Happenings at last week’s Meeting
This week’s Meeting was a special night where we had a large group of attendees, from other Rotary Clubs from the District, to listen to a presentation on what our support for Interplast has been able to achieve.
As well as the DG and District Chair, the list of Guests includes:
• Carolyn Such President Mount Eliza Rotary
• Chris Such Somerville Tyabb Rotary
• George Ann Sullivan Mount Eliza Rotary
• Janet Richards Mount Eliza Rotary
• Jenny Baker Mount Eliza Rotary
• Carol Allen Mount Eliza Rotary
• David Rew Mount Eliza Rotary
• Grace Rew Mount Eliza Rotary
• Judy Coultas Mount Eliza Rotary
• Richard Vautier Mornington Rotary
• Anne Shaw President Mount Martha Rotary
• Barry Osborne Rosebud/Rye Rotary
• Sandra Fiedeldy Rosebud/Rye Rotary
President Charles welcomed everyone and after the Toast and Invocation handed the night over to Merv, as Chair, who then introduced the night’s Speakers.
The presentation was delivered by Amanda (I’m sorry but I’ve mislaid her surname) with assistance by Janette Etherington.
The room was quite full:
Amanda started by pointing out that Rotary was a co-founder of Interplast. It is 20% funded by donations from Rotary and was initially started as a means of training medical staff but has enlarged because of the inequality of surgical availability throughout the world.
Amanda focused on the Interplast involvement in Tonga where patents from 2 months up to 81 years old have been treated. Scholarships are now being provided to brings local surgeons to Australia for further training and the chance to network. The next step is the deployment of a nurse education program which is scheduled for 2025.
32 Clinicians have been trained and 39 surgeries have been performed.
As well as the surgical/nursing needs, Amanda pointed out that there are other supporting enterprises being created. E.g. compression bandages are desperately needed in places like Nepal.
(I’ve summarised and plagiarised a very informative talk. I hope I have done it justice. Ed)
After desert, Merv gave the presenters a token of out thanks and then Charles thanked the presenters and all our Guests.
The evening finished at 8:05.
