Geelong high tea to address period poverty

GEELONG will host its first DigniTea high tea event on May 27 raising awareness and funding for those experiencing period poverty in Australia.

The annual DigniTea, hosted by Share The Dignity, is usually held in major capital cities, but the first Geelong event, to be hosted by radio personality Roxie Bennett, marks an exciting time for the fundraiser after COVID-19 brought the 2020 and 2021 plans to a halt.

Share the Dignity founder and managing director, Rochelle Courtenay, said she is expecting this year’s DigniTea high tea events to be bigger and better than ever before.

“I’m so excited to see our much-loved DigniTea event series return in full force after a challenging couple of years,” Ms Courtenay said.

“Like many charities, our monetary donations took a hit in 2020 and 2021 with the cancellation of most of our DigniTea events, which slowed our progress in areas like our Dignity Vending Machines.

“But ending period poverty is about more than just funding, collecting, and distributing products.

“It’s also about removing the shame and stigma associated with menstruation and being relentless in lobbying for policy changes to ensure dignified and reliable access for all.

“We’ve missed being able to bring people together to talk about periods at events like DigniTea.

“Conversations can be so powerful and are essential in breaking the taboo around menstruation and inciting action.”

Share the Dignity supporters including Ms Courtenay are acting executive manager of the Sexual Assault & Family Violence Centre, Carmel Thomas, and representatives from St Ignatius Secondary College.

Host Ms Bennett said it still astounds her that women in the region don’t have access to period products.

“It seems like such a basic right to have access to such a fundamentally female necessity,” Ms Bennett said.

“We should do everything we can to make sure no woman has to do without, which is why I’m passionate about supporting this year’s DigniTea.”

The Geelong DigniTea will be held in the Peninsula Room at the Novotel Geelong on the city’s Waterfront from 12.30pm to 3pm.

To purchase a ticket for the day head to www.sharethedignity.org.au/dignitea/geelong-2022810.