The lavish ceremony for Kate and Fionn Lindsay-Field at Warbreccan Station two weeks ago could arguably be called the wedding of the year.
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If was perhaps overshadowed by the Deni Ute Muster, but in large sections of the community it is still being talked about.
Afterall, a significant proportion of this community rallied to make the wedding happen.
Community members reached out after Kate and Fionn shared the heartbreaking news of Kate’s terminal ovarian cancer diagnosis.
The cancer was discovered after three years of seeking medical advice for a pain in her right side.
Because it had been misdiagnosed for so many years, by the time the cause of the pain was identified it was too late.
The cancer has spread to her diaphragm, bowels, liver and ‘‘just everywhere’’.
Kate is just 33 years old and statistics suggest only four per cent of women battling the disease are in the same age group.
Doctors have said Kate could live another three to five years, but have also told her ‘‘there is no crystal ball’’.
Kate’s immediate thoughts were of her young son Finn and what his future would look like.
But as difficult as it was, the usually lively Kate was determined not to wallow in sadness.
She had to start planning for Finn’s future without her, and she also had a wedding to plan.
‘‘I was diagnosed three months ago, and Fionn and I were married 10 weeks later,’’ Kate said.
‘‘We got engaged and married pretty quickly, but we have been together for seven years.
‘‘We wanted to create a precious moment for us, and for Finn, to remember.
‘‘Given we were organising such a special day in such a short amount of time, we had such a flood of donations — from David and Caitrin Watson for the Warbreccan venue, Jo Nathan who decorated, our celebrant Amanda Wilson, Cellarbrations and Frank Caruso, Mo Poka and his team for the hangi using the six lambs donated by the McCrabbs, our entertainment and more.
‘‘The Australian Wool Exchange, because Fionn is involved in the wool industry, donated $4000 for our wedding and Echuca shearers Guns and Rousies donated their wages for a day’s shearing.
‘‘The whole community really pulled together to create such a magical day, and we have to thank everyone for their generosity.
‘‘The Lindsay-Field family was at Warbreccan for 96 years and they were really involved in the community — Fionn’s dad John was on the council and his mum Pam was involved with the Country Women’s Association.
‘‘The love the community is now giving back — to myself, Fionn and Finn — is very humbling. We would not have been able to do any of it without them.
‘‘It has really brought some joy to our lives.’’
The Watsons purchased Warbreccan from the Lindsay-Field family in 2014, and while Kate and Fionn are now based in Myrtleford they said it felt natural to be married in Deniliquin.
‘‘We love it in the mountains, but our first home is in Deniliquin,’’ Kate said.
‘‘We carved Finn’s name in one of the Morton Bay Figs at Warbreccan after he was born, so he’ll always have that connection.
‘‘Our wedding was the first event at the new function space, ‘The Stables’, at Warbreccan, which was made using materials from the old horse stables built in the 1800s.
‘‘It was magnificent and our hats go off to Caitrin and David for such a stunning location next to the Edward River.
‘‘It was beautiful that we could be the first people to use the new space, given the family history.
‘‘They have really honoured the property’s history so beautifully, including incorporating the plaque for Fionn’s dad.’’
Also adding to the magic of the day for Kate was a specially designed and hand sewn headpiece from Myrtleford designer and friend Danni Townsend-O’Neil.
‘‘When you have cancer and you are feeling so unattractive, it was a real gift to have something so beautiful,’’ she said.
Kate and Danni had previously worked on some headpieces together, making headscarves to raise money for Finn’s future and for ovarian cancer awareness and research.
She said that mission to raise awareness is a top priority, next to spending time with her friends and family while she can.
‘‘The number of people dying of breast cancer has dropped because there is so much awareness out there,’’ Kate said.
‘‘Ovarian cancer is a silent killer, because there are no real symptoms.
‘‘And 90 per cent of the people I speak to think that if you have had a pap smear you are covered; you’re not, it only really checks for cervical cancer.
‘‘I had pains in my right side and I was urinating frequently, and I went to doctors for three years.
‘‘Some thought it was gallstones, others said it was just bruising.
‘‘I would say that if you feel anything is wrong, you have to keep advocating.
‘‘You should also talk to your GP about ovarian cancer and how you can be tested.
‘‘Since Danni, myself and my sister Carleen Bisinella started our awareness campaign in Myrtleford, we have received letters from women who went to their doctor and have caught their ovarian cancer early enough.’’
Kate said the generosity of the Deniliquin, Bright and Myrtleford communities when it came to their wedding was amazing, and said the ongoing support for Finn has been overwhelming.
‘‘I have been really concerned about Finn’s future, because of what I am going through and because Fionn is an older father.
‘‘A Go Fund Me has been started for Finn and it has so far raised $12,000.
‘‘That money is just for Finn, for his future, and it is good to know he will be looked after.’’
Senior journalist