The staff at a Batemans Bay cafe are giving a great cause some serious lip this month.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Ten staff members (all female), at Michel’s Patisserie are taking part in Liptember, to raise funds and awareness for women’s mental health.
They will wear brightly coloured lipstick throughout the month as part of an Albury-based team called Libba’s Lipettes, and all funds, to be donated online, go to the Centre for Women’s Mental Health and Lifeline.
Michel’s co-proprietor Kate Garland said she had been introduced to Liptember three years ago when living in Albury.
“I had a friend who was affected by mental health issues,” she said.
“It is so common these days, with one-in-three people affected, but it is never talked about.
“Post-natal depression is common, and having a baby is tough.”
For the Michel’s crew, awareness is just as important as funds raised.
“It is important to get the conversation started about mental health, because it is not spoken about enough,” Mrs Garland said.
“We’ve already had people ask us why we have bright lipstick on, and we are able to tell them.
“The theme is ‘kiss away the blues’, although we aren’t giving away kisses.”
As can be seen on the Liptember website, many teams have male members, but at this stage the Michels crew is all female, with only co-proprietor Brett Garland abstaining.
“We are trying to encourage him, but so far he won’t do it; he’s chicken,” Mrs Garland said.
To support the team, go to the Liptember website and find Libba’s Lipettes.