Guest Speaker: John Tarbutt VOSO Tonga visit 2018
This week members were treated to a highly interesting talk by one of our own, John Tarbutt, delivered with John’s typically deadpan humour, although he was discussing the serious subject of eye health in various Pacific Islands. This year John spent approximately 2 weeks in Tonga on a VOSO trip (Voluntary Ophthalmic Services Overseas). This is a service where optometrists, ophthalmologists, registrars and nurses visit a Pacific island and perform voluntary services for the community such as: screening for eye problems and diseases; referring patients to NZ & Aust for some treatments; providing surgeon teams for eye surgery eg cataracts; providing glasses donated from NZ; school screening and diabetic screening (diabetes is becoming a major reason for vision problems in the Pacific); eye health education. John has been involved with VOSO for a number of years and has been to Tonga, Taveuni and Samoa a number of times. The ultimate goal, John said, was to “do ourselves out of a job” by helping Pacific Island communities to help themselves.
VOSO has its challenges and advantages. Teams are made up of different groups of people from different backgrounds – it’s necessary they bring a sense of humour and know that where they’re going is “not going to be like the Ritz”. Pros for going on VOSO trips are: working with a various people in the profession and in the Islands, providing great experience, seeing a variety of eye conditions; and when there is downtime, there’s time for a bit of recreation. Cons for VOSO are: conditions are hot and muggy and operating conditions can be difficult, language can be a problem, logistics of travel, food and accommodation are sometimes a challenge.
John said his trip to Tonga this year was nearly a repeat of his first trip in 1992. They visited 3 islands with a team of two ophthalmologists, two optometrists and 3 or 4 local nurses. John was asked why he did this voluntary work and he replied because it is an opportunity share his skills, for variety of work and for the experience of providing a very real need to under-priviledged communities- and he enjoys it.
Notices (lots on this month, so be sure to write these events in your diaries)
Tuesday 6 November: Polio Plus fundraiser ‘Bohemian Rhapsody’ – Tivoli Theatre, Cambridge
$20 ticket – support this great fundraising idea. 52 places available (many already taken with Thursday night’s members.
Thursday 8 November: (Club Night) Hill Laboratories, 25 Duke Street, Hamilton 5.30pm start (Laurie Graham organising)
Saturday 10 and Sunday 11 November: Armistice Parking volunteering, Mighty River Domain (far southern entrance). The usual assistance with taking entry fees from cars. Volunteers needed please contact Bill Robinson.
Sunday 11 November: Lion’s Market. Taste Waikato stall. See Ray Milner for volunteering. Ray reminded everyone that all members need to be working hard to sell our fantastic cookbooks to all family, friends, colleagues and anyone else you know.
Thursday 15 November: ‘Blackadder Goes Forth’ Repertory production, Gaslight Theatre, 5.30pm start. $60 dinner and show. Please be on time to be seated for dinner. A fantastic show with great reviews and extended showing as has been so popular. 20 seats still available so be in to get yours. Please contact Chris (027 499 5524) or Robyn Crickett (027 412 0668) directly
Bulletin
Robyn Crickett and Ray Milner asked for a person/s to step up to be the new Bulletin editor last week. As at this Thursday’s meeting no one had done so. Robyn advised the meeting that if a person couldn’t be found by this weekend we would not be able to produce the much needed Bulletin. She reminded everyone that this is a very important avenue of communication for the club with most of us relying on it for our information for the weekly running of the club.
Since this was announced a member has come forward and a BIG thank you goes out to Don Wilson for offering to be the new Bulletin editor. John Tarbutt will assist Don with training him as to its creation and LesleyAnn Thomas has kindly offered to take the meeting notes until the end of the year – a big thank you to you too LesleyAnn and also to John for editing this week’s edition. Keith Rogers has offered to take the meeting notes from the beginning of next year – thanks to you too Keith!
Meeting Apologies by midday Wednesday – contact 021 0267 8742 to leave a message or text or email rotarycambridgenz@gmail.com
