike Goodwin Band, and a chance to win a lucky door prize and/or prize for the best dressed. Sweep tickets and Raffle tickets available on the day. Melbourne Cup race will be shown live on four TV screens throughout the venue. $2.00 of every Melbourne Cup ticket will be donated to GAIN as well as all monies raised by the raffle.

Saturday 5th November is the Downunder Celebration Cocktail Party organised by Women Supporting Women Network.  Guest speakers include, Kath Mazzella OAM, Anne McKay from South West Women’s Health, Gynaecologist Dr Ron Jewells and entertainment by the delightful and talented band Smooth Operators. Tickets to this not to be missed celebration party will go on sale Monday 5th September. The price of a ticket is $39.00 and will include a glass of beautiful Spanish sparkling by McWilliams Wines or a middy of ice cold beer on arrival, cold and hot canapés, and entertainment for the entire evening.

International Gynae Awareness Day is held on 10 September and the event this year in Perth will be at the Parmelia Hilton Hotel, 1:30pm – 4:30pm. There is a fantastic line up of speakers and we are encouraging everyone to get a ticket and come and enjoy all the fun of the high tea.

Kath Mazzella OAM and Hayley Solich talk about the International Gynae Awareness Day and how every man and woman around the world can get involved!

My Granddaughter

I had a great time over Christmas with my Daughter and Grand Daughter (who broke her arm 3 days into the holiday) staying over from USA and my son his wife and 8 month old grand daughter (btw they are pregnant again – so soon…).

My Family

My other son’s wife (who also have a 2 year old daughter) is due to have her second child on Monday so it was pretty full on around here. Loved every minute of it, but still coming up for air. With all these female offspring I can see I still need to keep on keeping on for the future of GYN awareness. I hope I will have those girls really empowered by the time they grow up.

Kath Mazella presenting at Eleanour Harvey Nursing Association

I was invited to present on behalf of GAIN to accept a donation from EHN. We have plans ahead to do an art exhibition and would encourage as many as you can to attend. It should be great fun and wonderful to see the professionals working alongside health consumers, all walking the same path together.

- Great Result from International GYN Day

Lisa Scaffidi (Right)

Lisa Scaffidi becomes GAIN’S Ambassador, Dr Jenny McClosky joins the GAIN committee and what a wonderful outcome for GAIN Inc as all enjoyed the wall-to-wall women gathered together to celebrate International Gyn Awareness Day.

Had you told me we would have 300 women gathered and that we would be speaking so openly about all things ‘down there’, I would have thought it impossible!  However, the whole place was a twitter with discussion following ex-Brothel Madam, Mary-Ann Kenworthy’s presentation where she encouraged us as women to be informed about how to protect ourselves from sexually transmitted diseases.

Cr Elizabeth Re (right)

Also attending to support the event was our ever faithful Cr Elizabeth Re.  Dr Jenny McCloskey was amazing as she regailed us with the latest figures, which surprisingly reveal that the mature aged women and men adopting a ‘swingers’ lifestyle are the highest now at risk of contracting a life limiting condition or sexual disease because of their more liberal lifestyle.  We were also warned that AIDS is on the rise to almost ‘Grim Reaper’ status again, a frightening thought for most.  I guess it is once again a timely reminder to all to be safe.

A fascinating day was had by all, with much increased access to information.  And did I mention that the Fashion Parade ladies looked absolutely beautiful?  The hats were divine and I was so proud of Tina and the team that worked so hard to put the day together.  Just disappointed I didn’t score the pampering pack in what was a fiercely contested charity auction.

- Falmouth Cornwall UK Promoting  International GYN Awareness Day crusade

Kath with Jeanette in the UK

Jeanette and I first met from a gyn cancer site in USA. Jeanette is a Nurse, a Gyn Cancer survivor and a Methodist Preacher. She resides in UK. I presented at her health forum in Cornwall along with Gyn Onc. Tinto. He was very supportive of the IGAD initiative and said there should be much more awareness out there in the global community. Of course that was music to my ears. Amazingly on the train home from Corwall we sat next to a couple who were from Adelaide and the man was a lecturer of Gynaecology. Incredible coincidence.

- Presenting at Australian Womens Health Nursing Association – Orange NSW

Nursing Association, Orange NSW

I received an overwhelming response from the nurses who attended this conference in Orange NSW.

I am pleased to say I know of another staunch advocate for Gyn health who I connected with NSW Family Planning who aloud her to also speak out and she to received a standing ovation after her speaking. So it goes to show that in this day and age a health consumer should be included in the academic side of educating the public.

- Bandyup Womens Prison display

I was invited to set up a display table at a Health Forum at Bandyup Women’s prison.  It was a realization to me how little women in prison know about Gynaecological health and  how much work needs to be done in this area.  Many women were keen to share their experiences, but due to the structure of the day and time limitations, I felt compelled to create a future opportunity for them.

- Port Hedland Aboriginal Womens’ Gathering

Port Hedland Indigenous Women's Gathering

This was a great experience to present and share with these women. A colleague Pam Heald also presented who has done some amazing ground breaking work for Aboriginal Women over 25 years ago – gathering the women and encouraging them to apply for funding for them to set up their own women’s health organization.

- Women’s Health Underfunded – SOS from sisterhood

It was great news to hear the releasment of the first National women’s health policy in 21 years was passed in December. Sadly there was no funding allocated to women’s health. Please read below as to how you can assist AWHN to make sure the women’s health centres are given more access to funding to support women.

