“Dinner for Dames” at Banyena Hall: An Evening of Friendship and Fundraising

There was plenty of pink, plenty of sparkle and a whole lot of heart at Banyena Hall on Saturday, October 24, when 80 women gathered for the sold-out “Dinner for Dames” event, an incredible night of good food and entertainment for an important cause close to home.

Soft lighting, overstuffed couches and quirky touches showed off Banyena’s artistic side as the much-loved hall was transformed with pink and white decorations and long dinner tables laden with flowers and glassware.

Guests arrived to nibbles and a complimentary glass of bubbles, alcoholic or non-alcoholic, and were allowed plenty of time to mingle. A carefully curated playlist provided the backdrop, featuring songs written and performed by women.
But while “Dinner for Dames” was certainly a lovely night out, there was a bigger reason behind the gathering: raising funds for the National Breast Cancer Foundation and supporting research into a disease that has touched so many families.

When breast cancer affects someone close to home, the importance of coming together becomes all the more personal and a cause that resonated with all the women in attendance.

The brainchild of Andrea Molloy-Drum and Katie Byrne, the event grew from a simple casserole gathering into Saturday night’s fully catered affair through the
efforts of the small working group they gathered.

Dinner, prepared by the renowned Cat Clarke, chef, teacher and restauranter at the Dimboola Golf Club, was followed by an address from Banyena local Joan Byrne, who shared her breast cancer journey with remarkable candour and humour.

Joan spoke openly about the shock and uncertainty of diagnosis, the challenges of treatment, telling her children and the emotional toll of facing an illness that can leave a person feeling vulnerable in their own body.

She also touched on the importance of family, friendship and allowing others to help during difficult times. Her story included moments of unexpected laughter and the deeply personal decisions she made throughout her experience.

Among the messages she wanted guests to take away was a reminder that practical help can mean far more than words alone.

“Actions speak louder than words,” Joan said, explaining how something as simple as doing a load of washing, dropping off a meal, helping with the children or arranging transport to treatment can make an enormous difference.

She also encouraged people to understand that the cancer journey does not necessarily end when treatment finishes, with ongoing side effects, follow-up appointments and the fear of recurrence sometimes continuing long afterwards.
Joan spoke about the love and support she received from family, friends and her community, including the comfort she found in their prayers and messages.

Reflecting on her experience, she said she had learned to face her fears, make significant changes in her life and appreciate the people who stood beside her.

Her closing message was one of hope and looking forward.
“I am writing a new book and living my best life, and I’m excited for the future,” she said. “Joan Byrne is back, and she’s fearless and stronger than ever.”

Ballarat musicians Stella Savy and Mishael Gyabeng followed with their gentle, engaging brand of traditional music, drawing on their backgrounds in Seychelles and Ghana. Their performance brought a different energy to the evening, with a sing-along that soon had the room joining in.

One song was introduced as “a warrior song for the warrior women”, a fitting label for the audience gathered in pink, to those who have faced breast cancer themselves or supported someone who has.

A fully decked out dessert buffet followed, laden with contributions made by friends and family, then more bubbly and more music and a gift bag for guests to take home as a memento.

Behind the scenes, the event was made possible through the work of its organisers and the support of sponsors and contributors, including, the amazing support from West Wimmera Health Service, and a small grant from the Northern Grampians Shire.

“Dinner for Dames” was a triumph, raising over $4,500 for the National Breast Cancer Foundation, and the relieved organisers received compliments wherever they stopped for a chat. It was a wonderful example of what a small community can achieve when people pull together.