This week 30 Members and Guests enjoyed a double billing of speakers from Hearts 4Kids and Cure Kids and Sergeant Kay raised $150.00 which was dedicated to Hearts4Kids rounded up to $500.00.
Helen Sergeant and Ana Kennedy from Hearts for Kids were introduced by Iain Valentine, who had researched the subject well. Helen and Ana gave a very enlightening address on their recent mission to the new Children's Heart Hospital in Suva. The team of surgeons, nurses and a support crew (in total 29) from Starship spent two weeks undertaking heat surgery on youngsters from infants to 17 years of age. The advance team had narrowed the patients down to approximately 3 a day. All the supplies and equipment required were shipped from Auckland and only two patients age 14 and 17 missed out due to one piece of equipment not being available but they will be picked up next time round. Hearts 4 Kids, lead by senior Pediatric Heart Surgeon Kirsten Finucane, apart from the Covid years has been operating in Fiji voluntarily on an annual basis during their vacation for many years. Tim Baxter extended a warm vote of thanks.
Tara Satyanand from Cure Kids and her team Dr Jima Kallawadoko and Erini Tokarua from Fiji presented an update on the Fiji Oxygen Project and explained how hundreds of patients, not just children have benefitted from the Oxygen concentrators. As a result of the project coming in under budget more sites are being added and plans are underway to extend the project to other regions. Dr Jima is the Fiji operations manager of the project sites.
Roy Austin remains in hospital, if you would like to visit him details are elsewhere in this bulletin. Likewise Colin Wilson is in a care home, visitors welcome and in each case please contact Janet or Dawn first. We wish them well.
Committee Meetings - due to Easter and no meeting on 24 April, 3 April is the only available Monday for Committee Meetings. Directors will advise their respective committees accordingly.
Directors Meeting Monday 17 April.
Advance notice please diary now - Changeover is Monday July 3 at Carlton Cornwall Bowling Club.
Venue Catering - members have been commenting very positively over the past few weeks on the changes to the weekly dinner menu. I felt the meals had become very boring and requested Lets Eat to review the menu's, which they have done. It is early days as yet but I invite comments over the coming weeks please.
Have a great week,
Wayne
