By Jen Gourley
On Saturday, May 21, there is a wonderful opportunity to help fight cancer – by voting with your feet and your taste buds and heading to Jane and Trista’s Biggest Morning Tea.
Yes, there is an actual federal election happening that day but while cakes, slices and biscuits aren’t on the ballot paper, they’ll be waiting for you in ample supply at 39 Thalberg Avenue, Biloela.
This special event, which Jane and her daughter-in-law Trista have spent a lot of time and effort planning, holds a lot of meaning for them.
“We’ve both lost people from cancer,” Jane said. Both of her parents died from rare cancers and Trista lost her mum, and her four-year-old niece to a rare cancer. So, holding a Biggest Morning Tea to raise funds for the Cancer Council is a way for the pair to pay tribute to lost loved ones as well as offer support and encouragement for anyone with cancer or those supporting friends or family members with it.
“We’re doing this for our families,” they said, “and for the generations to come.”
The Biggest Morning Tea starts at 11am so you can either go vote before or after the event (or if you’ve done a postal vote or cast an early vote, just put your feet up, have an extra scone and relax!). Weather permitting, the morning tea will be held in a garden party setting in Jane’s lovely front yard.
“We’ve really got a fun day planned for the whole family,” she said. “It’s not just about the ladies. We’ve got games for children and games for men to include them. We’ll have high tea cakes and there will also be leftover cakes for sale.”
Activities for the kids will include a biscuit decorating station (which will sweeten the blow for any feeling sad that they are too young to vote!).
Jane and Trista have got a lucky door prize of a beautiful peacock tea set which includes a teapot, cake plate and cup, as well as raffles including free haircuts donated by The Hair Shop in Biloela.
One thoughtful and touching feature of their morning tea includes the provision of a special memory book. It tells the stories of Jane’s and Trista’s family members who died and the type of cancers they had, with photos of these much-loved people, and a place for those attending the morning tea to write down their own memories and tributes. There’s even a heartwarming invitation at the back of the book for people dealing with cancer to get in touch with Jane if they need friendship or support or just someone to talk to.
“If they leave their name and number, I will always get back to them and ring them or we could have a meet and greet in the park or do something to get them out of the house,” Jane said. She’s also available for knitting and board games or even accompanying someone on a trip to the doctor if they need some company.
This delicious morning tea costs just $2 with all funds going to Cancer Council Queensland, and Jane and Trista will provide a free light lunch for anyone who would like to stay on (with the event wrapping up about 2pm-3pm).
If you would like to support this Biggest Morning Tea but are unable to attend, Jane and Trista have got donation boxes at Biloela Discount Chemist, Simmons Bakery, Oxley Clinic and BP Thangool. If you would like more information or would like to contribute in some way, you can phone Jane on 0428 078 170 or email jamorley1959@gmail.com.
- Tags: Biggest Morning Tea, Biloela, fundraiser
