Gary Halliday posted on June 16, 2010 09:29
Numbers for last night’s meeting were bolstered to twenty three with the return of myself and other Vietnam Vision volunteers; Joe Cauchi, Ted Mlynarz and Jimmy Leahy. Bob Groat was unable to attend as the stomach bug he procured some eight days ago in Saigon is still preventing him from functioning on all cylinders. Many of our wives were also in attendance which made our special guest, Professor Des Richardson feel right at home. Des is no stranger to our club. Besides being a local to the area, he has visited many times previously whilst also being the recipient of research funds provided by our club.
Professor Richardson’s major contributions to cancer research are focused on understanding the role of iron in cancer cell proliferation and the development of novel anti-tumour agents known as iron chelators. Indeed, these studies have resulted in highly promising and potent anti-cancer drugs and are subject of a suite of active national patents. The Professor is close to testing these drugs on larger animals than the mice he has been using, therefore bringing his team one step closer to gaining approval to test on humans. Our club has been a supporter of The Professor’s research over the past few years, and are now looking at gaining approval for a three year PhD Rotary Health Scholarship which will help in the education of other scientists who can carry on Des’s great work.
As mentioned, our Vietnam Vision Team has returned with many a story to tell. From the outset, the new members of the team realized that fighting oppressive heat and humidity in the confined spaces of makeshift theatres and waiting rooms was not as easy as first thought. Add to this the constant travelling, either by bus or plane to far away destinations and it’s no wonder the body is constantly reminded of its limitations. I can report however that we did our club proud. Ted is now a very able theatre technician who can sanitize operating utensils with one hand while fanning and feeding himself with the other. Before his battle with a stomach virus, Bob was last seen injecting pain blocks into patient’s eyes and doing his best impression of a very confused traffic cop. Max was Max, ever the stickler for rules, regulations and order. Don’t ever try pushing ahead of line while Max is on watch….whoever you are. Joe is now head theatre nurse in charge of Ted. At one stage he was also seriously thinking of rewiring the entire confusing electricity and communications grid of Saigon. With constant interruptions to power supply, Joe’s skills at flicking the safety switch back on also came in quite handy. As for Jimmy, well he is the official team hugger. I have never seen a man hugging or being hugged as much as Jim. In between hugs, Jim capably kept the flow of human traffic moving through the operating theatres. As current president of the club, my main duty was to source local facilities that could keep our hot and exhausted team suitably re-hydrated when required. This duty, although performed under considerable duress was found to be quite rewarding I found.
Thank you to Frans and Geoff for filling the seat while I was away. I understand they were both very proficient at getting the matter of business out of the way so that fellowship at the bar could take precedence.
The club changeover is nearing. President Elect Peter Beadle has requested members to source more attendees to the night. Please check with your circle of contacts and friends and let’s see in the new board and president in the best way we know how.
Next week our club will welcome Colin Taylor who will speak on working with charities in Laos.
Charlie