Member News

Research Study: Physical Activity, Exercise and Quality of Life for Those Living with Metastatic Breast Cancer Sweet Louise members are invited to participate in a Research Study Focused on Physical Activity, Exercise and Quality of Life for Those Living with Metastatic Breast Cancer. This study is led by Stacey Reading, PhD ([email protected]) and Ms. Mahsa Zumani ([email protected]) based at the Department of Exercise Sciences at the Auckland University. Exercise is … Read More

Sweet Louise was founded in honour of Louise Perkins, who lived with advanced breast cancer for over 10 years. Louise saw self-care as a vital aspect of her daily being. She filled her life with reasons to live, tending her mind, body and her spirit by discovering a myriad of ways that helped her deal with the challenges of advanced cancer. Louise wrote a list of tips in her diary … Read More

Upcoming Member Meetings Member meetings will only go ahead if it is safe to do so in each local area and short notice decisions and changes may be required. For questions about meetings, please contact your Support Coordinator, email [email protected] or call 0800 112277.  You can also check the full meeting calendar for more information. NORTHLAND RSVP to Sara on 021 091 06694 or 0800 112277 or email [email protected] Whangarei: … Read More

We’re excited to announce our first Member’s Day for 2024 will be in Christchurch on 16 March at the Chapel Street Centre, 68 Harewood Road, Papanui. This will be a day to honour you and members from across the region and take part in practical workshops on wellbeing and self-care with advanced breast cancer. It’s also a great chance to connect with other Sweet Louise members. A delicious lunch is also … Read More

Welcome to your December newsletter – the last of 2023! We are highlighting our new support coordinators, there’s an update on Member’s Day and meet our member Nicole. Read the December newsletter

Welcome to your March newsletter – we’ve got a packed newsletter for you once again! We are highlighting our Three! new support coordinators and our member Sandra. Read the March newsletter  

Welcome to your February newsletter – we’ve got a packed newsletter for you once again! We are highlighting one of our members – Claire and her Family Time experience! Read the February newsletter  

Welcome to your September newsletter – we’ve got a packed newsletter for you once again! We are delighted to introduce you to Chrissy Luke – our new Support Coordinator for the midcentral region. Read the September newsletter  

Welcome to your May newsletter – we’ve got a packed newsletter for you once again! Meet our member Tania, a primary teacher and mum of three boys who shares her tips for living life to the fullest; read ideas to make the most of the change in season; Patient Voice Aotearoa invite you to join the “Lie Down For Life” on May 12, plus information on employment entitlements, upcoming meetings … Read More

Inside the March newsletter you’ll find all the latest member meeting dates around the country, plus some Zoom dates too. There’s also a chance to meet Natalie Yeoman from Dunedin who shares some of her beautiful poetry – and a chance to win a copy of her book. Read the March newsletter

Our latest newsletter includes the latest meeting dates for February and March, meet Hayley – our new Support Coordinator for the mid-central region, plus some inspirational words from the amazing Karen Daniels. Enjoy! Read the newsletter in full.

It has been great to see many you over the last few weeks at our Christmas meetings. 2020 sure has been a bit of a roller coaster ride in New Zealand. We embraced zoom calls and phone calls, spending time at home safe in our bubbles, and relished those moments when we could meet face to face. Over the holiday period, the Sweet Louise office will be closed from 5pm on … Read More

An update on Sweet October and Breast Cancer Awareness Month Lizzie, Margaret and Jessy in the news Team update Time Out: your chance to access a free holiday home …and more. Read the newsletter in full.

Our latest member e-newsletter, featuring: An update on member meetings Annemarie’s story and first book Sweet October Survey 2020 …and more. Read the newsletter in full.

Our latest member e-newsletter, featuring: An update on member meeting Preeti’s  dramatic  journey home Sweet October Survey 2020 …and more. Read the newsletter in full.

Earlier this week, we ran the online presentation about anxiety, what it is, how it affects us and how can we manage it. Dr Rebecca Storey, Senior Clinical Psychologist for Cancer Services at Waitemata DHB gave a short presentation about anxiety and how techniques such as reframing thoughts can be used. Louise Bobbit, Integrative Nurse Coach and mindfulness practitioner talked about mindfulness as a tool for managing anxiety and lead … Read More

Member newsletter: 29 July 2020 Happy International Friendship Day! We’re really enjoying being able to get out and about again post lockdown to connect with you at our meetings and visits. In this newsletter: meet Jessy, sign up for a rural Zoom meeting, join the online presentation on managing anxiety. Read the newsletter in full    

Are you unable to attend a Sweet Louise morning tea? Let’s connect online! Sweet Louise would love to connect with our rural members and members who may be unable to attend our morning teas. If that sounds like you, please come along to our rural zoom meeting. This is a great opportunity to meet and connect, share strengths and challenges. The zoom meeting will be held on Wednesday, 12 August from … Read More

We know from you, our members, that anxiety is something you live with as part of your cancer diagnosis. Add in the roller coaster ride of uncertainty, fear and change that many of us have experienced as we have lived through the Covid-19 pandemic over the last few months and we’re thinking – let’s talk about this. Let’s talk about anxiety, what it is, how it affects us and how … Read More

How lucky we are here in New Zealand that we have been able to return to some sort of normality. For us, that means getting stuck into planning our visits to you and our member meetings. Member meetings will be back on from July – we know you’ve missed them, and so have we! We are busy planning the meetings as we speak and we will be announcing details on the dates and venues … Read More

