When Yvonne Moon sets her sights on something, she keeps going until she achieves her goal. The Hoppers Crossing resident tells Charlene Macaulay about her own real-life Brady Bunch and raising almost $1 million for ovarian cancer research.
What’s your connection to Wyndham?
I’m a Hoppers Crossing resident. We built here about 27 years ago. Before that, we were living in Altona. When we built here, there were no other houses in the estate. The area was certainly not as busy as it is now.
Tell me about your family.
I’m married with two daughters and two granddaughters, and my husband’s got three sons and two grandsons. We are the Brady Bunch, actually. Fred and I have been together 35 years and we got married four years ago; we just decided it was time. It was special and we had all the family there.
You run your own business – tell me more.
I sub-contract to businesses for events, promotions, sponsorship and marketing. I’ve been doing it for 21 years or so – it’s good to be your own boss.
You were the first female president of Williamstown Rotary. What made you join and what has kept you going?
I’m a member of Williamstown Rotary and part of the Rotary district, which encompasses 62 clubs. I joined about 20 years ago. In those days, you were invited to join Rotary and you had to have your own business. Things have changed a bit these days, which is probably for the better.
What made you start RoCan, the trust that raises awareness of ovarian cancer?
I started RoCan when my friend Anna Buckley passed away from ovarian cancer and I made a promise to her that I would try to raise awareness of the disease. In those days, there was hardly any awareness at all about ovarian cancer. So I started the RoCan trust and have been raising money and awareness ever since. I think we’ve raised almost $1 million, which has gone to research to find a screening test. Now we’re also trying to raise money for a cancer wellness centre.
You were awarded the Order of Australia Medal in 2007 for your community work. Why do you think it’s important to volunteer in your local community?
I think it’s very rewarding to volunteer, I get a lot out of it. It’s a great way to help people in need and it’s giving something back to the community. I was very humbled to get the OAM because I know there’s a lot more people out there doing more than I’m doing.
What’s your favourite place to go for a coffee or meal in Wyndham?
I go to Corinthians in Hoppers Crossing for coffee; they have the best coffee. For a meal, I’ve been to the Wyndham Cache a few times. We don’t eat out very often. I do a lot of entertaining at home. My kids say that my lamb roast is always good.
