The Mount Gambier Breast Cancer Awareness Group raise funds to support local people on their breast cancer journey. Since launching the initiative in 2012, the group has distributed 483 ‘Helping Handbags’ valued at $1000 each to assist with everyday expenses like groceries, fuel, and pharmacy needs. Additionally, the group established a lymphoedema service in Mount Gambier, providing early intervention and local treatment.
The group was originally formed in 2000 by Mount Gambier woman Leanne Kosch and Tantanoola’s Kay Holloway. The women planned a luncheon to raise funds for breast cancer awareness which later evolved into ‘The Pink Party’, a fundraising event held annually since 2013.
The helping handbag initiative began after local woman Maria Knightly joined the group in 2010.
“At that time, we were hosting a lunch at The Commodore and the funds that we raised did not stay local within the community,” Maria said.
“I really wanted to run with the idea of locals helping locals, so in 2012 I created the Helping Handbag and I took the idea to the committee and the breast care nurse at the time, and they got on board with it.
“We started distributing our first bags that were valued at $300 in November 2012 and it has just grown from there.”
Breast Cancer Awareness Group Committee Member Jill Gilmore said the group often received written feedback or cards from patients thanking us for the vouchers they receive.
“They state that it feels like someone else cares, and that is exactly why we all volunteer our time for this group, we do all care,” she said.
Local breast cancer survivor Linda Hay is one example of a life that was touched by the efforts of the group.
“I received the devastating news that I had very aggressive, stage 4 breast cancer in December 2023. I went for my first chemo appointment on 22 December 2023 and I was very emotional, nervous, and even a bit angry,” she said.
“But my beautiful McGrath Breast Care Nurse presented me with my Helping Handbag that day.
“It was full of wonderful useful gift certificates that were so appreciated, but it also showed me that I was not going to be alone, that I had community support as well as support from my beautiful family and friends.”
The group of 13 women host annual fundraiser The Pink Party at the Mount Gambier Racecourse each year – a night to celebrate life in a supportive atmosphere. The event raised a record $27,000 in 2024.
“All the money comes to us from the community, we spend it at local businesses, they give us discount on the vouchers we purchase from them, they are quite generous, and then we give them to the McGrath Cancer Care Nurse Dana Mulraney who discreetly gives them to the patients at their first appointment,” Jill said.
The group’s ongoing fundraising efforts resulted in a healthy bank balance, so in 2019 the ladies decided to spend more than $70,000 to establish a local lymphoedema service.
“Local people that are diagnosed with lymphoedema need treatment and early intervention and this service was not available in Mount Gambier,” Jill said.
“We put a call out to physiotherapists to see if anyone was interested and Shelley Blachut-Jevtic was, so we paid for her training in Brisbane and Melbourne and set her up with a state-of-the-art diagnostic machine and a portable laser treatment machine. The diagnostic machine can pre-diagnose if you are likely to be susceptible to lymphoedema. We also purchased a diagnostic machine for the Mount Gambier Hospital.
“This service enables early intervention for everybody, not just for those with breast cancer, but for all local people with compromised immune systems.”
The group is honoured to be presented with the award.
“We are humbled to win this award. We certainly appreciate this and we acknowledge the work of our former members who supported the cause along the way,” committee member Loraine Baron said.
