Women from Permanent Impressions in 2021
KATH MAZZELLA - Interviewed by Carmen Jenner
As a gynaecological awareness consultant, Kath Mazzella has good reason for her unwavering passion. A zealot for the cause, Kath’s compassion has reached international platforms as she spreads the word about those “unmentionable women’s parts.” Sharing her advocacy with such empathy and gusto, she turned her own pain into GAIN when she founded the Gynaecological Awareness Information Network in 2001. With 10 awards to her name including the 2018 Western Australian Senior Australian of the Year award, Order of Australia (OAM), Cancer Australia – Gynaecological Cancer Award and Western Australian Inductee Womens Hall of Fame, Kath has been instrumental in bringing greater awareness about gynaecological and related mental health for women. It was only fitting for Kath to be part of the Permanent Impressions collection celebrating womanhood.
How did you find the process of having your portrait painted by Jana?
I have to admit that I was very nervous at first standing alongside such influential women. Being asked to be part of such an incredible project made me feel valued and someone was listening. Permanent Impressions gives recognition to those who are doing the hard work.
What was it like seeing your portrait for the first time?
It was so special. It validated all the work that I’ve done and demonstrated the recognition and importance of gynaecological health. It made me feel worthy.
Nervousness aside, what are the benefits of having your portrait painted?
For me, the artwork helped bring community awareness to the topic of gynaecological health where it should be in society. It helped break down stigmas taboos and give voice to women afraid to speak out on the topic.
As a survivor of gynaecological cancer, yourself, what do you think the status is on gynaecological health in society?
I have been lobbying for 26 years and witnessed many women dying and sometimes left with health complications simply due to lack of community awareness. There still needs better information and correct terminology to normalise this imperative issue not only for women but for men to gain a greater understanding.
Interestingly, it seems Gynaecological health has been run on a male model for a long time and feel the time is now right for a new perspective and claim back some of our power.
That must have been an incredibly difficult time.
When I was first diagnosed with vulva cancer at the age of 39, the Cancer Council sent me a brochure called Less Common Women’s Cancer. It was a faded blue brochure with some old ladies on it. The information inside was a diagram of Gynaecological cancers however back then I felt a trouble maker for even asking why the vulva was always omitted in gynaecological cancer diagrams. I was invited to speak at NSW Cancer Council Sexuality and Cancer conference. I’d never spoken in public before. Before my speech I was given a book on understanding sexuality in cancer – again in my speech I questioned why there was no diagrams of male/female genitalia. I am pleased to say after this I was able to convince the NSW Cancer Council to include the vulva hence now all cancer centres include the vulva. As I see it - one small step for womankind. Viva La Vulva.
Many women would have suffered in silence but you didn’t.
I felt so devastatingly alone, finding much taboos and stigmas and found others without a voice for vulva cancer, so I placed an ad in the Woman’s Day magazine and was overwhelmed with the lady’s responses suffering in silence. I couldn’t be like the others and just take suffering in silence.
Women’s gynaecological health is often shrouded in secrecy, how can we overcome this?
By opening up community conversations and events. Through GAIN I instigated the International Gynaecological Awareness Day on the recommendation of Senator Amanda Vanstone’s office who suggested I create a National Day. I had to question “how does one do that” and the answer was to just declare it, so I did on 10th September.
To show progress King Edward Memorial Hospital have celebrated IGAD for 8 years and grateful for their support.
I have developed other resources – Cardboard Chatterbox with gynaecological terminology/diagrams plus Undies for Better Understanding (UBU) workshop of carboard undies for women to decorate, start the conversations and experiences. In fact, I was honoured that Amber-Jade Sanderson MLA and WA’s Health Minister Roger Cook MLA spoke in Parliament House about the International Gynaecological Awareness Day and stated in Parliament that he’s seen my undies. It was both amusing and nice to have that recognition at that level.
What do you think needs to happen to help us progress when it comes to managing the health of our own bodies?
Part of the solution is getting this education into schools and educating young women better. Some say Gynaecological health is for 25 and overs. Not so. Many teenage girls can have Endometriosis and PCOS which is quite debilitating. United Nation Women’s organisations need to be more proactive by putting gynaecological health on their agenda. Awareness about other women’s health issues like PCOS, Fibroids, Prolapse, Endometriosis, Hysterectomies, Menopause, Vulval conditions are becoming more mainstream but it needs greater support at a higher level and brought under one umbrella. We’re supposed to be all about empowering each other so I encourage organisations like Royal Australian New Zealand College of Obstetrics and Gynaecology work in collaboration with the Australian community for greater outcomes. Bringing gynaecological health to the forefront for those women in power so we can be confident and gain the knowledge of our own bodies for the sake of Mothers, Sisters, Daughters and families. Knowledge is Power.
You started GAIN (Gynaecological Awareness Information Network) in 2001 to help support other women who have endured similar trauma as you have.
I am a Life Member however I am a separate identity to GAIN these days. They’ve just had their 20-year celebration and are doing amazing things. I’m more about the bigger picture these days and share my message presenting with many speaking engagements. In 2018, I won the Western Australian Senior Australian of the Year bringing my advocacy to a national level. I’m also on the Women’s Voices Involvement Panel at the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists in London and a member of Soroptimist International Helena in an effort to encourage others to join the IGAD campaign.
What message would you like to give young women to overcome their embarrassment about gynaecological health?
Knowledge is power. Often when there is a problem, you don’t discover it until later and then you have to wait months to see someone, meanwhile, you have to live with the not knowing. Many only learn this knowledge after a diagnosis. It is empowering to know before.
Is there anything else you would like to add?
WA Quilters created a Moulin Rouge quilt for me to use to promote which after visiting my son in London, I walked straight up to the front counter of BBC TV Womens Hour London with the quilt and to my surprise I was invited to be interview on Womens Hour the next week. I never know where this journey leads me to.
Some say speaking out about gynaecological health can be confronting and can be ethnically sensitive in speaking out. I was invited as a panellist at Soroptimist International Convention where I was encouraged to speak to 1,000 ethnic women about my campaign. As the Australia Day motto was “we are all in this together”. Professional and community - together we must make Gynaecological health changes.
Although my passion for gynaecological health started with my own journey, this isn’t just about me having vulva cancer. There are still women enduring horrific conditions and procedures, even here in Perth. It’s a global issue and unless we continue to speak up this will continue for another 26 years.
I appeal to all to join and use the IGAD as a tool to promote your own business and show your support to help break down taboos and stigmas that still exist today.