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The Verandah High Tea
Overlooking the breathtaking Adelaide Hills at the spectacular Mount Lofty House, 44 women gathered for The Verandah High Tea — an afternoon filled with elegance, connection, and heartfelt purpose.
While guests enjoyed champagne, beautiful food, and the stunning surrounds of Hardy’s Verandah Restaurant, the true spirit of the day was centred around supporting Catherine House and raising funds for women experiencing homelessness.
Thanks to the incredible generosity of so many businesses who donated products, experiences, and services for our auctions and raffles, the event was a wonderful success.
More than anything, the afternoon became a celebration of motherhood, friendship, community, and women supporting women. There was an undeniable warmth in the room — what many described as a “love bubble” — and it was incredibly special to witness.
Produced by Evie Foster and beautifully MC’d by Valerie Timms, The Verandah High Tea was a reminder of the power of connection, generosity, and coming together with intention.
A heartfelt thank you to everyone who attended, supported, donated, and helped bring this beautiful event to life.
Event Partners
Why Catherine House?
Evie Foster, founder of The Women Adelaide Hills, is proud to serve as a 2026 Ambassador for Catherine House. Her connection to the organisation is deeply personal. Raised by a single mother who faced periods of uncertainty, and later navigating life as a single mother herself, Evie understands how easily circumstances can change and how vital support can be during vulnerable times. Her commitment to Catherine House reflects her belief that every woman deserves safety, dignity, and the opportunity to rebuild her life with hope and independence.
Catherine House is South Australia’s only dedicated homelessness and recovery service for women, providing crisis, longer-term accommodation, and holistic support to help women rebuild their lives with dignity and independence. Each night, Catherine House provides a safe place for women who would otherwise have nowhere to go, along with access to counselling, healthcare, education and employment support, and trauma-informed recovery programs designed to help women regain stability and hope.
Homelessness can happen to anyone. Many women who seek support at Catherine House have experienced domestic and family violence, housing insecurity, financial hardship, or health challenges - circumstances that can affect women from all backgrounds, professions, and stages of life. In South Australia alone, more than 6,000 people experience homelessness each night, highlighting the critical and growing need for services like Catherine House.
Funds raised through events such as The Verandah High Tea help ensure Catherine House can continue to provide safe accommodation, essential services, and ongoing support that empowers women not only to recover from crisis, but to move forward into secure housing, meaningful employment, and a future filled with possibility.
Together, we gather not only to celebrate mothers, but to honour the strength, dignity, and resilience of women everywhere.
By attending, partnering, or contributing, you become part of something meaningful, beautiful, and lasting.