In a place like Woodgate Beach, it doesn’t take long for people to rally around each other — and that’s exactly what’s happening with this year’s Mother’s Day Classic.
At the centre of it all is a group of seven local women who many in the community already know and admire. Calling themselves the “Warriors of Woodgate,” Susan Coleman, Madonna Barrett, Rosemarie Kirby, Marjo Greiner, Jean Hooper, Bernie Barker and Michelle Purves have each faced breast cancer themselves.
What started as a private Facebook chat to support one another has grown into something much bigger — a community-led event that’s making a real difference.
The Woodgate Beach Mother’s Day Classic was first brought to life by Rosemarie Kirby and Jenni Cole in 2023 and 2024, raising around $30,000 over two years. With Rosemarie now undergoing treatment for metastatic breast cancer, she’s taken a step back this year. In true Woodgate fashion, the rest of the group has stepped up to carry it forward in her honour.
The event itself is as local as it gets — a relaxed but meaningful 5km walk along the esplanade, with the ocean on one side and familiar faces all around. It’s a chance for the community to come together, remember loved ones, support those doing it tough and celebrate those who’ve come through the other side. For a town of only about 1,500 to 2,000 people, the turnout has been incredible, with more than 140 walkers in previous years and up to $19,000 raised in a single event.
And it’s not just about the walk. In the lead-up, the Warriors have been out and about across the region, chatting with local businesses, knocking on doors and pulling together a raffle packed with generously donated prizes. It’s been a real community effort, with businesses more than willing to get behind the cause and help boost fundraising even further.
This year, the aim is to welcome at least 120 participants and raise around $15,000 — goals that feel well within reach given the support already building.
For Susan, the cause is deeply personal. She was diagnosed in her late 40s after noticing a small indent in her breast — something that didn’t seem quite right. Acting on that instinct led to surgery, chemotherapy and radiation. It’s a story she shares openly, in the hope it encourages others to trust their gut and get checked early. Mother’s Day also carries special meaning for her, having lost her own mum 35 years ago. Events like this are a reminder to make the most of time with loved ones and to come together as a community.
That’s really what the Warriors of Woodgate are all about — locals looking out for locals, turning their own experiences into something positive, and showing just how much a small town can achieve when it pulls together.
And with 61 Australians diagnosed with breast or ovarian cancer every day, and 12 lives lost daily, every step taken and every dollar raised counts.
Chitchat Newspaper – May 2026