Mamamia Cares
If you are part of a charitable organisation and would like to be featured on MM
just drop us a note at info@mamamia.com.au
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For $25 you can restore sight to a person in a third world country.
Sydney Coastrek write “Imagine being a little girl in Nepal and your mum goes blind. She goes blind because she didn’t know about basic hygiene and how to prevent eye infections and there is simply no doctor. And if your mum goes blind, guess what? You stay home to look after her. You don’t go to school, you don’t learn to read and write…the future you may have imagined is sucked away as you need to become her eyes. Or worse still, if you’re a Kenyan child who is born with cataracts, you’ll die within [read more]
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This is why we need CCTV footage
In May last year, an Animals Australia investigation went to air on Four Corners exposing the abuse of cattle in Indonesian slaughterhouses. A huge public outcry followed and it brought about an abrupt (albeit short) termination of live cattle exports to Indonesia pending investigation. Many of us who saw that footage probably thought something along the lines of “Thank God that didn’t happen to the steaks I buy”. Well, unfortunately, you can’t be absolutely sure of that. (You can watch some of that footage here) In late 2011, Animals Australia circulated footage of abattoir workers in Gippsland, Victoria, inflicting gross [read more]
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The perfect Valentines present
Update: So Christmas was sorted with cards from Oxfam and I’ve struck gold this Valentines Day too. I am giving my husband some chickens and my son a piglet. They may not smell as nice as roses, but piglets are a far more generous gift especially to families overseas in need. Oxfam have released these cards for Valentines Day and I think they are a little bit perfect to give as a gesture of love The cards are available until February 14 at www.oxfamunwrapped.com.au or at Oxfam shops around the country. —- I have a reputation in my family as [read more]
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What do Valentine’s Day and a Pap test have in common?
Q: What do Valentine’s Day and a Pap test have in common? A: Most women undergo some form of ‘prepping’ or ‘primping’ prior to the big occasion! Whether it’s Mary Lou, Lady Garden, The Velvet Underground or Vajayay, most of us have a name we affectionately call our most feminine parts. But we’re still shy when it comes to giving them the respect they deserve. It’s time for Australian women to treat this precious part of their body with the same level of TLC they lavish on the rest of their body parts: face, skin, hair, fingers and toes! Valentine’s Day is a [read more]
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Not alone: Surviving cancer with kids in tow
Three days shy of my 36th birthday I was informed I had cancer. Some weeks and many painful and invasive tests later, my doctor informed me that I had advanced and aggressive non-Hodgkins lymphoma. Without treatment, I would die within a couple of months. With treatment, he was not willing to predict my chances. I’d known for about a year that something wasn’t quite right but back pain was a long familiar companion and being a little more tired and a little more run down than usual was, I thought, to be expected given I was a working single parent [read more]
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Pillars of Strength: A dad’s story about losing his son.
From my own personal experience when Isaac was in the NICU and subsequently passing away, I found that there was little assistance available to a father who has a child going through a traumatic experience (or something similar). It also showed me that there was little “me time” to take care of myself as I had to be there to be the Pillar of Strength for my family to ensure that everything continued in some sense of “normality”. I have found that the above is a common theme with fathers who are faced with prolonged periods of their child being [read more]
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Helping women in PNG give birth safely.
Let me tell you a story about a young woman named Grace. Grace lives in a small village outside of Ramu, in Papua New Guinea (PNG). During her pregnancy, Grace moved from her village in a remote mountainous area, to live with her mother in Ramu to be closer to medical assistance. Grace was lucky enough to be able to afford to go to antenatal classes with a trained midwife at the local health centre. When Grace went into labour, however, she arrived to find the local medical centre closed, and in total darkness. Unable to pay [read more]
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Help an Australian child go to school
Did you know it’s possible to sponsor a disadvantaged Australian child through The Smith Family – and that every dollar donated goes towards achieving that child’s educational goals? Ultimately we at The Smith Family want to help as many young Australians in need to reach their full potential as possible and by coming on board as a sponsor for just $39 a month, you can help turn a child’s life around. Single mother of three, Tina from New South Wales, has three children who have been sponsored since 2006 and here she explains what the support has meant to her [read more]
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To Brooke: You are an inspiration.
I have been sitting here staring at the screen for about an hour now. That’s not including the hour this morning, or the half an hour yesterday, or the 20 minutes before dawn last week, or the bits and pieces of time over the last few months. I get started, and then change my mind, erase it all, and go back to staring at the screen. Its hard, what I want to write. I mean, I know what I want to say, its all up here in my head, but its jumbled, and fragmented. Some of it isn’t even words. [read more]
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The worst thing a parent can experience.
In February 2010, I lost my beautiful daughter, Sienna, to one of the most aggressive, unrelenting, deadliest childhood cancers, called neuroblastoma. She was only two and a half years old. Since then, February has been a devastating time of year for me and my partner, Oliver. My little girl was normal in every way. She was a fun-loving toddler and had a real zest for life. At nine months, doctors found a tumour on Sienna’s abdomen. It wasn’t a benign, harmless tumour.It was neuroblastoma. And Sienna had the worst possible diagnosis. What followed was seven months of gruelling treatment at [read more]
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A mother’s search for a brighter future
14 years ago a proud mother with 3 small children – struggling in an oppressed country in Africa, made the difficult decision to leave her 3 young children in the care of people she trusted within her local community and travel to Australia, with hopes for a better life for them all. After arriving in Australia “Mavis” met and married a man who she mistook to be her knight in shining armour and together they had a child. Her husband was abusive and as Mavis could not read or write, he had asked her to sign documents she presumed were [read more]
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In defence of rescue dogs.
