BCAC members celebrated with former committee member Anne Hayden, when her PhD was conferred earlier this month. Anne’s thesis was entitled “Why rock the boat? Non-reporting of intimate partner violence”. Her work explored whether the use of restorative justice for such cases would increase reporting of intimate partner violence, and the results revealed that 79% of her sample of victims, perpetrators and key informants believed that it would increase reporting.
Anne was co-opted onto the BCAC committee in 2006 as we all travelled back from Parliament, where BCAC had supported Anne in presenting the Anne Easter Hayden Herceptin Petition. The petition played an important part in BCAC’s successful efforts to establish funding for the breast cancer medicine, Herceptin. Anne was a source of innovative ideas for BCAC, including the pink coffin demonstrations in Aotea Square and outside parliament and the Black Pearls calendar to promote access to breast reconstruction following breast cancer surgery. She led Herceptin Heroes, supported the motorbike demonstration by Herceptin Riders and memorably argued with PHARMAC’s CEO Matt Brougham on TV3's Sunshine breakfast programme.
Anne’s humour was revealed in Laugh your tits off!, her book of cartoons depicting the lighter side of challenging breast cancer experiences. Anne left the committee after being diagnosed with a retinal melanoma late in 2007, and remains a valued member of BCAC.
