By ERWIN CHLANDA
Australian Ian Riseley, the president of Rotary International, which has 1.2 million members around the world, in 35,000 clubs, this morning visited Purple House in Alice Springs, a charity which has close ties with the global service organisation.
He was shown around the facility for renal patients by Sarah Brown, Australia’s 2017 Nurse of the Year and CEO of the Purple House network spanning all of the NT and across the WA and SA borders.
The organisation’s name is a bit of a mouthful: Western Desert Nganampa Walytja Palyantjaku Tjutaku Aboriginal Corp Inc. or WDNWPT for short (not all that short, in fact).
It has nine remote dialysis units which, along with the Purple Truck mobile unit, support patients from 26 remote communities, allowing them to receive treatment in their own communities.
The service extends its operations from Central Australia to Groote Eylandt, Lajamanu and Yirrkala in the Top End. Over the last 12 months it has provided 154 patients with dialysis, a treatment required for around five hours every second day.
Work on its first remote unit started in Kintore near the NT-WA border in 2004, initially in the clinic there.
But soon a derelict dwelling, inhabited only by a camel, was gifted to WDNWPT and members of the Woden Rotary Club in the ACT made their way to the Gibson Desert to restore the building.
Rotary’s focus on health is renowned the world over following its leading role in the eradication of polio.
In 1985, when Rotary started its polio campaign, there were 1000 new cases a day in the world, 365,000 cases a year.
“Now we’re down to eight in six months,” says Mr Riseley.
He will be attending a dinner this evening with members from all three local clubs, Alice Springs, Mbantua and Stuart, which have a total membership of about 70.
PHOTOS: Ms Brown and Mr Riseley in the Purple House dialysis room • Mr Riseley (centre) at last night’s Mayoral reception with long-time local Rotarians Mike Smith (Alice Springs Club, at left) and Peter Hoey (Stuart) • And with Rotary District Governor Peter Schaefer getting a taste of naive herbs, a sideline for Purple House which sells ointments and potions, mostly based on the knowledge of traditional Aboriginal healers.
Thursday, April 25, 2024
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It humbles me when I see such projects are working among the remote communities.
I wish I was out there too, but I think I would hinder rather enhance the project.
In 2010 and 2015 I visited my son and wife who were working in Alice, and I will always have fond memories.
The last time was rather a bummer as I had been diagnosed with Parkinson’s Disease. Now it has progressed and although I would love to see the Alice again, I think perhaps not.
So, keep up the great work, and give my heartfelt love and affection to the people you work with. I am 69. See, it only gets worse.
If ever you have a spare seat going that way, please give me a hoi. I would still love to visit again. Mad men never admit or submit to much. All the best. Roger Couche.