This year, Ladies Day at the Terang Mortlake Football Netball Club was more than just about strengthening its community of women; it was also about helping sick and vulnerable children at The Royal Children’s Hospital (RCH). 

For almost a decade, the Terang Mortlake Football Netball Club has hosted a Ladies Day to help raise life-changing funds for charities of their choice. This year the club decided to support the RCH Foundation.

Melissa Irving, General Manager of the Terang Mortlake Football Netball Club explained that the social committee’s decision to raise funds for the RCH Foundation was a deeply personal one.

“The organsiers of the day chose the RCH Foundation as there are a several families within the club who unfortunately, have a connection with the hospital,” she said.

Showing this connection was important for event organisers, who arranged for three special guest speakers from within their community, including Melissa, to talk about their experience with the RCH.

“My daughter, Pippa, fought acute lymphoblastic leukaemia from the age of three, and because of funds raised from events like this, she is now in remission. These fundraising events, help support the research required to find treatments and, in some instances, cure our children from life-threatening illnesses,” Melissa shared.

The day was a resounding success, raising over $11,000 – surpassing their original goal by over $9,000.

Melissa and the club’s social committee were incredibly delighted by this outcome, attributing the success to the club’s sense of community.

“Many women that attended the event could relate as they have a connection with families involved in the event or have a connection with the RCH,” Melissa said.

Most importantly, Melissa is very grateful to the Terang and Mortlake communities for their big hearts and for supporting the event.

“We’re lucky that we live within a small community. When the chips are down, everyone really steps up to support one another,” she shared.

“They really dig deep in their pockets and help out great causes like this,” Melissa continued.

These funds are helping support life-changing research at the RCH. It is also making an impact on children like Melissa’s daughter, Pippa.

Melissa emphasised the importance of fundraising and donating, especially for illnesses like cancer. By funding vital research, the Terang Mortlake Netball Club is helping researchers outsmart the heartbreaking condition and make it more manageable.

“It’s very important to continue donating or fundraising when you can to help fund research for the diseases and conditions that don’t yet have a cure,” Melissa reinforced.