The inaugural Ladies Long Table Lunch held at Hillarys Yacht Club, as part of the Hillarys Boat Show, raised an impressive $23,000 for the Women and Infants Research Foundation (WIRF).
Sixty women gathered for this exclusive event, which marked the beginning of a new annual tradition. The lunch brought together a vibrant community of women to support groundbreaking research aimed at improving the health and wellbeing of women and babies – a cause that touches every life in some way.
One of the highlights of the event was a heartfelt address by WIRF Ambassador Amy Hussey, wife to cricket legend Mike Hussey and mother of four, who shared her personal journey of preterm birth with her two youngest children Molly and Oscar.
In 2007, Mrs Hussey gave birth to Molly at just 28 weeks, with her newborn weighing little more than one kilogram. In 2012, her youngest son Oscar arrived three months early, mirroring his sister’s premature birth and also weighing just over one kilogram. While both Molly and Oscar have faced challenges – including for Molly, living with cerebral palsy – Mrs Hussey expressed gratitude for their survival and resilience.
“Our preterm birth experiences have been the most traumatic chapters in our lives, but ultimately, ones that have shaped us and made our family stronger. For us, our two preterm babies survived and we feel truly blessed. They are our miracles,” Mrs Hussey said.
“We know there are so many families who have had preterm babies. We know, that heartbreakingly, many do not get to take their babies home. We know we are the lucky ones.
“And we know that through the continued work of the Women and Infants Research Foundation, the women, mothers, and babies of WA, are in good hands.”
Also speaking at the event, WIRF Chief Executive Officer Deb Portughes highlighted the critical role of community involvement in advancing research.
“WIRF is incredibly grateful to be a beneficiary of this special event. Community support drives our groundbreaking research and transformative programs, helping to give every woman, baby and family the healthiest start and a brighter future,” Ms Portughes said.
“The Ladies Long Table Lunch was initiated by Liz Daly, an extraordinary supporter of the Foundation. We are deeply grateful for Liz’s generosity and commitment to our cause. Sincere thanks also go to everyone who made this exclusive event possible – including Hillarys Yacht Club, Hillarys Boat Show and the Boating Industry of Western Australia, together with major sponsor Linneys, who are a proud advocate for women’s health initiatives and a long-time supporter of WIRF.”
The $23,000 raised from the Ladies Long Table Lunch will support vital research that aims to improve the health and wellbeing of women and babies.
