Tracey Simic has held Girls Nights In at her waterfront home since 2012 in honour of her mum and aunt, who lost their lives to breast cancer.
She is set to continue that tradition online with an afternoon high tea on October 4, amid COVID-19.
“I wasn’t actually planning to do it at first,” the 59-year-old said.
“We usually have about 30 people come over.
“Obviously, I thought it would be too hard to have people over with everything going on.”
But with Cancer Council Victoria encouraging people to host the event online instead, Tracey began packing boxes with ribbon sandwiches, bagels, sausage rolls, cakes and biscuits for about 20 mates.
“And a little bottle of bubbly to wash it down,” she added.
Tracey’s mum and aunt were diagnosed with breast cancer in 2008.
“Mum was pretty much in perfect health until she was 79,” she said.
“Unfortunately, she ignored her symptoms and was very close to the end when she was diagnosed.
“We only had 12 weeks of her in a very poor state at home with my sister taking full-time care of her.
“I’ve had a couple of cousins and quite a few close friends with breast cancer as well.
“Luckily, they’ve all survived and that’s largely due to a lot of the research that’s been done.”
She encouraged Geelong locals to hold a virtual Girls Night In or a small picnic outdoors adhering to current COVID-19 restrictions.
“We have some fun and laughs but at the same time we’re able to do some good and raise some funds for vital research,” she said.
Details: girlsnightin.cancervic.org.au
Luke Voogt
