It’s all about bringing local mums together to make a difference to the community for Mandurah mother of two, blogger and good Samaritan Melanie Edge.
Now, she hopes teaming up with Greenfields Family and Community Centre, Mum’s Cottage, the City of Mandurah and Critters Up Close as part of her initiative Babes + Picnics Mandurah will also help make a difference in other women’s lives.
Ms Edge brought the Brisbane-based initiative Babes + Picnics to Mandurah earlier this year hoping to create a non-judgmental space for local mums to meet up, meet new friends and make a difference in the local community.
“It can be very isolating and daunting being a mum,” she said.
“These picnics provide our mums with a safe, positive and purposeful environment to meet other mamas.”
Every month, Ms Edge organises a picnic in the area for local mums to attend and raise money for a different charity, this time it’s for Mum’s Cottage.
Mandurah-based Mum’s Cottage is a drop-in centre for victims of domestic violence and mothers simply needing a break.
The centre, which was the dream of Mandurah woman Kaye Seeber, opened in late 2016, and has since been providing unconditional support to women in the Peel region.
Mostly, the cottage is set up as a place for women to be able to bring their children and have a chat and feel supported by other community members in a family environment instead of an institutionalised setting.
Ms Seeber said since opening, the centre had received a very positive feedback from the community, receiving both cash and object donations.
However, she said they were still looking for more volunteers to give a hand, a gardening team to revamp the backyard and regular financial contributions.
Ms Edge said she hoped the picnic would help spread awareness about Mum’s Cottage and hopefully bring more volunteers forward.
“As they are a very new service within our community, they need our help to get noticed,” she said.
The picnic event will be held at the Greenfields Family and Community Centre on June 15 and will include a visit from Meadow Springs-based wildlife business Critters Up Close.
Attendees to the event will be able to meet other mothers while their children learn more about wildlife from Critters Up Close owner Michael Smith, all for a good cause.
The City of Mandurah’s newly released Mandurah Families Guide will also be available at the event.
The guide provides useful information to local families about activities, support and programs available in the region.
The event will take off at 10am. For more information go to Babes + Picnics Mandurah Facebook page.