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A Voice for Change

Changing the landscape for women with Gynaecological, Sexual and related Mental Health Issues

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Regional Voices Gynaecological Awareness interview

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Great to be able to share my message to the Rural Community on Regional Voices radio:  https://regionalvoices.podbean.com/e/survivor-of-gynecological-cancer/

I come from a stock of tough good women

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After meeting with my (90 year old) Aunty Jean Tillett yesterday I only now discovered that Jean (bottom left of picture)/my other Aunty Iris Hinchcliffe (top right hand corner) both played football in Kalgoorlie 1944. I had absolutely nooo idea that these refined women I knew all my life would even play football. Not once was it mentioned. It has taken me aback to take a closer look at their lives and how they have impacted in my own life and why I keep on keeping in with my Gynaecological Health campaign.

Sadly Mum is slowly fading away with dementia and Jean still has a sharp mind however I feel Jean is missing the life they used to have. Mum was a great pianist and Jean and their other sister Billy were singers and would always be entertaining at concerts with the war songs and song learnt from their father who was a violinist. So music was always part of their lives. Jean lives on her on and soo misses the life she once had. Determined to stay in her house by herself she is lonely, going blind and deaf. One wonders how one would cope with these things at that age. I rang to try to get some help for anyone to go and even sing a song and a cup of tea.  I feel it would be great to hear a 90 yo woman speak of her time back then playing football given that women’s football is now getting some wonderful attention.

Mum raised us 5 girls on her own after Dad came back from the war with mental issues. When I look back I wonder how on earth Mum survived.

Now I begin to understand where my determination, persistence, perseverance and spirit has come from.

 

National Rural Health Alliance Partyline

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Below is article appearing in March edition of Partline to online magazine for National Rural Health Alliance.

It is hoped that this will reach far and wide to rural communities.  It would be great for all to encourage their networks to celebrate the Gynae Awareness day in their corner of the world.

Link to Kaths article:

http://www.ruralhealth.org.au/partyline/article/support-international-gynaecological-awareness-day-10-september

Support International Gynaecological Awareness Day on 10 September

  • Wongan Wobblers high tea

Wongan Wobblers high tea

International Gynaecological Awareness Day (IGAD) brings communities together and raises awareness of a serious topic through an element of fun. Download the IGAD kit at https://www.kathmazzella.com/category/international-gyn-awareness-day/  to help you organise an ‘Undies for Better Understanding’ event in your local area, encouraging women to speak out.

After my radical gynaecological cancer treatment, I soon realised millions of women, including country women, have gynaecological health issues but do not have a voice. I set out as an advocate for greater recognition of gynaecological and related mental health needs. These issues are poorly understood by many professionals, the community and women’s groups. We need to improve the knowledge and attitudes of the community at large with greater education and, most of all, support women and men standing alongside their women: wives, partners, mothers, sisters, daughters, work colleagues.

Undies quilt by Perth Modern Quilters
Undies quilt by Perth Modern Quilters

The Perth Modern Quilters created a quilt to assist me to help break down barriers and stigmas. When showing the quilt to the Country Women’s Association, Western Australia I was invited as a guest speaker at their 90th conference. This led to doing many country presentations and undies workshops. There is much laughter during these workshops as they allow women to sit around with each other, share their stories and have great conversations while making their undies. It helps them to be able to converse more openly next time they approach their health practitioners and to create greater dialogue between mothers and daughters and lessen the stigmas that can be passed down from one generation to the next.

I was born in Kalgoorlie, WA. I founded the Gynaecological Awareness Information Network Inc. www.gain.org.au in 2001. As a health consumer, a survivor and a thriver I am seeking support and action for International Gynaecological Awareness Day.

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Tune in to Radio 6PR Nightline Wednesday 4 November 2015 at 8:10pm

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After being interviewed on Nightline last week, I have now been invited to present for 3/4 of an hour with talk back invited.

I’d love if you could support this opportunity by:

  1. Send me any questions you think would be relevant to the topic of Gynaecological, Sexual and Related Mental Health Issues, for both men and women combined.  This is a golden opportunity to share my 20 year to create greater awareness and to open conversations.
  2. Phone in on the chat line.
  3. Listen in and comment on twitter and other social media platforms.  Tweet #JoinTheConversation.

Such a great opportunity for the community to have their say and to create greater awareness.

 

National Rural Womens Coalition – K Mazzella Webinar Thursday 9 July

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http://nrwc.com.au/Projects/ACuppaWith.aspx

A Cuppa With…

A Cuppa With………… Kath Mazzella OAM

 

Want to be inspired and to join in discussions with other like-minded rural women…without having to leave home?

 

Not So Secret Women’s Business

A Cuppa With……..Kath Mazzella

What every rural woman needs to know about women’s health – including how to be armed with information to make smart choices about your own body and how to assist your daughter in managing her health and wellbeing.

