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There were 600 doctors and only 600 nurses, a staffing strength which did not give patients a high level of care. Hospital medical supplies were limited or non-existent and the operating theatre equipment sadly lacking or in poor maintenance.
The experience of being included by the medical team in all facets of the procedures was both confronting and highly interesting.
I now have an understanding of the skills and capabilities of these dedicated professionals. Their care and compassion was beyond my expectations.
The way they shared their knowledge with local doctors and the gentleness they gave to their patients was outstanding. The fact that I was able to observe all operative procedures without falling by the wayside amazed me.
The challenge that remains is the enormous on-going need these Bangladesh people have. For example, we learnt there are some 400 cleft palate/lip children requiring treatment in the Rangpur area north of Dhaka. Without aid such as Interplast, these children will have very limited opportunities in life.
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Kalam Goodman at an orphanage in Old Dhaka, Bangladesh, where he spent his early years. He visited there with his parents Stew and Judy Goodman. His father, is a past president of the Rotary Club of Boronia, Vic. (See a culture shock in Bangladesh).
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The Rotarians I met were struggling to cope with the needs of their people and were most appreciative of support they get from overseas Rotary clubs.
On a personal note, my wife and I with our adopted Bangladesh son Kalam, now 30, were in the planning phase to travel to Dhaka in the same timeframe. We had never been to Bangladesh, nor had Kalam who had left when 22-months old.
A number of coincidences occurred on this trip:
• the Interplast opportunity rescheduled from Vietnam at the same time as the personal trip.
• The hospital that Interplast used was the same hospital where Kalam was abandoned 29 years ago.
• A Bangladesh-born friend scheduled his visit to Bangladesh to host us in the north of the country post the Interplast program.
• Using information gleaned from the Internet and a local social worker we found the orphanage where Kalam had lived and been cared for and his personal records. We had been advised some years ago on good authority that the orphanage had been burnt down and all records destroyed.
This was a very emotional and fulfilling time for Judy and me, but specially so for Kalam.
Thanks to Rotary for being involved with such a vital aid program as Interplast. The need is so great.
Stewart Goodman
Past President
Rotary Club of Boronia, Vic.
Congratulations one
I have been asked by Gordon Searle, a member of the Rotary Club of Mildura Deakin, Vic., to commend Rotary Down Under magazine on the excellent 100th birthday issue which he, and I am sure others, have found interesting, educational and a great history of Rotary.
Eileen Pica
Rotary Club of Mildura Deakin, Vic.
Congratulations two
Congratulations on the February, 2005, issue of Rotary Down Under . . . some great information and one to keep.
Bruce Ridland
Rotary Club of Mount Gambier, S.A.
District 9780 Past Governor
Congratulations three
Congratulations to all for a fantastic issue of Rotary Down Under for February, 2005.
I enjoyed reading the article titled Rotary celebrates a Centenary of service which captured what Rotary is all about in Australia.
The article by Bob Aitken made me proud to be an Australian Rotarian.
Don Cox
Rotary Club of Broadmeadows, Vic.
District 9790 Past Governor
Congratulations four
Congratulations to you and your staff for the Happy Birthday issue of Rotary Down Under.
It was well presented, most informative and greatly enjoyable.
Graham Goodfellow
Rotary Club of Northbridge, N.S.W.
District 9680 Past Governor
Probus call to 2001-02 DGs
I understand that District governors who served Rotary International in 2001-2002 returned from the International Assembly in the U.S.A. with a theme banner on a telescopic stand.
In an aim to better promote Probus the Probus Centre – South Pacific would like these stands (as gifts from the now past District governors) and Probus will have new banners made to suit.
Perhaps the stands are collecting dust in someone’s garage or the governors may have passed the banners on to their successors. If so, could those governors or the ones who followed please consider donating the signs to Probus. The Australian Rotary Health Research Fund (ARHRF) recovered three of the stands from the Districts around Sydney, N.S.W., for the ARHRF Safari with
Winnebago.
Pat Atkinson
Executive Secretary
Probus Centre – South Pacific
Rotary Down Under House
Third Floor, 32 Hunter Street
Parramatta, N.S.W. 2150.
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rs in service for 19 years. |
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