President Gary opened the meeting and introduced guests. Introductions were followed by an update of Club Notices.
Kevin once again requested help at MUNA on 26th May. Can you assist? If so please contact Liz asap. Kevin also reminded members that we are looking for RYLA nominations. A huge opportunity for potential leaders aged between 20 and 28. Know someone? Please contact Tom asap.
The St. Johns Debating Team was also announced – Kevin, Simon and Patrick – make sure you have May 4th Dinner Meeting in your diary and if you can think of a good Moot – please contact Kevin ASAP.
Peter B advised that the Apirana Working Bee has a date change – now Sunday April 23rd. Please RSVP to Peter by 13th April.
Snap chat – our newest member Grace Cox advised that she is currently training to be a Priest at St. Johns Theological Collage, and in between studies, she works parttime at NZ Christian & Science, a resourcing network promoting conversation between Science and faith. Grace also has a trip to the Holyland planned for November this year which she is very much looking forward to.
This week our guest speakers, Helen Sargent and Ana Kennedy were from “Hearts4Kids”. Both ladies shared a great story about their annual trip to Fiji.
Their vision is to extend lifesaving cardiac care to children born in our neighbouring countries of the Pacific. This year’s mission to Fiji saw a team of 38 Medical Professionals, donate their time, energy and knowledge between 22nd February – 6th March 2023 at Sri Sathya Sai Sanjeevani Children’s Hospital Suva, Fiji.
The Hearts4Kids Trust is a New Zealand volunteer medical team who provide free-of-charge lifesaving services to Paediatric patients born with congenital heart disease. There are limited children’s heart surgery facilities in the Pacific Islands and their aim is to treat children with congenital and rheumatic heart disease who would not otherwise have access to surgery, due either to being too unwell to travel to an overseas facility or without the resources to be transferred.
This was the sixth time that Hearts4Kids Paediatric Cardiac Surgical team have visited Fiji since 2014, and to date have completed 91 operations. Once again financial sponsorship was sought, and requests made for medical equipment and supplies by donation to reduced cost, loan or purchase.
By December, most of the equipment and supplies necessary for the mission were itemized, boxed, packed on pallets, and made ready for shipping by container to Fiji. The container left the warehouse on 3rd February and arrived safely in Suva on 13th February.
This year a team of 38 volunteers were on the mission and a total of 23 children were reviewed carefully and data collected for discussion. From that data some were excluded, others were held for later visiting teams, but many were considered good surgical candidates and they were invited to the Preoperative Clinic on 22nd/23rd February.
13 operations, (11 open heart and 2 thoracotomies, were performed over the 5 days, with the theatre team working from 7am until 10pm each day. The children’s ages ranged from 4 months to 12 years. With no cure for a childhood heart condition, Hearts4Kids is committed to providing lifelong, vital services at no cost to ensure all those impacted will feel supported, informed, educated, and connected.
Want to join and support Heart Kids, then they would welcome talking to you. just go to their website, www.heartkids.org.nz, to see how you can help.
Many thanks to Heart Kids and specifically Helen and Ana for their time on Thursday and of course for the good work that they are doing.
THURSDAY APRIL 13th - DINNER MEETING - GUEST SPEAKER MICHELLE BRINSDEN - EASTERN BAYS BIRDSONG PROJECT. Michelle is a Senior Conservation Advisor at Auckland Council, and co-ordinates the Eastern Bays Songbird Project Inc., which aims to restore and regenerate the natural ecosystems of the Eastern Bays to create a sanctuary alive with birds, enhancing the lives of our residents and visitors.
THURSDAY APRIL 20th. ANZAC THEMED BREAKFAST MEETING. Full details to follow. 
