A beautiful spring day, delicious food, meaningful conversations and a shared commitment to making a difference.
On Sunday 25 October, supporters of Women’s Healing Sanctuary gathered at Kew Dining in Erina Heights for our inaugural High Tea for Hope, an afternoon celebrating connection, generosity and the power of community.
With the sun shining and the beautiful Central Coast providing the perfect backdrop, guests enjoyed a delicious High Tea, inspiring stories and plenty of opportunities to connect, all while supporting the Sanctuary’s Angel Sponsorship Program.
A beautiful afternoon in pictures
Sharing the Story Behind the Sanctuary
One of the highlights of the afternoon was hearing from Theresa Scicluna of Wizid Pty Ltd, whose own experience as a guest at Women’s Healing Sanctuary inspired her to find a way to give back.
Theresa shared what her stay meant to her, including the special care provided by Sanctuary Manager and co-founder Janine Hanna, affectionately described as “Janine’s magic dust.”
Guests also heard from Sanctuary co-founder and author Sharalyn Drayton, who shared the deeply personal story behind the Sanctuary and her memoir Finding Tomorrow. Her story was a powerful reminder of how experiences of loss and adversity can inspire hope and create opportunities to support others.
Making Rest and Restoration Accessible
While the afternoon was filled with laughter, conversation and beautiful food, there was an important purpose behind the celebration.
Funds raised through ticket sales, our online auction, raffle and generous donations will support the Women’s Healing Sanctuary Angel Sponsorship Program, helping women experiencing grief, loss, trauma, illness, exhaustion and other significant life challenges access restorative stays when finances might otherwise prevent them from doing so.
Because when a woman needs somewhere to stop, breathe and begin finding her way forward, finances shouldn’t have to be the reason she can’t come.
A Community of Generous Supporters
High Tea for Hope was made possible through the generosity and enthusiasm of an incredible group of supporters.
A very special thank you to Theresa Scicluna and the entire Wizid Pty Ltd team for their extraordinary commitment to bringing the event to life, from securing prizes and supporting ticket sales to providing the beautiful floral arrangements and thoughtful candles gifted to every guest.
Our sincere thanks also go to Wendy and the team at Kew Dining for providing such a wonderful setting and looking after our guests so beautifully.
We are grateful to our generous prize donors:
York Jewellers, Matthew Williams & Associates, the Drayton Foundation, Mel Naganayagam, Gael’s Photography, Cordony Hair, Mermade Hair, Fourth Wave Wine, Blue Jaam, Crystal Clear Finance Solutions and Anne Stronach, Wizid Pty Ltd and Kew Dining.
Thank you also to everyone who helped behind the scenes, our volunteers, Board members and event photographer James Walker.
Most importantly, thank you to every guest who joined us, purchased raffle tickets, placed auction bids, made donations and helped share the story of Women’s Healing Sanctuary.
More Than a Fundraiser
High Tea for Hope was about more than raising funds. It was an opportunity to bring people together, build meaningful connections and share the true spirit of Women’s Healing Sanctuary.
We hope everyone who attended left with a greater understanding of the Sanctuary and the difference a few days of rest, care and connection can make in a woman’s life.
And perhaps we’ll have the pleasure of welcoming some of our High Tea guests to the Sanctuary in the future, where they can experience a little of Janine’s magic dust for themselves!
Interested in supporting our Angel Sponsorship Program or experiencing a stay at Women’s Healing Sanctuary? Explore our website to learn more.
