Geraldton woman Anita Southall is pink for a passionate cause

Anita Southall is driven by one colour and one goal. Pink — and the urge to get women scanned early for breast cancer are what the Rangeway woman lives for. It’s been that way since May. Her mother, Gillian Dew, passed away in April. “I was a mess, and did nothing for the next month,” Mrs Southall said. “It was worse, because it was in lockdown (COVID-19) time and it was a digital funeral. But I knew I had to do something and snap out of it.” She started sewing goods, including bags and cushions. But they had to be pink in colour (the National Breast Cancer Foundation ran a ‘Go Pink’ fundraising campaign this month) and include hearts. “The heart sign is to honour my mum,” Mrs Southall said. “I’m making things to help others, and myself, as you feel better doing something positive. “Mum lived for another 13 years after her initial diagnosis of breast cancer. She was checked early and chose a double mastectomy. “It meant her grandkids got to be young adults and were able to remember her, rather than being children and not being able to. “They have so many happy memories of her.” Mrs Southall has two messages — one to women, the other to people who are suffering mentally. “Get your boobies checked,” she advises members of the fairer sex. And to others? “Find a passion, a cause, and promote it. It will help them, it will help yourself,” she said.