Kath Mazzella speaks at Soroptimist International Convention in Kuala Lumpur
Kath featured in the Zonta Newsletter
Kath announced 2018 WA Senior Australian of the Year
The Award Announcment
The moment that Kath Mazzella OAM was announced the recipient of the 2018 WA Senior Australian of the Year Award on 23 November 2017, a dam burst. Our team, who have worked tirelessly to get Kath to the National platform so that the message of greater awareness and support for women’s health could reach the nation, were overflowing with pride and emotion.
Instantly, there was the recognition of the thousands of man-hours that have been sown into this work over the past 23 plus years of campaigning being acknowledged and respected. This went a long way to releasing the frustration of constantly banging on doors, but having them remain firmly closed. The first signs of a trickle of acceptance have started to appear and we are so excited!
As the dam of frustration bursts, Kath is keen to jump into the raging river of hope that is created through this Award process as she travels to Canberra in January 2018 to go head-to-head with Australia’s finest from around the nation.
So what do we hope to achieve through this process:
- Greater community awareness of the millions of women who suffer from Gynaecological/Sexual and associated Mental Health challenges, providing them with a voice.
- To start conversations around our nation about Gynaecological/Sexual/Mental Health and to recognise the ripple effect on our communities, in particular, men and the families of women who suffer.
- To create a wave of excitement and to mobilise champions for the cause who will represent every city and region in Australia, who will instigate International Gynaecological Awareness Day events in their corner of the world, so we can spread the message of acceptance and hope to women and start these vital conversations that will lead to early intervention and healing.
- For the partnership between the medical professionals and the community to be strengthened, so that we can have a deeper and more intimate communication and save lives through prevention, early intervention or best practice in treating these women’s health challenges.
- To attract funding for this work so that the message can be heard on the global stage.
Kath would like to thank the hundreds of people who have phoned, emailed, posted on Facebook and other Social Media, commenting and showing their support. You have no idea how much that wave of support means to Kath and to our team.
We await the next step in this journey, but in the meantime, if you would like to get involved, please email Kath now. We need champions in every State and Region to step forward and take up the cause in their corner of the globe.
A special thank you to every person who has shared a post, booked or attended an event, or given Kath an opportunity to reach the community through their media outlet. You have all played a part in Kath being recognised by this award and have helped Kath to achieve her ultimate goal of sharing the message with the masses.
Watch this space! There is more to come.
A Clearer Message of My Mission
I get asked all the time, “Kath, what’s your mission? What’s are you trying to say or do?”
For some, it’s not always clear—and I get it. There’s a lot of messages coming from me, because I’m speaking to a lot of different women in different places. But I’m about to make it crystal clear.
Here’s the deal:
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Ladies, get in the game. If you haven’t been paying attention to your GYN health—start now. Don’t wait for the world to tell you what’s wrong. Get your pap smears, visit your GP, ask the hard questions. Be proactive. Your health is your responsibility. Don’t let it slide.
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If you’ve just been hit with a GYN issue, get educated. Own your body. Own your journey. Be confident to find the best care for yourself—and don’t let anyone tell you to settle for less. Your body. Your choices. Don’t be afraid to say no if it doesn’t feel right.
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For those of you in the thick of recovery or living with a GYN issue, don’t do it alone. Find other women who get it. Don’t sit in silence. Open up. Talk about it. Lean on your community. Let them walk with you. You don’t have to carry that weight by yourself.
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To the wider world, it’s time to get real about GYN health. Men, schools, corporations—stop pretending this isn’t an issue. Open your eyes. Be compassionate. Be understanding. Get educated. You could help save lives. Let’s work together to support women who are battling GYN issues.
I’ve been on this journey for over 30 years now—since my own surgery. And my message has never changed: We need to understand the language around GYN health. We need to break down the walls so we can talk openly about it. The more we know about risks, symptoms, and treatments, the more lives we can save.
Let me tell you something. I talk a lot about vulvas and vaginas—and people often don’t get why I’m so fired up about it. They say, “It’s just a word, Kath.” And I say, “It’s not just a word. It’s a mindset.” For centuries, women have been conditioned to think we should be ashamed of our bodies. “Pudendum”—the Latin for female genitalia? It literally means “shameful.” They’ve tried to make us feel like our bodies are something to hide, something to be ashamed of. Well, I’m done with that.
It’s time to call things what they are. Vulva. Vagina. It’s not just anatomy—it’s about respect. And yes, I’ve got a long list of pet names for these parts, but here’s the thing: when you go to a doctor, they’re not using any of those cute little nicknames. They’re using the correct terminology and if they are not, they are dumbing it down and that has to stop. Its time we used correct names too.
It’s time to break the stigma. Time to stand tall. Time to take pride in every part of who we are. It’s time to demand respect.
Viva la vulva!
PS My friend, Hayley Solich, who has been on this journey with me for almost two decades only just clicked when she wrote my memoire. All this time she has been wondering what the big deal is about language, but then she finally saw why I am so adamant. It is about women’s empowerment. We should not be treated as less. We deserve the whole truth, respect and dignity of choice.
Graylands Hospital Women’s Health Week Event a success!
It was a wonderful experience to be part of the Graylands Hospital Women’s Health Festival event yesterday. What a fabulous positive team at Graylands Hospital, with the event coordatinator, Petra Elias pulling together a wonderfully supported event that had so many different stalls, including our Gynaecological and Sexual Health Awareness stall.
The staff and inpatients at the hospital entered into the spirit of the day, with many donning garden nymph styled crowns (see photo below) and entering into the theme of the garden. Anderson Hall was transformed from a typical country-style community hall into the magical playground of a beautiful garden.
Here are some pics from the day…was lovely to also be supported by Women Can International Inc, with Toni Maher (Vice Chairperson) and Hayley Solich (Chairperson) travelling with me and helping to drag all the stuff in. Love Women Can! Special thanks to Women Can International Inc who will be assisting me with the management of the funds raised at our Bike Rally this weekend.
Ladies We Need to Talk – ABC RN – Dr Gemma Sharp on Labioplasty
Love this video by Dr Gemma Sharp on Labioplasty and the difference between a vagina and a vulva. Well worth a watch!
It is so exciting to see a young doctor speaking the same messages that I have been trying to get heard for the last 20 years. So wonderful to see someone educating women on this really important topic.
Vivalavulva!
Kath
As seen on Facebook.
Noranda Craft Group Supports Gynaecological Awareness
Thanks for all the support from the Noranda Craft Group who today helped to create some more Moulin Rouge undies for our Undies for Better Understanding campaign.
Sometimes I feel that the load gets a bit heavy and all it takes is a morning session with these girls, having a giggle and a coffee, for me to feel the burden lift and the joy return.
If anyone is willing to take some of these undies and put them up in shop windows around the city or to take them to work and put them on the fridge or on display in the reception area and to start conversations, I would LOVE to have a chat with you.
I am looking for a team of volunteers to work with me in the weeks leading up the International Gynaecological Awareness Day on 10 Sept to assist me to get the undies up all around the city.
Let’s make Perth the Moulin Rouge undies capital of the world.
And if you are not in Perth, but would like to help to promote Gynaecological Awareness, can I encourage you to buy a pack from our store, and find a shop window near you to display them.
If you put up some undies, please take a selfie and send them to me at kath.mazzella@bigpond.com.