Using humour and a personable approach about what has been a historically ‘taboo’ subject, Kath Mazzella will deliver a powerful presentation that you won’t want to miss.

Sharing her own personal journey, Kath will bring to light important women’s health information that could be life changing for you and your family.

About Kath Mazzella

Cancer survivor and advocate on women’s health, Kath Mazzella is a passionate about better awareness and treatment of women’s gynaecological, sexual and related mental health conditions. After her having radical gynaecological surgery to remove cancer, Kath Mazzella discovered how little women knew and talked about conditions “down there”, and how many women were suffering in silence.

This empowered Kath to go on a journey, together with her husband Tony, promoting this very worthwhile and necessary message, extending it beyond the education of women, to also reach the men that surround their worlds. Kath has received over thirteen awards in the area of raising awareness for women’s gynaecological health and in 2009 she was awarded an Order of Australia Medal for her service of the community through raising the profile of gynaecological health. Kath was inducted into the 100 WA [Western Australia] Hall of Fame.

“People probably don’t realise that the woman sitting next to them on the bus, the train, in their office, or at the doctor’s surgery may have some kind of gynaecological, sexual or related mental health condition that she is having to daily manage. They probably don’t realise that it is not only affecting her, but also every person in her immediate circle of influence, and that the cost to the community can be very high, especially if the condition remains undiagnosed or is diagnosed too late”—Kath Mazzella

 

This is a FREE webinar event.

Event:      A Cuppa With….Kath Mazzella
Topic:      Not So Secret Women’s Business – live collaborative discussion
Date:       Thursday 9th July 2015
Time:       7.45 pm for a 8.00 pm start until 9.30pm AEST*
AEST – Australian Eastern Standard Time =7.45pm QLD, NSW, ACT, TAS; 8.15 pm SA, 7.15 pm NT and 5.45 pm WA

To Register  and Download the Software
Email: projects@nrwc.com.au

About A Cuppa With………………
A Cuppa With™………… is our free monthly inspirational webinar series for women living in rural, regional and remote Australia. The webinar technology is used by universities and other educational institutions and allows for open collaboration. A reliable internet connection is required, however some satellite services will support the program. The webinars are 1 hour in duration. Log on at 7.15pm AEST to network. Contact us to register and to download the software.

…pour yourself a cuppa and settle in for a great night!

Jean Hailes Womens Health Week 7-11 September 2015 – No more Elephants in the Room

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No more Elephants in the Room

Why don’t you join me in joining forces with Jean Hailes Womens Health Week 7-11 September 2015. Theme No more Elephants in the Room  No more Elephants in the Room

No more Elephants in the Room

No more elephants! Let’s talk http://www.womenshealthweek.com.au/about     https://jeanhailes.org.au

“Jean Hailes is Australia’s leading and most trusted women’s health organisation is launching their new campaign. We believe in physical and emotional health and wellbeing for all women in Australia throughout their lives.”

It is time to get rid of the Elephant in the Room and get talking about women’s health. Women can be good talkers, but when it comes to health, we often don’t take the time to ask questions, seek out credible information and work on a sound plan of action. So what does the odd saying mean?. There is a problem or difficult situation that is obvious, but nobody wants to talk about it.

WHAT DO WOMEN WANT TO KNOW? Over 3300 women and health professionals completed a Jean Hailes survey telling them what women worry about and what health information they would like to hear about. 2015 Women’s Health Week will focus on what women want to know about their health:

  • Monday             – What do women want to talk about?
  • Tuesday            – Myths: what have you heard?
  • Wednesday      – Silent topics: what’s not being talked about?
  • Thursday           – Ask someone: who & what to ask
  • Friday                 – Now what? Tell us your pledge
  • If you are new to Women’s Health Week make sure you are registered so they can  keep you in the loop for the 2015 event. Join this free online event with a host of women’s health experts and celebrity ambassadors. Each day discover different articles, videos, podcasts, recipes, tools and more.

 

Fabulous Your Voice Your Choice Tour with Richmond Wellbeing!

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We are just about finished our three week South-West tour and what a wonderful adventure it has been. Tony, Hayley Solich and I have been hosting workshops on behalf of Richmond Wellbeing, for South-West Medicare Local. The theme of the workshops is ‘Your Voice Your Choice’ and we have been teaching on Self-Advocacy. Hayley has been training the skills of self-advocacy and I have been presenting as an inspirational role model, sharing my story. Tony has also been dragged into the spotlight, giving a five minute introduction to the topic from a male perspective. It has been wonderful to see him breaking open people’s hearts.

Here are some pics from the tour so you get a feel of the warm reception we have been receiving around the South-West…

 

 

Some feedback from participants…

 

Maternal and Family Health Nurses Australia presentation April 2015

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One of the largest audiences I have addressed recently, I received a great response at the Burswood Convention Centre.

The program included a broad of range of professionals and it was great to share my message, woman to woman.