Margie Abbott opens Kirribilli House for a Bowerhaus fundraiser

MARGIE Abbott will open the doors of Kirribilli House today and welcome guests into the official Prime Ministerial residence to help raise funds for research into motor neurone disease.

In 2001, the debilitating and deadly disease took Sydney journalist Deb Bailey, who was a friend of the Abbotts.

“Deb and her husband David (Armstrong) were at dinner with Tony and I on our very first date,” Mrs Abbott said.

Mr Armstrong and Mr Abbott worked together on The Australian in the early 1980s.

Mrs Abbott remembers Bailey — who died aged 48 — as a “feisty and strong” woman who was “wonderful to be around”.

“For me that personal connection is very important and we need to understand this insidious illness that took Deb.”

The event will launch a range of necklaces and earrings created exclusively for the Deb Bailey Foundation by Australian jewellers Bowerhaus.

A proud patron of the foundation, Mrs Abbott hopes to raise awareness of motor neurone disease as sufferers barely have a chance to establish a profile.

“It is a very quick end and sufferers aren’t often here to fight for the cause or to present a face for the cause,” she said.

The foundation will reap all profits from the necklace and earring sets which retail for $220 and can be bought online. The money will go to the MSD Research Laboratory at Macquarie University, the foundation’s president Robyn Paine said.

“I’m particularly thrilled because we pride ourselves on running as a business but the jewellery collection has a bit of Deb as there is a warm femininity in there,” Ms Paine said.

The 115 guests are either fans of the brand or friends of the foundation, she said.

“There are a lot of people coming and some very supportive Greek ladies who always fundraise for us. It is a lovely collection of really good people,” she said.

Researchers believe a cure for the unconquered disease could go hand in hand with cures for a range of other neurological diseases including Parkinson’s and Multiple Sclerosis, Mrs Abbott said.

She isn’t the first prime ministerial other half to dabble with philanthropy; Therese Rein was the patron of The Australian Common Ground Alliance and Tim Mathieson was involved with mental health group beyondblue.

“These practical ways of flying the flag are worthwhile and I see myself as a pretty practical person,” she said.

Tomorrow Mrs Abbott will tackle a 55km walk with her daughter Bridget to help raise funds for The Fred Hollows Foundation.

“Like anything, if it was easy it wouldn’t be half as much fun or as memorable,” she said.

The collection can be purchased directly from the foundation. For more information please email [email protected] or call 0419143394

Source: News Corp Australia