It was the voice of the community who instigated a National GYN Cancer Centre of which I was involved in from the beginning so I appeal to all to write to the AWHN with your support for funding.

The next step is for the community to hear the voices/suffering in silence of the 600,000 Australian women with Endometriosis, 10% Polycystic Ovaries, Hysterectomies, Vulval conditions, Menopause, STI’s, Infertility, Cancers, the list goes on, what is needed is for the community to hear/understand more of this suffering so that changes and funding can be given to women’s health for research.

I received a request below from Co Ordinator AWHN Gwen Gray who I have personally seen fight for women’s health for nearly 20 years now – it would be great for her and AWH to receive  support from the community simply by writing to them.

Dear Members and Friends, The new Women’s Health Policy 2010 was released on December 29 and is available at:http://www.health.gov.au/internet/main/publishing.nsf/Content/national%20womens%20health-1

AWHN issued a press release, as attached, which, despite the very unusual timing at a deep point in the Christmas holiday period, received considerable comment in the press.

AWHN and PHAA, along with the Centre for Women’s Health, Gender and Society, Melbourne University (formerly the Key Centre for Women’s Health) are planning to collaborate in writing a response, in an effort to influence the implementation of this policy. We would welcome your input and involvement. Please contact me if you would like to contribute. Best Wishes

Gwendolyn Gray, PhD Convenor, Australian Women’s Health Network Telephone: 0261253584 (bh) Fax: 0261252222 Australian Women’s Health Network Website http://www.awhn.org.au/ adminsupport@whv.org.au

A prime example of why we need more funding for women’s health is I came across National Womens Health Hospitals Annual Report and most of it was about Mothers and Babies. Very little mention or non on the effects of Endometriosis, Infertility, Polycystic Ovaries, Hysterectomies, Vulval conditions, Menopause which effects thousands of women not to mention the ripple effect on the families which must cost the government millions of dollars. Surely by addressing these issues in the public arena could in fact help prevent a lot of these conditions.

I am so elated!  All the hard work has definitely paid off as we had almost 300 women gathered together for our International Gynae Awareness Day celebration here in Perth, Western Australia.

Why am I so excited?  Because I see the vision coming to pass.  I see the young women and the older women, the medical professionals and the community, gathered together, sharing their knowledge and experiences and this is EXACTLY what I envisaged when I founded this day.

I’m off to Cornwall Hospital to celebrate there with the wonderful Jeanette and the many supporters.  Can’t wait to tell them all about our day!

Our guest speakers, although possible a little controversial, certainly achieved exactly what I had hoped…to stretch, to expose, to bring an awareness to the community of the need for a greater level of understanding and shared experience.

Can’t wait to report on the next leg of the journey.

I told Hayley Solich, my marketing and business mentor, that should something happen to me while I am away she must take up the mantle.  I’m certainly hoping that won’t be the case but you just never know what life is going to serve up to you!  And that is why we must grasp every opportunity with both hands to make a difference.

Be the voice for your cause today.  It is the voice that will make the difference.  You can be a change agent in the world.
Kath

Professional Update Aug 5-6^{t h}, Orange

Compiled by Anne Smart Women’s Health Clinical Nurse Consultant

Greater Western Area Health Service

for Kath Mazzella

Up Close & Personal – The Voice of the Women –

A Woman’s Personal Perspective & Experience of what is missing in sexual health & society, The Vulva.

Participants Comments:

♥ Excellent presentation. Kath’s enthusiasm is infectious & has inspired me to improve

my education about the vulva when speaking to women. I salute her bravery in being

upfront & communicative about such a personal issue. Thank you Kath.

♥ Passionate inspiring presentation: Kath highlighted the work of WHN needed with

education for women. Loved the title “Viva La Vulva”

♥ Amazing woman I will talk about vulvas much more!! Women have the ability to achieve all!!!

♥ Wonderful to hear about Kath’s journey and I feel very humble to have the opportunity

to share in the journey in her words (Go Viva La Vulva)

♥ Great to come “face to face” with someone I’ve referred to for years –

first heard of Kath on radio about 10 yrs ago & have referred to her since.

♥ Very powerful presentation – congrats to Kath for taking on this issue.

♥ Great props                 ♥ FAB                 ♥ Excellent!

♥ Great inclusion.  ♥ Powerful message    ♥ The Best Yet

♥ Good personal experience, descriptive.                 ♥ Inspiring lady, Inspirational story

♥ Relevant, interesting, thought provoking.        ♥ Excellent presentation – thank you.

♥ Needs to improve on presentation skills                ♥ Fantastic!!

♥ Absolutely inspiring speaker.                    ♥ It has made me MORE aware.

♥ Wonderful inspiring talk.                               ♥ Enjoyed, informative, empowering.

Please join Kath Mazzella OAM and  the team for this exciting event.

Set in the beautiful ambience of the Hilton Hotel, the day promises to be a playful afternoon with fabulous entertainment and guest speakers.

I was recently featured in the most recent edition of Finally at 40 Magazine.

To read her story click on the images from left to right.

Special thanks to the crew at Finally at 40 for allowing me to publish the story on my website.

To subscribe to Finally at 40, visit their website now.  It’s a great magazine and very inspirational.