NINE ladies attended the free Fly-Casting Day for women who have experienced breast cancer on October 31, 2026 at Dutton Trout Hatchery in Ebor.
This 10th year of the program, run by Laurie Muldoon and Kate Guthrey, achieved its planned outcome of providing opportunities for women to find inspiration, discover renewed energy for life, and experience healing connections with other women and nature.
Participant Carolyn Cross, who is a breast cancer nurse at Macksville Hospital, brought along four women who were in her care, and spoke about their experience at the end of the day.
“More than physiological, there are many more benefits of a day like today, including mindfulness, experiencing a beautiful setting, having a shared experience and the feeling that you are not alone,” she told News Of The Area.
Having discovered other programs that made use of the beneficial action of fly-casting, Mr Muldoon founded his own one-day event in 2017. It was designed to appeal to all women, required no fishing experience, and was supported by experienced instructors.
“The body movements required for fly fishing, as an exercise, were found to benefit women who have undergone surgery and/or radiation following breast cancer,” he told NOTA.
Participant Pauline Hancock spoke of having attended before and described the day as one of shared experience.
Pauline is a member of the Brave Hearts Dragon Boat Club, near Port Macquarie, which she said gave a similar sense of camaraderie.
“With these days good things come out of them,” she told NOTA.
“You know if times are tough, you always have someone to speak with.”
Breast Cancer Buddies Coffs Harbour support group member Lee Millard-Newton has attended previously and joined in on the day.
A cancer care nurse for over 20 years, Ms Millard-Newton said, “These days are beautiful days for the soul, they’re all about friendships and connection.”
There was plenty of fun on the day with some participants expressing the desire to come back next year having had a “wonderful day”.
All attendees on the day received a beautiful ‘Flies for the Girls’ gift of a fly box stocked with handmade professionally tied flies, donated by members of the ‘Fly Life’ forum, organised by Peter Gibson.
Each attendee also received a handmade wooden pen made by volunteer, Allan Ekert.
By Andrea FERRARI
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