Would You Trust a Stranger?

I had an interesting situation a short while ago that got me thinking - when did I stop trusting strangers? I just received a phone call from a really worthwhile local charity looking for support for a worthy cause.

I agreed to support the cause and things started getting complicated. To take my pledge, obviously the charity needed me to provide my credit card details, but exactly how do I know that the lovely lady on the other end was in fact legitimately from said charity and not in fact hired by fraudsters to collect credit card details? After an intricate dance in which permit numbers, ABNs and phone numbers were shared - I was still stuck. The phone number for the charity collection didn't match the businesses normal phone number I could see online, so even if I called her back I still had no way of knowing if this was legitimate.

I've had this same dance before with banks. Someone on the other end of the line claims to be from my bank and immediately pounces in with half a dozen personal identifying questions before they can share whatever it is they need to say. This is wonderful, except the same questions could be used by scammers to illegally access my accounts. When I ask them to verify they know something about me, they can't due to the bank's privacy laws. Checkmate.

Once when I insisted on calling the bank bank so I could verify who I was talking to first, I was put through to about five different people none of who had any idea why I was calling. Complete customer service inefficiency (probably) or proof my skepticism was warranted?

Now I want to open this up to the floor. How would you have dealt with this situation? Would you leave a worthy charity wanting to protect your finances or do you give people the benefit of the doubt? I'd love to know if anyone has any great tricks for checking if the caller is legitimate.

New book teaches kids about cancer

Regular readers of WA Style will know I had both friends and family members diagnosed with cancer and any opportunity I can get to support a worthy cancer-related cause, I will jump on it.

This is a particular interesting product as both the Cancer Council NSW and the National Breast and Ovarian Cancer Centre have pledged support for Susanne Gervay’s book Always Jack. This book highlights the challenges that children face when a parent is diagnosed with cancer.

I have seen how family and friends can be affected when a loved one has cancer and I think this challenge is especially difficult when there are kids involved, so I think this book is a great idea to help explain what is happening to the small people in your life.

Always Jack uses humour to break down the taboos surrounding cancer and encourages parents, teachers and children to discuss the subject openly.

A multiple breast cancer survivor herself, author Susanne Gervay faced cancer when her children were six and nine years of age, again when they were teenagers and yet again just recently. She clearly has firsthand experience of just how alone young people can feel when cancer touches their lives. 

While she found Always Jack an emotionally difficult book to write, Susanne is passionate about reaching children, parents, schools and the community. As a result, she is donating a percentage of her royalties to Cancer Council and NBOCC.

Always Jack also includes details of the Cancer Council Helpline for families and children in need of support. The book will be available from October 1 for the price of $14.99. For more information about cancer related issues visit www.cancercouncil.com.au or call the helpline 13 11 20.

Wimpy kids help Telethon

Doesn't this pic just make you want to laugh out loud? On Sunday 19 September, you can be among the first in Perth to see a preview of the school holiday hit comedy Diary of a Wimpy Kid and help the Telethon kids at the same time.

For just $8 a ticket you can be part of the Movie Masters Telethon Movie Day. There will be multiple sessions screening across all Ace and Grand Cinema locations in Perth, and also in Busselton and Bunbury, with proceeds to Telethon. 

Sessions are as follows:
Ace Busselton: 11am
Ace Midland:10am and 2.30pm
Ace Subiaco: 10am and 2.30pm
Ace Rockingham: 10am and 2.30pm
Grand Armadale: 2.30pm
Grand Bunbury: 10am and 2.30pm
Grand Currambine: 10am and 2.30pm
Grand Joondalup: 11am and 3pm
Grand Warwick: 10am and 2.30pm
Grand Whitfords: 11am and 3pm

Diary of a Wimpy Kid is a hilarious live-action comedy movie for tweens and families that deals with the universal tween ‘awkward’ phase, and the themes of the cool kids versus the wimpy kids.  The movie is based on the popular illustrated book series of the same name, and is set to release in cinemas on 23 September.

Tickets on sale now from all Ace and Grand Cinemas locations and online at:
www.moviemasters.com.au

Great result for charity!

Hi all. A while ago I posted about a fantastic cause (here), a charity screening of Despicable Me to raise money for kids with cancer. I am thrilled to report that 90 children living with cancer will now head to one of Camp Quality’s recreational camps thanks to the over $79,000 raised.

A big thanks to any WA Style readers who went along and supported this worth cause. Despicable Me will be in cinemas 9 September.

Please support daffodil day

I wanted to make sure all WA Style readers are aware tomorrow is Daffodil Day. This is a charity day very close to my own heart as like most Australians I have both family members and friends who have been touched by this horrible disease. I also had a skin cancer scare myself earlier this year - I was lucky mine was a false alarm but many others aren't so lucky.

Did you know one in every two Australian men and one in three Australian women will be diagnosed with cancer by the age of 85? Scary statistics. 

