Ladies, gentlemen, and cake lovers, you are invited to a delicious high tea at the Quarry, Cowra on Wednesday, October 29.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
The high tea will raise funds to help support the Hamlin Fistula Ethiopia Hospital, a charity which organiser, Robyn Jackson, is passionate about.
Fistula is a condition that can come about after having an obstructed labour. It can lead to incontinence, extreme embarrassment and pain.
"Sometimes these women are left alone for years rejected by their husbands and communities, and are doubled over with pain because of this condition," Mrs Jackson said.
"I want to be able to raise as much money as possible for this cause to help these women."
The Hamlin Fistula Hospital was establishes in 1974 by Dr Reg Hamlin OBE and Dr Catherine Hamlin AC, the Hamlin's first arrived in Ethiopia in 1959 to train midwives, but their attention soon turned to fistula sufferers.
Although Reg Hamlin died in 1993 Catherine has continued with her life saving work.
"We treat over 2500 women each year, completely free of charge thanks to our generous donors," she said.
"But we do not just treat the hole in the bladder. We treat the whole patient with love and care, literacy and numeracy classes, a new dress and money to travel home."
This is what Mrs Jackson likes most about the program.
"They don't only give these women their lives back, but they give them back their dignity," she said.
The hospital, which was first established in Addis Ababa, has five sub-centres, so that women don't have to walk hundreds of kilometers for treatment.
These centres are located in the regional provinces of Mekele, Yirgalem, Harar, Metu and Bahir Dar where health services are limited.
Hamlin Fistual health workers also run an outreach program across the country. They drive to remote areas to educate the women their about family planning and fistula prevention. They also find fistula sufferers on their journeys, and are able to deliver them to the health services they so desperately need.
Mrs Jackson is not alone in her support for the project, a large group of ladies are working together to ensure the high tea is successful, both for the guests and the charity.
"All the ladies will bring in cakes and things for the high tea," Mrs Jackson said.
"We are also looking for donations of local produce from businesses throughout Cowra."
The high tea is sure to be a lot of fun, so make sure you phone the Quarry to make a reservation, and head on over for a slice of cake, some scones and the opportunity to make a difference to the life of a woman in pain.