Little by little - that's how the job gets done!

Wars are rarely won with just one major battle. Napoleon had his Waterloo of course, but that was the final battle in a long war.  The struggle to find cures for the various forms of cancer is another war that is being one, slowly but surely, but people in communities all over the world, raising their relatively small amounts of money to fund research, technology and ongoing care for cancer victims and their families.

I've written in an earlier post about Relay for Life. On the global scale, the Sutherland RFL is one very large example of an event that is held in communities world-wide. Few of them raise anywhere near the same amounts as this fantastic community event in the Sutherland and St George region, but all of them contribute much-needed funds to help with their common goal.

This post is intended to highlight just a few of those smaller events and activities happening at any one time around the world - each of which adds to the total ' war chest'. None of them are as well-known as the McGrath Institute, the PCI or Relay for Life and, thanks to their local community newspaper, they receive both recognition of and assistance in publicising their events and activities.

In Penrith, New South Wales: Young musicians get together to raise funds with a $10 per head concert.
http://www.penrithstar.com.au/news/local/news/general/young-musos-performance-to-fight-cancer/2598552.aspx

From Westchester County in  NY, USA: A local Relay for Life committee put a new twist on their event, with a Canine Relay for Life.
http://main.acsevents.org/site/TR?pg=entry&fr_id=46080

In Ballarat, Victoria: Two students raise $3200 for the Ballarat Cancer Research Centre, the largest non-metropolitan cancer research centre in Australia.
http://www.thecourier.com.au/news/local/news/general/loreto-students-get-behind-cancer-centre/2598041.aspx

From Howick [it's pronounced 'Hoyck" folks :) ] in Scotland: Four sisters who have all survived breast cancer (one of them had it twice!) took part in their local version of RFL "Race for Life" in Dundee.
http://www.hawick-news.co.uk/news/scottish-headlines/sisters-take-part-in-charity-race-1-2360539

There are events like these happening every week, somewhere in the world. Little by little, this rotten illness is going to be cured one day.  My mum had polio as a youngster and, thank goodness, was able to walk unaided eventually. Polio is pretty much a thing of the past, certainly in Australia. Beating cancer CAN be done - but it's going to take time... and money!

It's finally over for Lindy Chamberlain

Like a lot of Australian’s – and probably people all around the world – I was sceptical of Lindy Chamberlain’s claim that a dingo stole baby Azaria in 1980. It all sounded so far-fetched and the media were generally anti-Lindy when it came to reporting the story.

There was wild speculation about Jehovah’s Witnesses and other 'non conformist'religions having strange rituals, about “Azaria” meaning something weird or strange in another language, the parent’s attitude and demeanor when interviewed or in court (sees Lindy’s comments about that in the story I’ve linked here by the way) and about the likelihood of a dingo being strong enough to carry off a nine week old baby anyway.

The one thing that stopped me from being ‘anit-Lindy’ was the element of a mother’s love for her baby. Azaria was not her first child and the pressures that new mothers face (post-natal depression, etc) didn’t seem to be a factor. The thought that Lindy could have murdered Azaria (with scissors, I think was the verdict) was just totally against common sense to me.

I have to admit, I was a bit of a coward when it came to this case. I avoided discussions where possible and felt really uncomfortable around people who had strong opinions either way on the matter. The case seemed to polarise society, with the majority believing in her guilt.

Both Lindy and her husband Michael were convicted. Appeals and court cases followed and the conviction was eventually quashed and she received around $1M in compensation. Her marriage broke up her family was split. At least one of her children has been severely emotionally affected by it (traumatised wouldn’t be too strong a word, it seems).

And now, 32 years after the event, a coroner has finally decreed that it was a dingo. So, why does my blog focussing on things that are good in the world contain a story about Lindy Chamberlain??

Read the story in the attached link. You’ve got to admire this woman and her attitude. She is congratulating a journalist/entertainer who apologised on-air for the way she judged Lindy and her husband. I don’t know about anyone reading this blog entry, but I think I’d have understood if Lindy had come out and said: “F*** the lot of you! How do you feel now you heartless bastards?”

Instead, she describes Wendy harmer as ‘courageous’ and complimented her for apologising.

And THAT’S one of the things that are good in the world today.

Sydney Morning Herald Story today

In case you haven't heard already, nurses are the GREATEST!

Hmm. So much for my commitment to a weekly blog, huh?

In my defence, I spent a few days in hospital and a week or so recovering at home after having my appendix out. As is the case with appendicitis, you don’t get time to plan these things and my attack hit at 1am on a Thursday morning.

End result is I missed the Relay for Life and also the annual golf day for the St George School for Children with Disabilities – two really worthy causes that are close to my heart, but for very different reasons. In fact, I’ll make the school a topic of a blog entry at a later date.

