CARING: Rob Thompson gave a brief update on the health of Thelma Webster and Amanda Sultanowsky.
Thelma has been moved to a nursing home in Innaloo. Her mobility is not great, she can transfer from car to wheelchair etc. Thelma is staying at Shawford Lodge, Twiford Place, Innaloo and welcomes visitors. Paul Webster is the best contact in regard to Thelma’s whereabouts, (if visitors want to check if Thelma is in or out and about) on 0417 800007.
Amanda Sultanowsky has been given the all clear.
Jerry Pilcher: advised that a Certificate of Appreciation from the Rotary Club of Matilda Bay for joint project to provide bike helmets to bike riders on the streets of Bangkok has been received.
Reminder all about Mental Health seminar - Lifting The Lid On Mental Health.
Dave Taylor:
Announced the Club Camera has been found thanks to some sleuthing by Alan Bennett.
Reminded all to contact him or update their birthday, partner birthday & wedding anniversary info on the club website. While 'years' are required to be entered, they remain invisible.
Dave also suggested members take a look at the 'All Abilities Play Space' park near Tawarri lodge on the Nedlands foreshore. A joint project by the West Perth, Subiaco & Matilda Bay clubs. The area is totally enclosed, great for grand children as well as seniors!
Flynn : gave his last weekly update and presented his sponsor club banner to Paul. Paul presented our club banner to Flynn. Flynn donated his last Australian currency to WFKs.
Jim Joseph : discussed the Probus Club of Scarborough set up by our club and how successful it has become. Now up to 60 members.
SWAPMART: Rob Thompson announced a good day with total takings of $3308 with 209 bays sold!
Guest Speaker - Wilma McBain- ROMAC
Rotary Oceania Medical Aid for Children (ROMAC)
ROMAC commenced in March 1988 out of the actions of an Australian Rotarian who, with a group of surgeons, visited Lambasa in Fiji. They found the child mortality rate as high as 25% in some places. They quickly identified that lack of medical and surgical facilities and skills for children of the island nations in Oceania, was a major cause. Rotary faced the challenge to assist an 18-year-old Fijian girl whose right leg was threatened if immediate surgery was not performed.
During the next four years, eight children were brought to Australia for major, often lifesaving, surgery. Soon 20 Australian Rotary clubs were caught up in the success of each case and assisted in various ways. ROMAC established five regions representing clubs in the west, east, south, north and centre of the country.
A New Zealand region was formally established in 2004 and treated its first patient, from Vanuatu, in December 2005. The inaugural New Zealand region representative was Trish O’Reilly and Dr Max Morris, the first New Zealand Medical Director.
It was a slow and steady process to promote the objectives and raise awareness of ROMAC in the New Zealand region, but the number of patients treated in New Zealand has risen to more than 25 patients per year.
ROMAC in New Zealand and Australia enlists assistance from medical experts, hospitals, nurses, physiotherapists, pathology and radiology services, airlines, sponsors and other supporters. Today ROMAC is providing surgical treatment to around 50 children from Oceania every year – we are making a huge difference in their lives.
Mission Statement
ROMAC provides surgical treatment for children in Australia and New Zealand from developing countries from our Pacific region in the form of life giving and/or dignity restoring surgery not accessible to them in their home country.
Objectives
- Provide hope and restore dignity to transform a child’s life
- Provide the best possible surgical and medical expertise
- Engage Rotary and the community at all levels to fund and support the ROMAC cause
- To maintain and improve the quality of the management process and ensure high quality governance of the ROMAC program
No government funding. Hoping to generate interest amongst Rotary clubs & create awareness in the government for funding. Cost approx 25K per patient. Can go as high 100K. Unfortunately, no state government assistance for provision of hospital services.
Bernie Leach after quite a few questions proposed a suitable vote of thanks.
CHASE the ACE: President Paul then had our Guest select the chase the ace winner. Unfortunately for Bob Phelps,
the ace remains in the pack.
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