From this week our Support Coordinators are resuming personal contact with you – initially meeting with individual members. And as advised previously, from July we will resume member meetings. Also in this newsletter: Online presentation on managing anxiety Meet member Lynne Hansons Cookbook competition …and more Read the newsletter in full 

Calling all bakers, cooks, chefs and sous chefs. Here’s your chance to let your talents in the kitchen shine with the Sweet October Recipe Competition! Last year the Sweet October e-Cookbook raised awareness and vital funds to help Sweet Louise support our members. This year, we want to build on this success and we need your help! We are aiming to release a 2020 update of the e-cookbook and we … Read More

As restrictions around Covid-19 ease across New Zealand and life starts to return to normal, we want to update you about our plans for resuming face-to-face contact with all Sweet Louise members. Also in this newsletter: A special gift from Tessa Johnson Mailene: My mental health boost! A simple bridge: meet Support Coordinator Lesley Read the newsletter in full

Life with ABC (advanced breast cancer) is a podcast series in which Jane, an experienced documentary-maker and Sweet Louise member, chats with other Sweet Louise members to share their thoughts and experiences of living with advanced breast cancer. Episode 1: The Stage 4 bombshell  “A diagnosis of ABC is like a bomb going off. It calls absolutely everything into question.”  The panel speak frankly about their thoughts and feelings, covering work, … Read More

How our world has changed in these first few months of 2020. Who could have envisaged life in isolated bubbles? And while the new quietness of our roads, the increase in birdsong and the relative simplicity of life are aspects we might all appreciate – there are things we miss from ‘normal’ life too. Contact with loved ones, family and friends is one of the biggest for sure. Connection is one … Read More

Please click the link to read our latest newsletter

Please click the link to read our latest newsletter

Please click the link below for the latest member’s newsletter. Sweet Louise Member Newsletter for December 2018 and January 2019  

Please click on the link below to read the full member newsletter for October and November. Please note the Warkworth member meeting is on Friday October 5 at the Coffee Club at 4/67 Auckland Rd, Warkworth from 10.30am to 12noon. We apologise for the error in the newsletter. Sweet Louise October/November Member Newsletter  

Please click the link to read the latest members newsletter 

Please click the link to read our latest newsletter

February/March Member Newsletter

Click to read the October Member Newsletter Here

Click to read the September Member Newsletter  

Click here to read the August Member Newsletter

Click here to read the July Member Newsletter

Member Meetings for December 2016/February 2017 (No meetings scheduled for January 2017). If you have any questions about Auckland and Northland meetings, please email your Auckland Support Coordinator or email [email protected] to see if transport is available. Please note times for individual meetings. Morning tea is provided. Auckland West/North Shore/Warkworth/Northland. Contact Sarah on [email protected] 027 371 8686 or 0800 11 22 77 Whangarei: Tuesday 6 December, 10:30am- 12pm, Daffodil House … Read More

Breast Cancer Aotearoa Coalition (BCAC) has launched a campaign for greater access to medicines to give Kiwis with secondary breast cancer a better chance at life. Visit their website for more information.

Last week I had my first appraisal since I started working as a Support Coordinator at Sweet Louise in September last year. As I reflected on my Support Coordinator role, I realised what a varied one it is. I often feel like I wear many hats: Administrator – organising vouchers for our members that provide services that help improve quality of life and recruiting new service providers. Arranging family initiative payments has … Read More

Sheryl and Simon have recently delivered their first batch of heart cushions to Tracy, Support Coordinator, in Wellington. Sheryl says “We decided we wanted to help others as we understand how life can change dramatically in a heartbeat. Seven years ago Simon was involved in a car accident which left him with a brain injury.  Without the help and support of family, friends and therapists we wouldn’t be where we are … Read More

Ever wanted to write your own story but don’t know how?  Whangaparaoa Library (Pohutukawa Room), Saturday 16 April, 10am-3.30pm $15 fee includes a copy of Jane’s book, ‘Welcome to the Amazon Club’ This one day workshop will include: An introduction to journal writing How keeping a journal can help with everyday life Tips for daily writing Turning your journal writing into life story To register: Enrol online at www.janebissell.co.nz Email Jane at … Read More

Wellington:  We now have the services of The Beauty Room,5 Britannia Street, Petone. The lovely staff there are available for all kinds of beauty treatments. Freedom drivers are now available in: Hamilton—Stuart Aston 07 826 4189 Tauranga South—Gavin Bennett 07 575 6324 Rotorua—Robert Strickland –07 213 1961 Vouchers If you need help using your vouchers, please remember Support Coordinators are always available to help you through the process, either by … Read More

We love it when a member is able to use her vouchers to indulge herself. Like Adrienne… on one of her    regular visits to Wellington, she was able to stop and have a pampering day at the Woolshed in Pukerua Bay. She says, “Pamela and Verity have the best aromatherapy bath and massage and the rest at the retreat in lovely trees was healing, energising and very nurturing. The lunch and … Read More

The New Zealand Breast Cancer Foundation has partnered with Stratos, a national counselling service, to provide free support for people coping with the emotional challenges which often accompany breast cancer. Counselling can help you talk through concerns, manage stress and find better ways to cope and communicate with family and friends. Often it is helpful to talk things through with someone not connected to your life. This service is free, … Read More