My ROMAC Friends

I sincerely hope that you are coping well with the restrictions forced upon us by Covid-19 and are now beginning to enjoy the opportunities to socialise with friends and family as the lockdowns are gradually eased.

Like most of you, I am sure, I have been thrilled to see the way Rotarians have adapted to meeting virtually through social media channels and web-based programs such as Zoom and Google Hangouts, often with a greater attendance than would be at a regular club meeting.  It has proved to be a great opportunity for the ROMAC team to promote our organisation, as Clubs have often been struggling to find guest speakers prepared to address their members via a virtual meeting.  I sincerely thank those of you who have invited me, and the ROMAC Regional Chairs, as your guest speakers during the past weeks. For many Clubs, this is their first presentation on ROMAC for many years and the 10 minute video presentation we have shown during the address has been well accepted and has been an ideal way to succinctly tell the ROMAC story.  If your Club has not had a speaker on ROMAC for some time and would like to have a presentation, please contact me on chair@romac.org.au to organise this.

As is the case with most not-for-profit organisations, Covid-19 has had a huge impact on our operation and has meant we have been unable to bring patients into Australia and New Zealand for treatment.  We currently have number of patients who have been accepted by the Board, but have been forced to wait because of the lockdown.  The challenge, of course, will be finding hospital beds for them once the restrictions are lifted as there will be a backlog of surgery on local patients that will have precedence.

It has also meant that patients who have been treated are unable to return home.  Although he's still not well enough to return home to the Solomon Islands, it is hoped that Vincent, who is being treated at the Centennial Hospital for Women and Children in Canberra, will be able to travel in July.  Our other patient, Germaine, was successfully operated on at Sydney's Westmead Hospital in early March, but by the time she was discharged the travel embargo was in place, so she is currently living in Wollongong with her mother who is studying nursing at Wollongong University.  Once the restrictions are lifted, Germaine will return to the Solomons with her father.

Of course, the other big impact that Covid-19 has had on ROMAC is financial.  Because Clubs are not able to conduct their traditional regular fundraising events they are limited in how much money they are able to donate to organisations like ROMAC.  As expected, our income is down as a result. I ask that you continue to support us if you can, even if it's not to the extent that your would normally donate.  I also ask that you promote ROMAC to your Club members and friends and encourage them to support us with a personal donation.  Individuals (even those not in Rotary) can become a ROMAC Friend with a donation of just $100 annually.  ROMAC receives no Government funding and relies entirely on the generosity of Rotarians and Clubs to continue to operate, so all contributions are gratefully received.  All donations over $2 are tax deductible.

I recommend you visit our website www.romac.org for more information about our important work, and to make a donation, or click on the donate now button below.

Thank you for your continued commitment to ROMAC.

Keep well and stay safe.


PDG Harold Sharp
Chairman