I’ll admit it. I’m a sucker for a cute puppy. In fact I rank ‘We’re Getting a Dog’ announcements up there with weddings invitations and baby showers. I firmly believe that adding a dog to your life can be one of the best decisions you’ll ever make. But Australia, I’m worried we’re becoming a nation of dog snobs. In a world filled with as many brands of designer dogs as there are designer handbags, the humble rescue dog seems to have fallen by the wayside. Most recent case in point being our own PM, Julia Gillard welcoming a Cavoodle puppy [read more]
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Snow White and the Seven DJs
Once upon a time there was a radio station on Tanna Island, Vanuatu. It was without broadcasters, music, programs or funds. The only inhabitants of the station were old equipment and a lot of dust. So it stayed until one sunny morning in May when an Australian Volunteer arrived and, equipped with a fantastic station manager and enthusiastic broadcasters, helped transform the station. CRST FM was reborn… and no longer a pumpkin! When Shania Twain, Celine Dion*, local string bands and Sean Kingston share the airwaves, you are obviously not listening to your average radio station. Welcome to CRST (Crest) [read more]
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Two friends, a car and a journey to help people with cancer
With the Subaru hosed out and pine tree car freshener hanging from the rear view mirror, Thelma and Louise have brought new life to an old car. But with your donation, you can change the life of someone with cancer. A donation would be a huge help in reaching our target. It’s a very simple process and it all starts here. We have set ourselves a target of $20,000 and have already raised $8,350. I do not expect one sponsor to give us $10,000 but many small donations can achieve the same goal. Lyn unfortunately lost her mother to cancer [read more]
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Andreas’ story.
Our baby boy Andreas Alexander whose name means manly warrior was born after a stressful pregnancy. I noticed that my baby boy who normally loves his feeds was hardly taking in any milk. That night I caught my husband sneaking off from the kitchen with the baby Panadol in his hand to give to Andreas as he had a fever. By midnight that night the Panadol had not worked and his temperature reached 38.9 so we took him to the emergency room at Westmead Children’s hospital. The next day things were not getting better, Andreas was not taking any milk [read more]
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Good things come to those who date
Dating. Let’s just clear one thing up. I hate dating. I don’t even like the word dating. It conjures up images of frozen cocktails, cheap slacks, over 28’s ‘nitespots’ and vomit. I don’t suppose any of this should come as a surprise though. Having spent the first ten years of my adult life in two long term, stable relationships, my dating experience is…um…lacking? Perhaps non-existent is a more accurate descriptor. I’ve ‘been out’ with guys and I’ve navigated my way through a number of meaningless encounters. I’ve fallen for guys I shouldn’t have, and I even had my heart broken [read more]
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Running for premature babies: in memory of Henry, Jasper and Evan
In 2006 my husband Ash and I were amazed and delighted to become pregnant with triplets. However our hopes and dreams for our instant family were dashed when my waters broke, just 21 weeks into the pregnancy. Five days later, our first son Henry was born, so beautiful and perfect and looking just like Ash. He gave a tiny cry and was laid on my chest where, for one precious hour, I held him and felt his heart beating against mine. His tiny hands squeezed onto our fingers and then, an hour after he was born, he passed away. Incredibly [read more]
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Havaianas Australia Day thong challenge
The Havaianas Australia Day Thong Challenge is a great opportunity for friends and family to come together and celebrate what makes our country so wonderful. Over its seven year history, the Havaianas Australia Day Thong Challenge has continually raised funds for charity, and 2012 will be no exception with $10.00 from each registration going to the local Nippers club at each state’s beach. Emma Kowaleczko, Marketing Manager for Havaianas commented, “We are delighted to once again be raising funds for Australia’s Nippers at the 2012 Havaianas Australia Day Thong Challenge! Beach safety is so important in Australia, and Nipper programs educate [read more]
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Trek Vietnam for a helping hand.
The Good Beginnings Trek for a Helping Hand is a great cause to help disadvantaged Australian children to start school ready to learn. Disadvantaged children can start school with half the literacy and language skills of other children. Good Beginnings Australia is a national children’s charity building better outcomes for children in vulnerable communities through effective early intervention programs. Good Beginnings programs range from supported playgroups through to intensive family support, from early learning and school readiness programs through to volunteer family support. In May 2012, a group of inspired people will undertake the Trek for a Helping Hand adventure [read more]
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The Global Good Foundation
Did you know that two women and one man are killed every fortnight in Australia due to domestic violence? Did you know that one in five people have been directly impacted by domestic violence, one in three people know someone who has, and a staggering 80 per cent of those affected as children will repeat the cycle later in life? The Global Good Foundation (GGF) is a charity setting a global standard on the rehabilitation methods used for those affected by domestic violence, through provision of education, training and empowerment programs. GGF’s aim is to assist with stopping the cycle [read more]