Public House’s seventh Annual Ladies Luncheon was held this month in support of the Royal Hospital for Women in Randwick, Sydney.
This year the event was supported by Merivale, held in its Coogee venue Mimi’s, and raised an astounding $800,000.
The event, attended by high-profile influencers, media personalities and donors aims to raise funds to purchase critical neonatal equipment and to support the expansion of maternal health services.
The philanthropic event was founded nine years ago by Public House Management Group’s Harriet Waugh following a four-month stay at the hospital with her premature daughter.
Hosted by Harriet Waugh and Deborah Symond O’Neil, this year the duo was joined by Georgie Curran and Madeline Holtznagel, partner to Justin Hemmes.
Last year’s luncheon raised over $550,000, helping to fund advanced ultrasound equipment and supporting the Hospital in the Home model of care, freeing up critical space in the Royal Hospital’s Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU).
This year funds were earmarked for a variety of machines as well as technology and support to establish a Virtual Maternity Clinic pilot.
The Virtual Maternity Clinic aims to increase access for regional and rural mothers to remote, expert-led care.
Over twenty per cent of patient families currently travel from regional areas to access specialised care for their newborns.
The program will enable earlier intervention, safer pregnancies and improved outcomes through remote monitoring via wearable technology.
CEO of the Royal Hospital for Women Foundation Elise Jennings said the support raised through the Ladies Luncheon has made an extraordinary difference.
“We are thrilled and incredibly grateful that this year’s Ladies Luncheon will help make possible a new Virtual Maternity Clinic, giving women in high-risk pregnancy expert care at home and fund highly specialised equipment for a new bed in the Newborn Intensive Care Unit making The Royal’s NICU the largest in NSW,” she said.
“The investment has made research, new models of care and equipment possible that would have been otherwise unachievable in public health.”
The Royal Hospital for Women’s neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) receives 80 per cent of its funding through non-government donations for its specialised equipment.
Since its inception, the Ladies Luncheon has raised over $3 million for the cause and is now considered one of Sydney’s most exclusive charity events.
“The Ladies Luncheon was born out of deep gratitude for the extraordinary nurses and doctors who give so much of themselves to safeguard the wellbeing of others,” said Waugh.
“Helping women and vulnerable babies is the foundation of the Ladies Luncheon, and we are elated by the impact that the $800,000 raised this year will have for the NICU.”
Further information on the event, as well as an opportunity to donate can be found here.
