Up to 100 attendees gathered at the Greek Centre Mezzanine in Melbourne for the Whittlesea Multicultural Community Council’s (WMCC) Health and Wellbeing Women’s Forum and Cancer Fundraiser last Sunday. The event aimed to raise awareness about cancer, particularly its impact on women, and to discuss new pain management policies introduced by the state Labour government.
Kris Pavlidis, Chairperson of the WMCC, expressed her delight at the turnout and engagement.
“It was a warm and interactive environment raising several thousands of dollars towards further research into the treatment of cancer. The stimulating and at times emotional discussion about issues pertaining to health and wellbeing, combined with a scrumptious high tea where the bubbly flowed along with the conversation, made it a fabulous fundraiser event,” she said.
The event featured a panel of esteemed speakers, including Professor Magdalena Simonis, Wadzanai (Wadzi) Menzou, Professor Vasso Apostolopoulos, Karen Bryant, and Anthea Sidiropoulos. Viv Nguyen, Chairperson of the Victorian Multicultural Commission, also joined the event.
Pavlidis highlighted the forum’s purpose, addressing the reality of women’s health concerns being dismissed by healthcare providers.
“It is trying to address the reality of women when they go to their GPs and present with certain symptoms and yet they get dismissed,” Pavlidis told Neos Kosmos. She cited cases where symptoms mistaken for menopause turned out to be cancer, leading to necessary hysterectomies, and young women with severe urinary tract infections being overlooked.
The forum also spotlighted the prevalence of domestic violence and the importance of women’s economic independence.
Wadzi Menzou, speaking about her initiative ‘Her Economics’, focused on financial literacy and security for women, particularly in relation to investment scams.
Anthea Sidiropoulos discussed her work on well-being through music and the soothing effects of alternative therapies.
Professor Vasso Apostolopoulos shared her insights on cancer research and future directions in the field, while Dr. Magdalena Simonis presented her expertise on women’s health issues and reiterated the value of lifestyle health changes.
Karen Bryant, a First Nations cancer survivor, shared her personal journey and addressed systemic barriers faced by Aboriginal women, highlighting common themes among all women’s challenges. She spoke passionately about being “the expert of your body” and the challenges of having symptoms dismissed.
One of the event’s highlights was the classical Indian dance performances, which added an elegant touch to the proceedings.
The forum concluded with a Q&A session, allowing audience members to ask questions and share thoughts on how organizations like the Greek Community of Melbourne can address the themes and issues discussed.
Lastly, Pavlidis expressed her sincere gratitude to Windsor Management, the Greek Community of Melbourne, and numerous sponsors for their support, which enabled the success of the event.
She was particularly moved by the lived experiences of cancer survivors shared by presenters and audience members, exuding strength, resilience, and positivity.
All the money raised from the event will go to Cancer Council Victoria, supporting further research into cancer treatment.