Anyway, this entry is all about nurses, so it’s time I started writing about them I thinkJ

When you have tor appendix out at RPA Hospital, you end up recovering in the colorectal ward. My roomies were older men with a variety of gastro/colorectal problems. For anyone reading this who has a modicum of medical knowledge, you’ll know how smelly and, frankly, messy the ward can become in this part of the hospital. Idon't know for sure, but I'll bet the nurses moan a little inside when they find out that they're rostered here.

Stop right there – I want to make it clear that I’m not complaining, ok? Public hospital, shared ward – you take what you can get.

I was the lucky one – in and out in less than 48 hours. One of my room mates had severe pain and had to wear a colostomy bag.  These bags have to be emptied at some stage. They contents are drained into a plastic jug (I think they may have to record the output levels, but don’t quote me) and then carried out for disposal.

Enter the nurses.

Of the 7 different nurses who worked on shifts while I was there (one was a student), one of them had a severe cold, another had a backache and ALL of them deserve to be paid way more than they get each week.

On my first night, I couldn’t wait for the buzzer to be answered at 2am so I could get a new urine bottle. I was still in pain as it was just 5 hours since the operation and i couldn't have made it to the bathroom. There was a bowl on my table and I had to use that instead. No harassment or grumpiness from the nurse on overnight duty as she carried the bowl full of my pee out of the room -  just an apology for not getting to me in time.

Long story short is that nurses are the best people in the world. Sick people usually get a bit self-centred and demanding. The RPA nurses coped with all of that from their patients (I think I can exclude myself – I honestly tried hard to be as little trouble as possible) and still had room for a smile every time they came to see me.

Thanks guys – you’re appreciated, I promise.

Who would YOU be Relaying for?

Update - I didn't make it to Relay. Went to hospital on Thursday and had my appendix out. More on that little story in the next post, but I am SO disappointed to miss RFL 2012.

This is one that’s managed to become close to my heart.

Relay for Life is a worldwide event, started relatively recently, that has grown, in Australia especially, to be an enormous source of funds for the cancer Council.

In 2006, while I was working at another community newspaper, I first heard about Relay for Life. Because the management of the newspaper had their own personal experiences with cancer, RFL became a cause that they enthusiastically embraced. Good work was done, much needed funds were raised for the fight against cancer and I’d like to think that some people’s lives were directly, positively impacted by the efforts of all involved.

Not long after I joined Fairfax Community Newspapers, a delegation from the Sutherland Shire Relay for Life approached the Leader for support for the 2007 event. We readily agreed and the work began. Long story short – the 2006 Relay raised $164,000 – in 2007 the funds raised reached $280,000. The Committee agreed that the Leader’s involvement was a major contributing factor and the relationship was henceforth set in stone.

Relay for Life began in the USA in 1985, so it’s a relatively young event and it’s grown worldwide being held in 21 countries. The Sutherland Shire Relay for Life (there isn’t one in the St George region and the Shire people welcome those from St George with open arms and hearts) is now the biggest in NSW. It’s only been going for 10 years.

Every year’s results have exceeded expectations and targets. The 2011 Relay raised $654,000 and, importantly, more and more local businesses and organisations have either become involved or have increased their level of support. The first Saturday and Sunday in May see an army of volunteers and works descend on the Sylvania Athletics track and it’s a credit to the organising committee that the event goes like clockwork – rain, hail or shine!

Last years event was hit by miserable weather conditions and the only thing not dampened was the enthusiasm of all of those in attendance. Of course, most of the funds are raised in the weeks and months leading up to the event.

This year, the Leader has been able to increase their support as well. Thanks to the support for Relay for Life from the advertisers in the section, the Leader has published an 8 page wrap for the event. The story of the 2012 Relay is here.  http://www.theleader.com.au/news/local/news/general/come-help-celebrate-our-community-spirit/2542348.aspx

This weekend will be the third year that Johnny and I have judged the ‘Best Table Setting” at the Relay banquet. It’s basically a big picnic and relayers are encouraged to decorate their tables with a team (or any other!) theme. Johnny’s the expert, I provide the comic relief!

Two years ago, when we made the winner’s announcement, the Chairman Rod Coy asked me the same question he asks everyone at the event; “Who are you relaying for?” because I’d lost an uncle, a cousin and second cousin in the past – three generations of the same family – to cancer, my answer was easy and I’d always added that this terrible illness touched almost very family in some way.

Jump forward to may 2011 and I’d returned only a few days before from Uncle Alan’s funeral, while my brother-in-law Bill Mansfield had passed away in February, both from cancer. Needless to say, when asked:” Who are you relaying for Trevor?” I had a completely different answer.

This weekend, I’ll be there along with thousands of others, doing my very small part to help raise funds. Johnny will be there on Saturday evening, judging the contest again and, of course, adding colour and flair to the event

I can’t think of a better example of a community coming together to help others. If you’re reading this from somewhere else in Australia or the World, get behind your local Relay, if you haven’t already done so.

