Weipa residents James Hunter, Melanie Turner, Lauren Haimes and Rhiannon Bell grab a photo with former Australian cricketer Glenn McGrath and business partner Phil Hines at the 2025 Jane McGrath High Tea on day three of the Sydney test match last week. Photo: Supplied.
More than 3,000 kilometres from home and bearing uniquely Cape York gifts, a Weipa quartet gave the community’s fundraising capacity a voice on the national stage when they attended the 2025 Jane McGrath High Tea in Sydney on 5 January.
The gala event is held on the third day of the cricket test each year and Melanie Turner, James Hunter, Rhiannon Bell and Lauren Haimes booked their tickets on the back of the stunning success of Weipa’s Pink Ribbon Charity Golf Day in October 2024, which raised $10,536 for local breast cancer awareness.
It was a milestone high tea for the McGrath Foundation, which announced it was now providing support for all cancers, and Ms Turner said it had been an incredible experience to be a part of the event.
“The Jane McGrath High Tea exceeded any expectations that we had and beyond,” she said.
“We felt honoured and privileged to be invited to such an amazing event, and meet so many wonderful people; we heard so many incredible stories of bravery and compassion.
“From the moment we walked into the high tea, you could feel the support and love of everyone there – about 500 people – for this great cause.
Former Australian cricketer Glenn McGrath was reportedly “tickled pink” after being presented with a gift by Weipa residents Melanie Turner, James Hunter, Lauren Haimes and Rhiannon Bell at the 2025 Jane McGrath High Tea at Allianz Stadium on 5 January. Photo: Supplied.
“To be part of the 20th anniversary and to be there when Glenn McGrath announced that a record breaking 425,000 virtual pink seats were sold, raising $8.5 million dollars, and that the McGrath Foundation will now endeavour to raise funds and support for all cancers was incredibly special.”
The quartet got to meet several key McGrath Foundation stakeholders, including ambassador and director Tracy Bevan, chief executive officer Holly Masters and Alison Szwajcer, who was Jane McGrath’s breast care nurse, as well as charity president and co-founder Glenn McGrath.
The Weipa fundraisers presented the former Australian cricketer with a one-of-a-kind pink care package from Cape York that included two caps, a fishing shirt and Yeti from Tackle World Weipa, and two pearl pink lures from Turner’s Lures.
Ms Turner said Mr McGrath was thrilled with the present, adding planning was well under way for a bigger and better golf fundraiser in Weipa later this year.
“Glenn loved the package from the Weipa community, and I think it is safe to say he was tickled pink,” she laughed.
“The staff at the McGrath Foundation were very impressed with the Weipa community raising $10,536 for the Pink Ribbon Golf Day in 2024; during the day, we made many connections to see what future support we could have from the foundation for our event in Weipa in 2025.
“We are looking forward to being bigger and better this year while getting our pink on.”
Rhiannon Bell, Melanie Turner, James Hunter and Lauren Haimes scored an invitation to the Jane McGrath High Tea for the incredible fundraising effort of the 2024 Pink Ribbon Golf Day at Carpentaria Golf Club in November. Photo: Supplied.
