Robin's Reflections – August
August 07, 2025
Incredibly, we are already halfway through the year – and what a year it’s turning out to be.
Right now, the OCRF is deep in planning and development mode, stitching together our big plans for the upcoming months which include, our sparkling Silver Anniversary Gala Dinner next week, preparing to kick off a fabulous Frocktober for 2025, and making sure ovarian cancer is on the agenda in Canberra as we prepare to launch our new Research Impact Strategy later in the year.
A celebration to remember
I’m particularly excited for our Silver Anniversary Gala Dinner on 14 August. It’s going to be such a meaningful evening, as we celebrate 25 years of progress and hope. It’s also a unique opportunity to reflect, connect and recognise the people who have made the OCRF the leading independent funder of ovarian cancer research in Australia.
We’re honoured the Assistant Minister for Women, Assistant Minister for Indigenous Health, Assistant Minister for Health and Aged Care, the Hon. Rebecca White MP will join us to acknowledge the contributions of the OCRF and its community and I’m looking forward to seeing many familiar faces on this special night.
Advocating for change in Canberra
Our advocacy work continues to gain momentum. In the last few weeks, as part of our support for the Gynaecological Cancers Transformation Initiative, I travelled to Canberra to meet with the Minister for Health and Ageing, the Hon Mark Butler MP, alongside representatives from our peer organisations Ovarian Cancer Australia and the Australia New Zealand Gynaecological Oncology Group. It was a key opportunity to ensure gynaecological cancers get the national attention they urgently need.
We know that strong, collaborative relationships, especially with those in Canberra, are essential to driving long term impact. We will be back in Canberra in late October to talk about our new Research Impact Strategy, seeking more opportunities to work together and accelerate change.
Get ready to Frock!
Yes, Frocktober is back, and it's going to be bigger and better than ever! With the support of the talented team at Noisy Beast, the OCRF team have been working to deliver an unmissable campaign. You can expect to see some familiar faces from the arts and media world, hear the powerful stories from our OCRF community, and some brand-new merch and a whole lot of fun. The 2025 campaign will launch on Monday 18 August.
Follow the Frocktober Instagram to be the first to see all the announcements!
Thank you for your ongoing support, everything we do, we do with you beside us.
Warm wishes for August,
Robin Penty,
CEO
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