The most important thing we can all do, is support cancer research to find better treatment and potentially a cure for this terrible and terrifying disease.

If you want to support this worthy cause you can buy merchandise from Coles or one of many volunteer stands around Perth today and tomorrow. If you want to know more you can visit www.daffodilday.com.au  

Daffodil Day fast facts

• The largest national fundraising event of its kind in the Southern Hemisphere, Daffodil Day raises essential funds for cancer research, education and support programs.
• The daffodil is the international symbol of hope for all touched by cancer.
• This year Daffodil Day is aiming to raise over $9 million to fund the cancer control initiatives, patient support and education services of Cancer Council's eight state and territory member organisations.
• More than 10,000 volunteers are expected to staff over 1,200 Daffodil Day sites across Australia.

Cancer facts and figures

• Cancer remains one of Australia's biggest health problems. An estimated 1 in 2 men and 1 in 3 women will be diagnosed with cancer by the age of 85.
• An estimated 111,000 new cases of cancer will be diagnosed in Australia in 2009.
• More than 60% of cancer patients will survive more than five years after diagnosis
• The survival rate for many common cancers has increased by more than 30 per cent in the past two decades.
• The most common cancers in Australia (excluding non-melanoma skin cancer) are prostate, colorectal (bowel), breast, melanoma and lung cancer.
• Each year, around 434,000 people are treated for non-melanoma skin cancer (the most frequently occuring cancer in Australia, but the least life-threatening).
• Cancer is a leading cause of death in Australia – more than 42,000 people are expected to die from cancer in 2009.
• Cancer costs $3.8 billion in direct health system costs (7.2%).

Monday is cupcake day

Grab your favourite recipe, dust off your chef’s hat and get your mixer ready for the sweetest event of the year, Cupcake Day for the RSPCA.

On Monday 16 August, registered RSPCA Cupcake Cooks across Australia will descend on their schools, workplaces and social groups with batches of scrumptious homemade cupcakes to be exchanged for donations to the RSPCA.


Last year, the event raised $1.1 million to assist in the care and protection of Australia’s animals. This year RSPCA want to reach a target of
 $2.5 million. The cherry on top of the cupcake is that for every $100 raised online, you’ll receive one additional entry into the draw to win 2 Kymco scooters.

Whether you register as a Cupcake Cook or go into training as a Cupcake Eater – you’ll be supporting the 155,000 animals that the RSPCA cares for every year.

Find out more at www.rspcacupcakeday.com.au

Don't forget Jeans for Genes day

Don't forget to wear jeans tomorrow to raise money for Jeans for Genes day - just make sure you make a donation or buy a badge to support this worthy cause. There are heaps of places you can get them from including Big W, Harvey Norman, Gloria Jean, Myer, JeansWest and Westpac.

It's a great cause so make sure you get behind it.
Find out more about the event or view the complete list of places to buy badges at www.jeansforgenes.org.au

See a movie & help kids with cancer

Amalgamated Holdings Limited (AHL) is hosting an exclusive charity preview screenings of Universal Pictures 3D animated comedy adventure, Despicable Me to raise money for Camp Quality.  

You can be one of the first in WA to see the film at Event Cinemas Innaloo on Sunday 29 August at 11am.

AHL Managing Director David Seargeant says the previews are part of AHL’s commitment to give back to the community. “We are delighted to again team up with Camp Quality to help raise much needed funds for children living with cancer and their families,” he says.

“This will be the third consecutive year we have held the screenings in support of Camp Quality and we’ve got no doubt Despicable Me will deliver because laughter is the best medicine.”

From the creators of hit family movies Ice Age and Horton Hears A Who, Despicable Me is a 3D animated comedy adventure for the whole family featuring the voice talent of Steve Carell. It is the story of the world’s greatest villain who finds his greatest challenge in three little girls called Margo, Edith and Agnes. 
Watch the trailer below for more about the film - it does look hilarious!

Tickets for the special screenings go on sale on 29 July and proceeds will go directly to Camp Quality. All tickets are $12, and can be purchased online at www.eventcinemas.com.au or at cinema box offices.

92.9 announces radio telethon

We are all familiar with the annual telethon that takes over the TV for one weekend every year, but now it’s taking to airways with a new partnership between 92.9 and Telethon.

The breakfast team will be choosing a vital piece of equipment that PMH needs and encouraging listeners to help raise the funds. Once the funds have been raised a new piece of equipment will be selected and the process will begin again.

Telethon General Manager Steve Mummery says he is excited about the project. “To have Lisa, Baz, Sam and in fact the entire team who work at 92.9 behind this project says so much about their commitment to being part of the Perth community.”

Austereo General Manager Linda Wayman said: “This is an important and unique project for the 92.9 team and we know our listeners will embrace the opportunity to be a part of the Kids Appeal.”
If you want to make a donation you can call the Kids Appeal Team Phone Room on 9382 0192 or go online at www.929.com.au.