LAST WEEK'S GUEST SPEAKER : TAMMY SHEPHERD – MERCY SHIPS AUSTRALIA
We were privileged to have an outstanding and moving presentation by Tammy who is a Physiotherapist with experience in serving on the Mercy Ship hospital – off the west coast of Africa.
Tammy outlined to history of its development, from the idea of US philanthropist Don Stephens who raised $1m in 1978 to buy an old ocean liner and convert it into a hospital, to the current situation where the 4th Mercy Ship is today being launched from a Chinese shipyard, with purpose built medical facilities. The ships are maintained entirely by volunteers with all costs and supplies donated by worldwide sponsors.
The ship she served on, provided first class surgical, maxillofacial surgery, plastic surgery, dental, orthopaedic, obstetric and related medical services to an enormous number people from all walks of life and counties in Africa.. They only go to ports that invite them, and careful survey work is undertaken in advance to ensure they come equipped with the correct services and equipment for the particular place.
Whilst in port, their professionals train local health providers. Dental facilities are set up off the ship and the equipment left for the locals to expand services.
Many of the medical problems facing young children could be traced to poor diets so other professionals on the ship work with local to tackle to essentially causes of the health problems.
Tammy showed some graphic examples of cases she worked on – horrific and at the same time, sad for us who have enjoyed first class health facilities our entire life.
This was a very moving presentation, and opened our eyes to a whole new area of need we might investigate.
Bill Andrews.
UPCOMING CLUB EVENTS
• 1st July (Thursday), 6 for 6.30 pm: Change-over Dinner at the Royal Canberra Golf Club
WORLD, NATIONAL AND OTHER CURRENT EVENTS THIS WEEK
1 July: Burundi Independence Day; Canada Day
3 July: Belarus Independence Day; International Day of Cooperatives
4 July: USA Independence Day
NOTABLE EVENTS IN HISTORY THIS WEEK
28 June: Treaty of Versailles signed ending WWI (1919)
29 June: South Africa begins implementing apartheid (1949)
30 June: Some 80 million trees are flattened in Siberia by largest meteorite impact ever recorded (1908)
1 July: Battle of Gettysburg begins, stopping Genl. Robert E. Lee's northward advance (1863); Communist Party of China founded (1921)
2 July: English engineer Thomas Savery patents first steam engine (1698)
3 July: Karl Benz drives first automobile (1886)
4 July: Charles Dodgson (Lewis Carroll) creates “Alice in Wonderland” during a rowboat ride on River Isis at Oxford (1862)
MORE WISE WORDS
-The World Health Organization has announced that dogs cannot contact Covid-19. Dogs previously held in quarantine can now be released. To be clear, WHO let the dogs out.
-Relationships are a lot like algebra. Have you ever looked at your X and wondered Y?
-A girl said she recognized me from her vegetarian club, but I have never met herbivore.
-If you are not supposed to eat at night , why is there a light bulb in the refrigerator?
-My dad died when we could not remember his blood type. As he died he kept insisting " be positive " but it's hard without him.
(Thanks to Eric)