Show Notes:

Welcome back to Central Coast Stories, and if you are joining me for the first time, a very big welcome to you.  I am a journalist and your host Kayleen Bell and this is a Sunrise Sound Productions podcast.  On the 2nd of May, 2026 I had the pleasure of attending a Women’s Health Luncheon held at the VOCO Ballroom in Gosford.  This event was organised by Dr Kelly Needham and her wonderful team from Coastal Goddess in Saratoga.  The main purpose of this event was to raise awareness of gynaecological cancers and raise much needed funds to help support and save women through research.  The community event raised $30,000 in one short afternoon, bringing the total raised by Coastal Goddess, over five years to $115,000.  All funds raised are donated to WomenCan whose mission is to fund research and improve outcomes and provide hope for women.  WomenCan supports the Peak National Gynaecological Cancer Research Group to help advance research and save women’s lives.

Another parallel but certainly main feature of the event was the emphasis on education around perimenopause.  Dr Kelly Needham says “Menopause is not a niche issue.  It affects half the population, yet countless women are still suffering without support.  Add to that the devastating reality of gynaecological cancer, where over 42,900 children are projected to lose their mothers in the next ten years, and the need for action becomes undeniable.  This is why the wanted to put on this event.  
Federal member for Robertson, Dr Gordon Reid, officially opened the event, and journalist, author and media personality Shelly Horton did a fabulous job as MC of the event.  Shelly has been very public about her own difficult journey navigating perimenopause.  This was a very difficult edit to reduce a whole afternoon of important information down to this one episode.  There are a few speakers I have prioritised with a short snippet from the other great speakers. There will be helpful links in the show notes and you can also book a consult of course with the team at Coastal Goddess.  

This episode will feature terms and descriptions of female anatomy and as such may not be suitable for young listeners.  I would encourage men not to switch off though, and to listen to the whole episode, to help better understand and support the wonderful women in their lives.  The information in this podcast is for education purposes and not diagnostic purposes.  Listeners are encouraged to seek personal, medical advice from their primary health physicians or professionals with menopause interest.

Lastly there is a brief mention of suicide statistics and if at any time you wish to speak to someone during this podcast please remember there is phone support available from Lifeline 13 11 14.  

Next episode of Central Coast Stories will publish mid to late June and it will be a discussion with Clinical Psychologist Heather Irvine-Rundle on her CBT program to help perimenopausal women as briefly mentioned in today’s episode.

This episode was produced by Kayleen Bell, Journalist and host and owner of Sunrise Sound Productions - If you want to talk about how I can help you with your own event or podcast please email me at sunrisesoundproductions@gmail.comIf you have some interesting stories for me to investigate covering for Central Coast Stories podcast please email centralcoaststories@gmail.com
As always thanks again for listening and please subscribe and share!! Thank you.

Helpful Links:
Dr Kelly Needham & The Coastal Goddess teamCosmetic & Women's Health Cliniccoastalgoddess.com.au

Shelly Horton Book "I'm Your Peri Godmother"  Buy the book here: https://geni.us/ImYourPeriGodmother & On Audible here: 

https://www.audible.com.au/pd/Im-Your-Peri-Godmother-Audiobook/B0FJ22M2KH

Following the event Shelly Horton announced a women's health tour on Today Extra a peri-menopause tour.  This is called "Hot, Healthy & Unbreakable! Midlife: Reimagined" in Australia.  This tour starts on Thursday 30/7/26 in Perth, followed by two shows in Adelaide on Sunday 02/08/26, then Melbourne on Monday 03/08/26.  Then Sydney on Thursday 06/08/26 and ending with two shows in Brisbane on Sunday 09/08/26.  

Shelly will be hosting the event and will be joined by "Dr Vonda Wright, US orthopaedic surgeon loved by Australian audiences will focus on strength, longevity and staying physically powerful through midlife so that you become unbreakable from the inside out; and Dr Kelly Casperson, Urologist and expert in hormonal shifts you are experiencing in sexual and pelvic health; who will reassure you that you are not broken.

Tickets are on sale via this link https://www.tegdainty.com/tour/hot-healthy-unbreakable

Shelly also consults with individuals to help assist their perimenopause journey at work via think link Peri Godmother at Workhttps://shellshockedmedia.com/im-your-peri-godmother/

WomenCan - Saving Lives “Over 7000 women in Australia and New Zealand are diagnosed with gynaecological cancer every year"https://www.womencan.org.au/about

PANEL:

Obstetrician & Gynaecologist:  Dr Peta Skilbeck https://intuitionprivate.com.au/team/dr-peta-skilbeck/
Obstetrician & Gynaecologist:  Dr Helen Manning https://intuitionprivate.com.au/team/dr-helen-manning/   [There were venue mic issues on the day and Helen’s audio was not clear to include in the podcast] 

Nutritionist:  Karen Aroney - Founder of ExecFuel Nutrition - Optimise Your Health During Perimenopause & Menopause E-Bookhttps://www.execfuel.com.au/store/p/optimize-your-health-during-perimenopause-menopause

GP with special interest in Menopause:  Dr Shauna Watts - "All About You"Podcast https://www.allaboutyoupod.com/

Clinical Psychologist: Heather Irvine-Rundle  - My Peri Matters Program (CBT) provides non-pharmaceutical interventions https://mymenopausematters.com.au/my-peri-matters/https://mymenopausematters.com.au/

Women’s Health Physiotherapist: Lauren Thomson Physiozesthttps://physiozest.com.au/team/lauren-thomson/

Mental Health 

Central Coast Stories Podcast Episode 6 - Craig Gaunt & Perimenopausal Depression - Lots of helpful information in the “view Description” tab. Produced by Kayleen Bell Journalist - A Sunrise Sound Productionshttps://omny.fm/shows/central-coast-stories/ep-6-craig-gaunt-perimenopause-debbie-gaunt-founda?in_playlist=podcast#sharing

Lifeline 13 11 14

Supporting Your Partner Help Sheet - Menopause Alliancehttps://menopausealliance.au/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/Supporting-Your-Partner-PDF.pdf

Brain Fog During Menopause Transition - Assessment help sheet (great to take to a GP visit) created by Psychiatrist Professor Jayashri Kulkarni Monash Her Centre Australia - Monash University https://www.monash.edu/__data/assets/pdf_file/0007/3800419/meno_31_11_2024_08_05_cgurvich_meno-d-24-00079_sdc2.pdf