Serena Beirne, charity CEO
Lots of people have things to teach you – make sure you're listening ...
Many of us may grow up harbouring dreams of spending our working lives helping others and leaving a positive impact on the world around us, but in reality, a rare few do. We help where we can and chip away at selflessness, but it’s an exceptional minority who can claim they dedicate those 38 hours a week to directly improving the lives of their peers – unique gems like Brisbane’s Serena Beirne, who spends her days offering immediate, practical support and information to the families of mothers who have been diagnosed with cancer. As CEO of the charity Mummy’s Wish, Serena helps young families to cope with the many challenges that arise during and after the cancer journey. The organisation has offered emotional and physical support to more than 2000 families since it was established in 2008, with hopes to raise that number to 4000 by the end of this year. Ahead of the organisation’s 2014 Charity Ball & Auction on Saturday May 3, The Weekend Edition dropped into the Mummy’s Wish HQ in Bardon to talk happiness, family and words of wisdom.
What led to the formation of Mummy’s Wish back in 2007?
Our founder Bernadette Vella was receiving cancer treatment and realised that although she had a wealth of family support to help her though the toughest challenge she has ever faced, there were many young mums just like her who weren’t so lucky. She used her unique understanding of the challenges these families faced and vowed to help others manage the minefield that is life with cancer.
What influences and inspires your work?
I’m so inspired by the selfless, incredible mums we get to meet every day and this drives me to work even harder to make their cancer journey the best it can be under very difficult circumstances.
What is the most rewarding part of your job?
Knowing that every day the Mummy’s Wish mum’s support co-ordinators are out there minimising chaos and allowing families to spend precious time together.
You have a personal understanding into what some of these families are going through, what insights did you gain from your own experience?
Yes, my mum died of cancer when I was at school so I know first-hand the turmoil and catastrophe a mum’s cancer brings to the family unit. I know that our teams can change lives by helping families find a pathway through the madness, giving them time to celebrate the little everyday moments that define family life.
How can Brisbane locals get involved and lend a hand?
You can donate, make a purchase from the Mummy’s Wish store or sign up to our database online. Visiting our Facebook page to be made aware of events would be a fantastic idea as well. If you’re the marathon running type, w’are always so grateful to people who raise funds for us by conducting peer-to-peer fundraising when they face their own challenges, such as marathons.
The Mummy’s Wish Charity Ball & Auction will be raising much-needed funds and awareness at the Brisbane Hilton on Saturday May 3. What festivities are planned?
The night is set to be incredible, with a live big band, live and silent auctions, photo booths, lucky door prizes, award-winning wines from Thorn-Clarke, typically sensational Hilton hospitality and a room full of happy people celebrating the great work done by Mummy’s Wish!
What’s a typical day like for you as CEO?
I drop my small people at school, do a radio interview, talk on the phone via Bluetooth all the way to the office, meet with members of my incredible team, grab a sandwich with one of our uber volunteers, chat with one of our corporate sponsors, approve some artwork for an event, book flights for a visit to our Sydney team, squeeze in a coffee on the run, get home, kiss my small people, make their dinner, head on out to another function, meet some great new people, speak at the event and then head home to fall into bed before doing it all again the next day! Oh and find a little spot in there somewhere where I realise every day how lucky I am to do this incredibly rewarding job supported by some of the best in the business …
What are your long-term goals for the charity?
We hope to have a national presence by 2016, helping every mum who has children under 12 to help her family survive and thrive during and after her cancer treatment.
What’s the last thing that made you smile?
It’s school holidays so one of my mum’s support co-ordinators had her kids in tow when she dropped into the office today. Their latest knock-knock jokes are the bomb and had me rolling in the aisles!
What’s your idea of complete happiness?
Spending lazy time in my jim jams under a blanket on a rainy afternoon watching a feel-good movie with my two small people!
What’s your greatest fear?
I don’t scare easy, but I spend a lot of time making sure my team continue to love what they do, because Mummy’s Wish wouldn’t be Mummy’s Wish without them.
What’s worth fighting for?
The health, happiness and fulfilment of those small people I keep banging on about!
Who do you most admire, and why?
After my own mum died, I was blessed with a special kind of friendship, love and support by my two best school friends’ mums, Patsy and Jan. Those women reminded me and continue to remind me what the meaning of selflessness is and their influence on me during those teenage years has been a gift I will never stop being grateful for.
What’s the greatest lesson you’ve learnt in life so far?
Spend a pile of time with your big brother. He’s a good one and has a pile of things to teach you in his own, funny little way!
What are your essentials for a well-spent weekend?
Buttery, old-fashioned chardonnay, cheese so fatty as to be almost illegal, a pile of friends and family with a lot to catch up on, a great view, a comfy couch and a bucketload of activities to occupy the small people.
What achievement are you most proud of?
Those same small people.
How do you define ‘success’?
Being able to take good care of the people you love, helping some other people along the way and still having a little bit of time to be justifiably selfish.
What are your words of wisdom?
You seriously can do whatever you want to do because if you want it badly enough, you will make it happen. Nothing is impossible, it’s more that some things maybe aren’t worth killing yourself for! Also, don’t buy the cheapest bottle of wine – that never works out well … Lots of people have things to teach you – make sure you’re listening.
Only a Brisbane local would know … Brisbane River is heaven and Moreton Bay even more so.
FAVOURITE WEEKEND SPOT TO:
Perk up … WhiteJam, Hendra.
Relax … The Ti-Trees Swimming Club, Hendra.
Dine … Gerard’s Bistro on James Street, Fortitude Valley.
Indulge … Botanica in Red Hill for the cakes.
Shop … Online – who has time to shop?!
Catch-up … My house.
Be inspired … TED.