Sassy Seniors turn pub pink to support young mums' cancer fight

Kaylee Regan-Beasley says the Sassy Seniors who meet at the Kambah Inn every Wednesday morning are like her "second family".

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The group of senior citizens, formed in 2024 for a laidback weekly catch-up, has quickly become a vital lifeline for older residents in the area - and beyond. It's a chance to have a chat, about things big and small, and to feel part of a community.

Even at the tender age of 27, Kaylee, who works behind the bar at the Kambah Inn, feels that connectedness too.

"They're like my second family. Like, they threw me a farewell when I went on mat leave," she said, with a big smile.

Kaylee Regan-Beasley, centre, in a warm, pink hug given by some of the Sassy Seniors, from left, Morag Bradley, Julie Long, Berenice Kercher, Ian Daun, Christine Warren and Sylvia Baxter. Picture by Karleen Minney

So when the Sassy Seniors were discussing having a morning tea to mark Breast Cancer Awareness Month in October, Kaylee was immediately on board.

The young Gordon mum was diagnosed with breast cancer in February 2026 just after the birth of her second child.

"I was three weeks' post-partum when I was diagnosed with breast cancer at 27-years-old. No family history. I did genetic testing and it all came back negative," Kaylee said.

"I didn't believe it because I found the lump when I was pregnant and was told it was just hormones or mastitis and I kept getting put on antibiotics. The lump grew to be a third of the size of my breast.

"It was actually early-stage and because it was eight centimetres,I had to have a lumpectomy; I had to have a mastectomy."

Kaylee's left breast was removed. With the support of her "amazing" surgeon, Dr Nicole Taylor, she was determined to try to breastfeed her newborn son, Alexander, with her remaining right breast.

"Then my son rejected the breast post-surgery so now I'm exclusively pumping," she said.

"So, yes, it's been a journey."

Sassy Seniors mark Breast Cancer Awareness Month with a pink-themed morning tea at the Kambah Inn. Pictures by Karleen Minney

Sylvia Baxter, from the Sassy Seniors, said the group wanted to honour breast cancer survivors such as Kaylee. Few people in the group had not been touched by the disease, with both young and old affected.

"My sister, at 74, she had not a lump, but a big stretch [of malignant tissue], and she had her breast off at the age of 74," Sylvia said.

"So we just thought, 'Let's do something'."

Kaylee had also wanted to host a fundraising morning tea, so they all combined forces for the big event on Wednesday, October 14.

The result was a warm wave of pink around the back room of the Kambah Inn, as the Sassy Seniors dressed in pink and brought plates of pink food, from coconut ice to musk sticks to cupcakes.

"You can see by the amount of food, we could probably feed two armies," Sassy Seniors convenor Christine Warren said.

Conversation flowed at the Sassy Seniors morning tea for Breast Cancer Awareness Month. Picture by Karleen Minney

There were some poignant moments among all the conversation and cake.

Another Sassy Senior, Morag Bradley, was close to tears as she remembered, even years later, her mother Molly's battle with breast cancer.

"She had a double mastectomy and she was about 60. She had five years clear and then she got a secondary cancer, and she passed away," Morag said.

"I always kept putting off a mammogram for myself. People would say, 'You should be jumping in and doing one'. But you're scared. You're scared to find out you might have it, like your mother had it. So last year, I went and got it and all clear. So, now, it's every two years."

Sisters Stacey Hammond and Ashleigh Partridge pictured with Stacey's daughters Millie and Savannah and Ashleigh's daughter Scarlett. Picture by Karleen Minney

The welcoming nature of the Sassy Seniors was clear when some members happened to be in Big W a few days earlier talking about the event. Canberra mum Stacey Hammond overheard them and her interest was piqued. She and her sister Ashleigh Partridge both have the breast cancer gene BRCA.

"We just had a long family history of cancers," Ashleigh said. "Our youngest case was my aunty. She was 32 when she was diagnosed. And that's what sparked the genetic testing in our family.

"I found out I had the gene when I was 18. It was always in my mind that when I was in my late 30s or 40s, I would have preventative surgery.

"When I had my daughter Scarlett, I went on the list to have preventative surgery, but then I got breast cancer."

Ashleigh, 38, from Googong, had a double mastectomy and a hysterectomy.

"Within about 10 months I had the mastectomy, a reconstruction, I did chemo, then I had the hysterectomy," she said.

"Because my cancer is hormone-positive, it feeds off estrogen."

Thirty-four-year-old Stacey, from Conder, has also had a preventative double mastectomy.

So, with all that experience, the sisters found some kindred spirits and a lot of understanding at Sassy Seniors.

"I think it's lovely," Ashleigh said. "Stacey met the ladies in Big W yesterday and she said, 'It's meant to be that we get to come'. And then when we got here I thought, 'What a lovely community'."

Kambah Inn owner Tom Reaby and Cathy Rice and Olivia Collenette from Capital Chemist Kambah with Sassy Senior Sylvia Baxter. Picture by Karleen Minney

But it doesn't end there. Kambah Inn owner Tom Reaby had a front-row seat watching the early campaign to draw attention to breast cancer in Australia.

His mother, Professor Linda Reaby, was diagnosed with breast cancer in 1990 and dedicated her professional career to raising awareness and funds for the disease.

She wrote the proposal for Australia's Breast Cancer Day and lobbied extensively for political support for what has become a major national annual event since 1994. Among her early supporters was Annita Keating, wife of then prime minister Paul Keating.

And in 2008, Professor Reaby was named the ACT Senior Australian of the Year for her breast cancer work.

Tom said his mum's legacy inspired him every day, including how he ran the Kambah Inn.

"The Sassy Seniors have been here from pretty much since day one of me taking over the pub. The place had a pretty poor reputation. It's been a challenge trying to change that and we're still having that challenge," Tom said.

"Pubs are supposed to be community hubs. The vision is that this is a place where people meet and they raise money and they do really good things for the community. We want to be the vehicle for that. And it's happening."

Sheeryn Fisher, Liz Jefferson and Sylvia Baxter. Picture by Karleen Minney

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