Another successful Girl’s Night In was held at Yarragon Hotel Sunday 26 October when 58 local ladies came together to raise money for the Australian Cancer Council. While funds are still to be totaled indications are that about $3000 will be donated this year. Yarragon Hotel owner, Renee Kemp says “that will be roughly $12,000 in three years we have donated to Cancer Council Australia. The support of the event is amazing. I was considering whether or not to host it again this year, thinking people may become ‘bored’ with it but after receiving a number of phone calls and emails asking when tickets were going on sale I felt like I had to get it done. The only complaints I’ve had this year are from people who couldn’t get tickets.”
An annual event on the Yarragon Hotel calendar the fundraiser was started after Renee’s Mum battled cancer in 2010/11. “Mum asked me if I could do something. I think she was planning on a little dinner or putting tins out in the bar but I’m not really any good at little” Renee laughed. “The first year the GNI was on Mum’s birthday so each year since then it has been the last Sunday of October.”
This year guests were entertained by Dr. Janine Payne, Cathy Munro, McGrath Foundation Breast Care Nurse and Moira Theunissen, Clinical Support Manager, Lifeline Gippsland. Each speaker discussed a different aspect of female health and gave lively and humorous examples and information. “I thought it was time to get back to basics and have people come to talk to us about women’s issues. I was really happy that there were questions raised from the floor too”. Funds were raised through raffles on the night, an auction of donated goods and a portion of the ticket price was also donated. In addition ladies were invited to bring in their pre-loved bras and a large bag of goods was donated to Up-Lift Bras Gippsland.
“I really love seeing people having a good time, getting together, enjoying similar things and learning from each other. To be able to host a night like this where sponsors, speakers, guests and our staff work together to achieve something that benefits others makes me feel like we are really making a worthwhile contribution”.
Yarragon Hotel would like to thank the following people
Sponsors: The Summit, Gippsland Soil Solutions, Dale Roberts Machinery, Swig Coffee, Shoe-a-licious, Wardrobe in the Lane, Lion, Joelene Gray & Floriginal, Gippsland Photo Booth, Rena & Gaye Houkamau
Speakers: Janine Payne, Cathy Munro & Moira Theunissen
Special people: Mum (Gaye Houkamau), Marg Street, Dee Wheller, Geoff Jolly & the Yarragon Hotel crew (of course!)