Success Stories

My name is Kay Liddle. In late 2005 I was diagnosed with breast cancer.  I underwent bilateral mastectomy followed by chemotherapy.

I was always a very well endowed, active working woman – experiencing nicknames growing up. I have worked for Queensland Health at the Prince Charles Hospital for 34 years.  The loss of my self image, self confidence, identity, significant cognitive skills, physical abilities and of course my hair, was absolutely shattering.

My fantastic family, close friends and amazing work colleagues rallied around and provided me a safe, protected, loving and supportive environment during recovery.  I was so protected that I did not have to push any boundaries or face any challenges.  

My sister in law – Marilyn Murray - a cancer survivor, and more recently an Encore co-coordinator in Childers, encouraged me to join an Encore group run by Gwenneth at the Royal Brisbane and Women’s Hospital.

I was very reluctant to stretch the limits I had given myself.  I was suffering very debilitating panic attacks and found the initial meeting very difficult even though the co-coordinators and the women in the group were very understanding and compassionate.  We all had difficulties in common and stories to exchange – funny and horrific. We were at different stages of our recovery or treatment so were able to give and exchange war stories. These group discussions were very therapeutic.

The floor and pool exercise combinations were gentle and allowed me to gradually return to normal activities – blow dry my hair – when it grew back, hang the washing on the line and not have to use a stool – which you often fell off, sweep and vacuum the floor- everyday activities that we take for granted, and to be able to push the grandchildren on the swings.

The advice, guidance and support provided by the coordinators, members of the group, and the guests, invited by Gwenneth, helped me rebuild and regain my self image, reinvent my identity, regain skills, and the confidence to step outside the safe zone I had created.  It also helped me regain the strength to overcome my anxieties.

Thanks to the Encore program, today, I feel strong, confident and proud of myself and the fact that I can stand here today without succumbing to a panic attack, I am forever grateful.

Kay Liddle (Encore Participant)

My experience as a volunteer with the CVS has been great.  I have been visiting my resident for almost a year now, and we have formed a lovely friendship.  We enjoy chatting and sharing a bit of a laugh together.  I think we both look forward to our visits.  I always remember a comment one of the other residents had made once.  When I arrived for my visit, she gestured towards my new friend and said ‘look at how happy she is to see you.’  The Community Visitors Scheme is a great program that makes perhaps a small, but important, difference to a lot of people.

Sera Shepherd (CVS Volunteer)

“My involvement with YWCA Brisbane’s leadership program was a fantastic, enriching experience that I will find hard to forget. Getting involved with a group of young ladies from a local high school to mentor and inspire, made my contribution feel worthy. It also helped me as an emerging leader to focus on my strengths and goals.

I’d encourage any women from all backgrounds to contribute to YWCA Brisbane and positively contribute to the lives of women throughout our city.“

Jodie Guerrero (Mentor)

“Thank you to YWCA Brisbane for providing me with the very rewarding opportunity of being a mentor and working with the girls from Balmoral State High School. It was an amazing experience to meet the girls and hear their stories. Watching the transformation of some, from the first to the last session was remarkable! Being a mentor was both enjoyable and entertaining and I would recommend that anyone who is given the chance to be one, do so!”

Lauren Eadie (Mentor)

"When I first enlisted to be a mentor for YWCA's new program "Y its all about you", I was excited yet nervous, scared but thrilled as I had never done any mentoring before. Growing up I did not have access to any programs like this one so I couldn't even draw upon any experience of being mentored like I was about to embark upon. Upon arriving on that first day, I had no idea of what to expect and therefore had no expectations on what I would get out of being a mentor.

At the start of the first day there was a noticable barrier between the students and the mentors as we were still "feeling" each other out. This lasted for a couple of hours until we started participating in activities together, then the barriers slowly started to disappear and by the second day friendships had started to develop. By the end of the four days I was amazed at how close some of the friendships had became as we had actually only spent 24 hours in total with them. Working with the girls and hearing about their goals and dreams for the future gave me a real thrill and a feeling of being appreciated as they were allowing me to have an influence, however small, in their future and maybe something that I said to them will have a big affect upon their life at some later stage in their life.

What I found upon the conclusion of the program was that I had developed more self confidence; had a better understanding my beliefs, values and goals; more appreciation of the people in my life no matter how long or short a period of time that they are actually in my life; and that although I was there as a mentor I believe that I may have got more out of the program than some of the students being mentored.

I really appreciated the opportunity to be a mentor for the program and would do it again at the drop of a hat."

Krystal Hansen (Mentor)