May 2008 RDU online (pdf) - Rotary Down Under

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Before ROMAC After ROMAC ROMAC Rotary Oceania Medical Aid for Children (ROMAC) thinks so, and in fact since 1988 ROMAC has been changing, and sometimes saving, the lives of over 300 underprivileged children from under-developed countries that have neither the medical facilities or the know how to treat these children. Children like Ria Chand, far right, who at aged one fell into a large pot of boiling soup and wasn’t referred to ROMAC until a year later! Ria had to endure a series of operations over a 12 month period with some of the worlds best doctors here in Australia. She is now happy living a normal life back home in Fiji. Her total medical bill was in excess of $60,000. Incidentally, Ria fell in love with our kangaroos . . . and we fell in love with her! What is a child’s life worth? Whilst you simply can’t put a price on a child’s life, over the years the average cost of each patient’s care is a bargain $15,000, less than the cost of a new family car. That’s because ROMAC is run by volunteers plus, importantly, the inspiring generosity of the many medical doctors who choose to help these children without charge - and whose gained expertise 20–––Rotary Down Under, May 2008 If a picture is worth a 1,000 words ... ... surely changing a child’s life is worth $1,000? ‘ 100% of all donations received are used for the benefit of incoming children. This is done with the assurance that no Australian or New Zealand child will be disadvantaged. ROMAC is run by volunteers who freely give their time and expertise. ’ benefits our children - and the generosity and understanding of compassionate hospitals who charge substantially lower costs. So every dollar you donate ‘increases’ in value and goes directly to treatment and care of the children. Changing a child’s life Children, aged up to 15 years, accepted for treatment come from very humble backgrounds. Their families have minimal income and often survive on subsistence living. Without ROMAC’s help these children might be hidden away, left to die or, in some instances, sent to the streets to beg. Some children have been afflicted for many years before their lives are significantly changed by ROMAC. They feel good about themselves once unsightly growths, clefts or tumours are removed, limbs are repaired and severe burns contractures are treated. Their dignity is restored and they are given a future that they and their families could never have even dreamed of. This past year ROMAC has been privileged to have changed the lives of almost 50 children. How does ROMAC achieve this? ROMAC organises immigration visas, travel and interpreters. Top medical and surgical expertise is organised, and hospital fees are negotiated. Time, effort and planning is also required to find caring, often ethnic host families who speak the same language and can cater to the patient’s and carer’s dietary requirements. Much needed funds are donated by Rotarians and Rotary Clubs who often generously also offer their time and assistance.
Working with other humanitarian organisations Sadly, there are children that ROMAC is unable to help, and whenever possible ROMAC endeavours to find other humanitarian organisations to perform overseas operations such as cleft and eye surgery. Likewise, these organisations have introduced children they are unable to help to ROMAC. Over the years ROMAC has built up a network of overseas individuals who advise us when they find suitable disadvantaged children. ROMAC has also sponsored visits by overseas doctors who accompany a child to witness or participate in the surgical procedure so that they can transfer these skills back to their countries. How are donations used? ROMAC guarantees that 100% of all donations received are used for the benefit of incoming children. This is done with the assurance that no Australian or New Zealand child will be disadvantaged. ROMAC is run by volunteers who freely give their time and expertise to the program. No monies are allocated to administrative or personnel costs from donated funds. Donations of $2 or more are tax deductible. ‘ The objective of ROMAC • To provide hope • when there is no hope • To restore dignity • to human life • To transform a child’s life • To provide the best medical and surgical expertise How can you or your Rotary Club help? • Donate a few dollars, $1,000 or more either as a one-off or annual payment • Introduce a potential host family • Contribute towards the cost of the Host Family Allowance for a week, a month or longer ROMAC • Donate some or all the money from your next fund raiser to ROMAC • If you’re involved with a child arrange publicity - press, radio or television - locally or nationally if possible • Rotarians, partners or caring friends can assist with driving children to and from medical appointments • Make a bequest to ROMAC in your will How can your company help? Yes, I would love to change a child’s life • Contribute a product or service at a low or no cost to a child or host family • Your clients or suppliers may also be willing to contribute if you ask them • Donations over $2 are tax deductible: donate to cover a part or all of a child’s stay • Ask about the potential public relations benefits if the sum involved is substantial ROMAC is honoured to have helped these deserving children, and is grateful for the assistance it has received from Rotarians. Please continue helping - the children and their families will be eternally grateful. ■ I enclose � $25 � $50 � $100 � $500 � $1,000 � $5,000 � Other $________________ Or debit my � Visa � MasterCard � Diners Club credit card for a one off payment of $________________ or a � monthly � annual payment of $________________ that I can cancel at any time. Card # �� Expiry date _______ /_______ Name of card _______________________________ Signature ______________________ Date _______ /_______/_____________ Name _____________________________________________ Address _______________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________________________________ Postcode ________________ Tel _______________________ Mobile _______________________ Email __________________________________________________ Cheques payable to ROMAC and sent to ROMAC, PO Box 779 Parramatta NSW 2124 or c/o Geoff Dainty, 21 Ciprian Place Henderson Auckland NZ www.romac.org.au To speak to someone regarding how you or your Rotary Club could help, in Australia initially contact ROMAC Chairman PDG Ian Wright on 0408 680 160 email idwright@bigpond.net.au. In New Zealand contact PDG Geoff Dainty 2147 5842 email jeof@xtra.co.nz. For more info visit www.romac.org.au. ’ Rotary Down Under, May 2008–––21
Page 1: Check us out: www.rotarydownunder.c
Page 4 and 5: Staff & Contacts Managing Editor: B
Page 6 and 7: The Rotary Foundation ��
Page 8 and 9: NEWS N BULLETIN World Water Day cam
Page 10 and 11: NEWS N BULLETIN Parkes Rotaractors
Page 12 and 13: MAILBOX MAIL It’s fellowship, not
Page 14 and 15: Cover Story ARHRF’s new companion
Page 16 and 17: KIDS TEE SHIRTS for the Grandchildr
Page 18 and 19: Rotary looks ahead Leadership devel
Page 22 and 23: Public Relations Take it as `GRANTE
Page 24 and 25: Protecting the Environment Stewart
Page 26 and 27: Zones 7A & 8 Institute Christchurch
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Page 34 and 35: NEW SOUTH WALES FORSTER/TUNCURRY Lu
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Page 38 and 39: Notices Two great men of Rotary PDG
Page 40 and 41: DIRECTORY • To advertise call Sam

May 2008 RDU online (pdf) - Rotary Down Under

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