A time for women’s stories

A COMING fundraiser in Waurn Ponds will be a day of thought, discussion, connection and support with conversations focused on women’s health.

Organised by mental health charity Art of the Minds, the “Her Story” event at the Mount Duneed Estate winery will support Foundation 61’s residential rehabilitation facility for women in Mt Duneed, now under construction.

It will feature guest speakers Dr Niamh Logue, Dr Caroline Taylor-Walker and Karlene Georgiadis, and entertainment from Possums on the Porch.

Originally from Ireland, Dr Logue completed her medical degree at the University of Bristol in 2008. Niamh returned to her native Ireland in 2010 to pursue vocational training as a GP.

During her GP training, Niamh completed a Diploma in Obstetrics & Gynaecology (UK) and Diploma in Clinical Psychiatry (Ireland), then moved to Australia in 2016 and the Surf Coast in early 2017.

Dr Taylor-Walker trained as a doctor in the UK obtaining Fellowship as a GP before moving to Australia with the aim to work within the areas she loves – skin cancer medicine and surgery, and non-surgical cosmetics.

She is the author of the book RAW: Real Stories from Nine Resilient Women.

Naturopath, “Poo Queen” and champion of integrating natural and biomedical healthcare together in her clinical practice, Ms Georgiadis has long been passionate about helping those with gut health issues and complex chronic illnesses.

Since completing her studies at the Australian College of Natural Medicine in Melbourne, Ms Georgiadis has been a naturopath based in Torquay for more than 22 years.

Art of the Minds’ Jules Haddock said the event was not sexiest and would be open to the entire LGBTIQA+ community, and was inspired by a discussion she had with Dr Logue.

“It’s the thing when women get together, it’s a bit ‘secret women’s business’, to have a day where women are really comfortable to talk about issues affecting their mental health.

“It’s a day where women can feel really safe, where they can talk openly, that they can not be judged about ‘inappropriate’ conversations.”

She said the event was also a chance for women to get together after two COVID-affected years.

“In mental health, we call it psychosocial connection; we know that people need people.”

Ms Haddock said Foundation 61, like Art of the Minds, was a non-profit organisation and the women’s rehabilitation facility would be doing vital work.

“One thing people don’t realise about (who uses) rehab is that everyone thinks it’s the junkie who lives on a park bench, but it’s everyone’s sister, daughter, auntie, and so on.”

The eight-bed facility will house eight women for a stay of at least six months, with two of the women allowed to bring their young children.

Her Story will be held at Mount Duneed Estate, 65 Pettavel Road, Waurn Ponds, on May 22 from 1-4pm.]

For tickets and more information, head to the Art of the Minds website.