Afternoon tea with the Governor-General

Last Tuesday, 18 March, was a day Evie Buttsworth will never forget.

The Year 11 student from Radford College had the rare privilege of joining the Governor-General for afternoon tea at Government House to discuss juvenile arthritis—a cause close to her heart.

Juvenile arthritis is a chronic (ongoing) inflammatory condition that affects children. Common symptoms include joint pain, swelling and stiffness in the morning.

Living with the painful and at times debilitating condition, Evie has turned her personal struggles into a platform for advocacy, offering support to others facing juvenile arthritis.

The afternoon tea at Government House not only provided an opportunity to discuss juvenile arthritis but also to celebrate Her Excellency the Honourable Ms Sam Mostyn AC's recent appointment as Patron of the Juvenile Arthritis Foundation Australia (JAFA)—an organisation Evie works closely with.

"It was very special to be part of that event, and it was encouraging to see such an important figure in Australia supporting this cause," says Evie. "She is a lovely and very accomplished lady, and it was very interesting to meet her. The event was very nice, an afternoon tea outside in the gardens of Government House. She gave us a tour of the house and showed us all the significant places, such as the ceremonial study."

Evie counts herself lucky to have been diagnosed with juvenile arthritis at an early age and to have responded well to treatment. Through her work with JAFA, she shares her story and offers valuable insights into issues such as medicine distribution and support for young people with the condition.

"I was extremely fortunate to be diagnosed very early and to respond well to treatment, and I want to make sure that more young kids can be diagnosed early like me to stop the detrimental effects that juvenile arthritis can have on your life," says Evie.

For those unfamiliar with juvenile arthritis and childhood rheumatic diseases, Evie's message is simple: "Just be kind to everyone, as you never know the things that people are dealing with in their personal life and the knock-on effects that it can have on them day-to-day."

With advocates like Evie and the Governor-General speaking out, the hope is that awareness about juvenile arthritis will grow, and those affected will gain access to early and effective treatment.

"It is very significant for the Governor-General to be JAFA’s patron, as it will help to raise more awareness about this disease and the effects it can have on a child’s life. It will help doctors and health professionals to become more educated, and hopefully increase early diagnosis."