Kids ARE the future!:)

During a rare tidy up at home (a REAL tidy up - not one of those where I find stuff months later that my dear partner has hidden it from view as visitors arrive), forced upon me because of the need to change cars recently, I found a copy of my will. Yeah, it's up do date, I thought - until i read it!!

Long story short is that is was hopelessly OUT of date and needs fixing. It's led me to consider making a bequest or two. One will be to the St George and Sutherland Medical Research Foundation. At least one other will be to the Sunrise Children's Village in Cambodia.

I don't know about you dear reader, but I've always thought that well-intentioned, well managed and accountable support programs for children should be encouraged and supported wherever possible.

I first heard about Sunrise Children's Village around 5 years ago from my friend Sue Liu, from Zulu Communications. Sue has visited the village at least once and raises funds for them back here in Sydney. Sue is passionate about a lot of things, but none more so than this great organisation.

Rather than read masses of stuff on my blog, take a look at their website and do what I've done - click the Like button on Facebook to keep up to date with what's happening there. This is from their website ("Geraldine"is Geraldine Cox AM, the founder):


The Sunrise Children’s Villages are two orphanages located in Siem Reap and Phnom Penh, Cambodia. The Australia Cambodia Foundation started in September 1993, following the first visit by Geraldine and a friend in 1993. The orphanages are now known as Sunrise Children’s Villages and they care for hundreds of orphaned and disadvantaged Cambodian children.Our third Sunrise Children’s Village has commenced construction in Sihanoukville.

I can't imagine how many years of recovery are needed to make up for one year of war. I do know about the TRILLIONS of dollars spent after WW2, repairing and rebuilding nations, cities and towns after the horrific damage done by the war, especially in Europe and Asia . I've been to London, Singapore, Hong Kong and Manila in recent years and I see the result today, after 6 decades of growth. Hopefully the kids at SCV can grow up to enjoy similar prosperity after decades of hard work in Cambodia as well.

http://www.scv.org.au/

Living in the Moment: Dutch Village Offers Dignified Care for Dementia Sufferers

I've read a few version of this online and am posting what I think is the best version. This from a story on Spiegal Online, the website for Der Spiegal magazine in Germany. The story ran here in metro daily newspapers and I think I saw something on TV as well.

In short, this is a story about a purpose-built village in the Netherlands called Hogeway, where dementia patients can live out their lives with dignity and respect. it also manages the elements of the earlier stages of Alzheimer's Disease, where patients are still active and can be quite a handful for family members and carers, as they wander off or forget people, places and things in their lives


"Instead of isolating these people in care homes, Hogewey keeps them dry, fed and clean while still making arrangements for their individual wants and needs."

Jo Verhoeff, 85, is among 152 residents of Hogewey. Here she is shown sitting on her bed in her home, which she shares with other elderly people who suffer from dementia.

The idea for Hogeway was born when the workers at a nursing home were asked if they would like to see their own parents in a facility like that. the answer was no and Hogeway was developed. According to one of the photo captions in the story, a place in Hogeway costs about 5,000 euros per month, which is comparable to conventional convalescent homes that is paid by Dutch health insurers


This is a massively expensive health care problem all around the world, including here in Australia. It seems that, for the Dutch at least, the cost of such a facility is not a barrier. As we Baby Boomers grow older, more and more people are going to be affected by Alzheimer's and other forms of dementia. 

Enough from me. Please read the link in detail, because it's a beautiful story and I fear that dementia, like cancer does already, is going to touch most families before much longer, as our population ages. Make sure you take a minute or two and look through the photo gallery also.

http://www.spiegel.de/international/europe/0,1518,824582,00.html

Really great sports people are great PEOPLE, first and foremost.

This one is rather self-indulgent (really Trevor - YOU being self-indulgent??? lol), but I don't care, ok? :)

Last Friday was the Leader- Tynan Honda Sportstar of the Year Awards, for the St George and Sutherland regions of metro Sydney. You've got to be a really talented sportsperson to win at category or one of the Sportstar of the Year awards. The Senior Sportstar winner was world champion boxer Billy Dibb, for example.

This was my personal highlight from the event. This lady is Kelly Wren, aged 33, the winner of the Disability Sportstar award. Kelly won the ladies tennis singles, doubles, team event and mixed doubles at the INAS-FID Global games in Italy. Yes, ALL of those titles. What a great achievement, huh?

No sooner had Kelly left the stage after accepting her award than Ken Rosewall dashed across from his seat to meet her and spend some time chatting with her. The smile on Kelly's face says it all, as tennis legend Ken Rosewall went out of his way to acknowledge her achievement and give her his personal congratulations.

Ken Rosewall - a great sportsperson and a great person.

Lisa McMahon was on hand to capture the moment. Thanks for the pics Lisa:))