Cancer Council’s Biggest Morning Tea: a cuppa and cake for a good cause

Event organiser Debbie Curtis said the morning tea was especially close to her heart, having lost her mother to cancer 15 years ago.

“About five years ago, I said to the ladies in my social group, ‘How about I donate the proceeds from the day to the Biggest Morning Tea because it falls on my mum's birthday,’” Ms Curtis said.

“I think we had about 16 to 20 people turn up, and then from there it just got bigger and bigger every year.”

Ms Curtis said nearly everyone attending had been affected by cancer in some way.

The group raised money through raffles, lucky door prizes and a small entry fee.

From teddy bears to quilts and coat hangers, many of the prizes on offer were lovingly handmade by the sewing group.

Even the tea cups carried their own charm, with many sourced from garage sales and op shops throughout the year before being offered for purchase to attendees on the day.

Instead of placing dots under chairs for lucky-door prizes, organisers hid stickers beneath the tea cups.

As well as being handy with a sewing machine, the Wahroonga Stitchers cater the morning tea themselves, offering sandwiches, sausage rolls, cakes and slices to enjoy alongside a cuppa.

Ms Curtis said they always made too much food but ensured nothing went to waste by offering $5 leftover plates that attendees could take home to their families.

“My dad has already bought a plate of cakes,” she said.