Mum’s event returns to Horsham Town Hall

Thursday, 16 April 2026

An iconic Wimmera culinary combination is returning to Horsham Town Hall for another special Mother’s Day event.

Super sisters Mary and Teresa Marchesini will once again provide a very special afternoon tea but this year they have a new project to support.

The pair will be baking and making their scrumptious delicacies to support the Women’s Health program at Wimmera Base Hospital. The Horsham humanitarians hosted their first Mother’s Day event in 2024 and raised over $25,000 for cardiac rehabilitation at Grampians Health and the Royal Flying Doctors Service.

That event honoured their close friend Susan Schilling whose untimely death gave them a powerful reason to promote an awareness of heart disease. Mary Marchesini said the success of their first event made them both enthusiastic to reignite the oven.

“We often get asked if we are going to do this afternoon tea again because it has been two years since the first one,” Mary said.

“It’s the biggest catering project we’ve ever taken on and it was a great success so we are keen to go again,” she said.

“We do love cooking and seeing how much people enjoy our food.”

Teresa Marchenisi said they want to fill Horsham Town Hall with mothers and their families.

“If your Mum is no longer with us, we encourage you to bring her photo and place it on the table so we can honour her,” Teresa said.

Horsham philanthropist Robyn Lardner is coordinating the event and has promised another big program.

“There will be live entertainment and our guest speakers Grampians Health’s Horsham Site Director Maree Markby and Royal Flying Doctors Service head of Philanthropy Sue Parkes will talk about their Women’s Health programs,” Robyn said.

“Maree is also Director of Nursing at Horsham and has worked in several roles during her 40 years at Wimmera Base Hospital, including Nurse Unit Manager of the Operating Suite. Sue has over 20 years experience in both the public and private health systems."

“Proceeds from the event will be used to refurbish a room in Yandilla. This maternity unit room is the only one that does not have an ensuite so the project is a high priority,” Robyn said.

The afternoon tea is at Horsham Town Hall on May 10 from 1.30-4.30pm with delicacies provided by Mary and Teresa, who are regularly at local markets selling their cakes, jams, sauces and salad dressings. There is also a team of volunteers assisting including Hlene Fisher who is managing the kitchen while Lee Elliott will be decorating the tables. ACE Radio announcer Emma Clarke is once again MC for the event.

Tickets are $55 and include complementary refreshments on arrival. They are available now at Horsham Plaza, Centre Management 5382 0912 or by contacting Robyn Lardner on 0400 769 900.

For further information please contact Robyn Lardner.

Mum's Event Returns To Horsham Town Hall
Mother’s Day function organisers Helen Fisher of Rainbow, Robyn Lardner, Therese and Mary Marchesini, are pictured with Grampians Health Exercise Physiologist Liam Atkins, Allied Health Assistant Erin Mayall while Cardiac Rehabilitation patient Phil Pietsch tries out a new weights station. The station was purchased using funds from the first Mother’s Day event.