Mamie lived in the Hlatikulu District of Swaziland where she raised seven children in difficult conditions as well opening her home to needy children in the district. In 1976 she immigrated to Western Australia and became a house mother at Collins House, a community welfare home for intellectually handicapped Indigenous children. Until her death she supported charities that cared for children in need.

Mamies Helping Hands  Inc. was founded by Pat Nunn on return from a visit to Pats homeland  Swaziland with Cate Lines in 2004. Pat named the organization after her Mother Mamie.

Pat was born in Swaziland and after immigrating became a social worker and established many projects to help the Indigenous people of Australia like her Mother her home has been open to people in need.

There's an old saying that “there are no orphans in Africa.” With the tradition of the extended family, there was always someone to take in a child and care for her – an uncle, a cousin, even a neighbour. But the toll of AIDS is growing so heavy in Swaziland, that's no longer true. Families are losing more and more adults, so there are fewer left to care for the orphans left behind. The extended family structure is breaking down, and the children are left with no family.