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‘Black Pearls’ Honoured at Auckland Event

Raewyn Calvert

The Black Pearls Calendar, a project initiated by Raewyn Calvert and The Reconstructables in June of this year, was celebrated with a December 4th launch party at Auckland’s Stardome Observatory. Around 100 people attended the launch which heralded the release to the public of the Black Pearls Calendar, a project that has attracted national media attention since it was distributed to MPs and other government officials in November.

Carlene Wolfgram

Ms Calvert was incensed by a Ministry of Health directive in June that required District Health Boards to cull surgical waiting lists. Many women expecting breast reconstruction were dropped from lists and sent back to their GPs. Some had been waiting for over two years. Ms Calvert contacted women who had either been affected by the cull or who felt strongly about it, formed a group called The Reconstructables and, with the support of the Breast Cancer Aotearoa Coalition (BCAC), began work on the Black Pearls Calendar project. Raewyn gratefully acknowledges the work of BCAC Chair Libby Burgess, Calendar designer Sharlene Cookson and photographer Briar Shaw.

‘The goal of The Reconstructables,’ said Chair Raewyn Calvert,’ is to ensure that every New Zealand woman who chooses to have a breast reconstruction following breast cancer surgery is guaranteed that option. The women who posed for this calendar have done so from the heart and with the support of their loved ones. It has taken immense courage and has not been done for the good of the individuals, but for the well being of all New Zealand women.’

Designer Sharlene Cookson and BCAC Chair Libby Burgess. Photographs courtesy of Briar Shaw

The women whose images grace the pages of the calendar were called forward at the launch to take a bow where they were applauded for their courage and dedication. One woman said the calendar had been ‘an amazing journey’ for her, and Raewyn added that she now no longer felt as alone as she used to. BCAC Chair Libby Burgess said she was absolutely thrilled that the calendar has been so well received by everyone who has seen it. ‘We have since heard that women are being re-booked for their reconstructions and this is very encouraging,’ said Ms Burgess. ’BCAC will continue to monitor this situation.’

Order your copy of the Black Pearls Calendar »

Creating the Black Pearls Calendar
- Designer Sharlene Cookson and Photographer Briar Shaw

Briar Shaw

When Sharlene Cookson and Briar Shaw were approached by BCAC Chair Libby Burgess to help with ‘a calendar project’ to raise awareness of the plight of women removed from surgical waiting lists for breast reconstruction, there was no hesitation from them both in accepting the project. Ms Cookson and Ms Shaw felt their involvement with the Calendar project heightened their awareness of a disease that affects 2500 women every year in New Zealand.

‘It was a fantastic idea,’ said photographer Briar Shaw who was attracted to the project because of the cause it represented. ‘The Calendar was shot over two days and on the first day I was quite nervous but I got over that quickly – I think I was more nervous than the women were!’ Ms Shaw chose to work in black and white, ‘to enhance the shapes’ and to give the portraits, ‘a film star-ish, 1940’s look. Those images were often quite ‘busty’ so it created an effective contradiction. I thought it had to be slightly shocking to get the point across.’

Designer Sharlene Cookson envisaged a calendar that was simply elegant and something the women could look at and be proud of. Ms Cookson chose Black Pearl calla lilies as the signature for the design and named the Calendar after the hauntingly beautiful dark flowers.

BCAC Chair Libby Burgess feels the Calendar is a credit to all who contributed to it. ‘The images are beautifully and tastefully presented, they are powerful and moving,’ said Ms Burgess. ‘The Calendar has been created with such care and skill by photographer Briar Shaw and designer Sharlene Cookson and reflects so well the heart and the courage with which the twelve women contributed their images.’

Herceptin Hero Anne Hayden Launches 'Laugh Your Tits Off!'

Herceptin Heroes Chair Anne Hayden launched her book, ‘Laugh Your Tits Off!’ at an event held in Devonport Tuesday 7 November. Anne is well known for the Anne Easter Hayden Herceptin Petition which she presented to Parliament on 16 March this year and the new venture into writing was a direct result of her own experience with breast cancer.

At the launch, L to R: Claire Ryan, Anne Hayden, Carlene Wolfgram, Jane Bissell, Libby Burgess

‘‘Laugh Your Tit’s Off!’ is a “little book” in which breast cancer is given humorous treatment,’ said Anne. ‘It has cartoons and practical advice for women who have had a mastectomy for breast cancer. Upon receiving a diagnosis of this kind, most women go straight to their libraries to learn more about what is in store for them and how they can improve the outcome.

‘This book was written to meet a gap in the marketplace, where most of the literature around this subject is earnest, well-meaning, and pretty sombre. In my research I found one paragraph about how humour can aid healing. Yet for my husband and I, our senses of humour pulled us through and made us strong enough to face the next hurdle. What we joked about became the cartoons in ‘Laugh Your Tits Off!’ Practical tips designed to add comfort and support in this unenviable situation are woven into its pages.’

Anne Hayden speaking at the launch

Anne hopes those who read her little book will laugh too and reap the benefits a good dose of humour can bring.

Anne will donate $1 to the BCAC for every copy sold. The book can be ordered via the publisher, FirstEdition, at 0800 782 547 or selfpublish@gmail.com or through the website www.laughyourtitsoff.com.

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Breast Cancer Aotearoa Coalition