23/09/2026
Very few people like being singled out for praise.
But I’m going to.
For a very long time, Helene Ravlich has been part of the Aunties community. She has been an important and supportive stalwart. She is also featured in our book Hersay.
Helene is a beauty and travel journalist and for 13 years, she has been supplying the community of women I have worked with - from the Te Whare Marama refuge to the Aunties Whānau of women that exists today - with regular beauty products. I’d say, to date, thousands of products.
The women are always over the moon with these beautiful gifts. It makes them feel so special.
And there’s another reason why these gifts have been so important to us.
The first time, it must be around 12 years ago, Helene gave me a huge bag of perfumes to take to women who were living in the safe house of Te Whare Marama. I knew it would be a special thing, but I didn’t expect the women to react as they did. You see, none of them had worn perfume, or make up, for years. Because if they did, they would be punished. By their partners. Violence comes from many places. Insecurity is one of them. No perfume, no makeup, no low cut tops.
So these perfumes represented freedom. Smelling nice, yes. But mostly freedom.
And so today, where none of the women are in abusive relationships anymore. They can smell how they like, look how they like, but lives of being locked away means they’re still, often many years later, gaining the confidence of authority over their own bodies.
And this is what Helene’s gifts mean. She knows this because she’s lived it. And for that we will always love her, respect her, and know she has our backs.
Thank you Helene.
From all of the women, who are THRILLED and very excited (I just told them), to you. Our beloved Aunty Helene.
