Dorfianus & Maria

On Tuesday the 15^th August 2006, Members of the Lions Clubs of Brighton and Edwardstown met at the Adelaide Airport to welcome two visitors from Eastern Indonesia who were here for an adventure that will change their young lives.

Dorfianus Agung and Maria Delfina were here for surgery that cannot be performed in their own country. OSSAA Committee Member, Ruth Boveington from Darwin accompanied them as chaperone and translator. Neither Dorfianus nor Maria speak English, so Ruth was very busy. They had already met with OSSAA Surgeon and Team Leader Dr Mark Moore, who had arranged their operations for Saturday 19^th August at Calvary Hospital North Adelaide. The Hospital Board have donated all of their costs to the project.

Other specialists involved in the project include Dr Cindy Molloy a Neurosurgeon, Anaesthetists Dr David Zoanetti and Dr Tony Branson, Dentist Dr Terry Yuen, Radiology SA and Gribbles all have given their time and services free of charge.

Funds for the project have been raised by the two Lions Clubs in conjunction with a grant from the Australian Lions Foundation. As well, we are indebted to Foodland North Adelaide, the Adelaide Meridien Motel, Bakery on O’Connell and Front-Line Promotional Products for their very generous support for the project.

I am delighted to report that the surgery for the two patients has been very successful.

On Saturday 26^th August Dr Mark Moore six Lions from the Brighton Club and nine Lions from the Edwardstown Club were at the airport to see them leave for Darwin with Ruth Boveington on their way home to Flores.

The members of both the Brighton and Edwardstown Lions Clubs would like to express their sincere thanks to the Staff at Calvary Hospital North Adelaide for their exceptional care and friendship to both Maria and Dorfi, and for the numerous gifts they gave to both of them. Maria went home with three large Teddy Bears and several dolls.

When Dorfi arrived at the airport on August 15^th he was presented with a Crows shirt and cap by the members of the Brighton Lions Club. Lois a member of the Ladies Auxiliary of the Edwardstown Lions Club gave Dorfi a Teddy Bear that played the Port Power song and when the Executive of the Port Power Football Club heard about Dorfi being in Adelaide for surgery their Business Relations Executive, Mr Danie Buberis came to the Meridien Motel and presented Dorfi with a brand new football signed by all the players.

After spending the weekend in Darwin with Ruth they leave fly back to Eastern Indonesia to their respective orphanages extremely happy at the outcome of their surgery.

In October Dr Mark Moore will be leading a surgical team to Eastern Indonesia during which time he will see both Maria and Dorfi and will report on their progress to us on his return.