KD Volunteers, Klibur Domin

Louis and Corey

In January/ February, we were given the chance to go and volunteer at Klibur Domin. From the moment we were picked up at the airport we were welcomed with warm East Timorese hospitality from all the staff and locals. Despite supposedly being wet season, we were able to do a considerable amount. Our first project was to repaint and make some minor improvements to Uma Barbara (Barbara Cottage) both inside and out. After finishing that task (which we had fundraised), we helped Gregorio and the maintenance guys doing activities such as mowing all compounds lawns and fixing windows. Our highlight however, was our last weekend when we got to take the children of St Damian’s Respite ward to the beach. It was lovely to see the smiles on their faces. Our Time in Timor L’Este, despite being short, was very enjoyable and we loved every second of it! Not only the volunteering side, but also the things volunteers can see and do on the weekends. We would like to thank everybody at Ryder Cheshire and Klibur Domin for giving us this opportunity of a life time and we both highly recommend giving it a go if given the chance. We will definitely be back.

 

NSW Foundation, Ryder-Cheshire Australia

Vale Melody Smythe

Melody Smythe – National Project Officer (India) – Sydney, NSW

On 15 October we received the sad news that Melody Smythe had died. Melody was a much loved member of the NSW Ryder Cheshire Committee from 2002 to 2013, when she was forced to retire through ill health. She also took on the role of Raphael Project Officer from 2006, building a warm relationship with Brig Anil Sinha as she navigated her way through the special project requests that were submitted by Raphael for funding.

Melody’s association with the Ryder Cheshire Foundation came about through her dear friend Barbara Lewis, who encouraged her to join the committee. It was a great joy to Melody that she was able to visit Raphael for the first time in March 2010 when she accompanied Patrick Lewis and his son Sutomo to attend the official opening of Barbara Cottage.

We will miss her warmth,concern for others and her work for the relief of suffering.

May she rest in peace.

Chris Hannan

Founders, Klibur Domin, News, Ryder-Cheshire Australia

Klibur Domin Celebrates Founders’ Day

Klibur Domin paid tribute to its Founders, Leonard Cheshire and Sue Ryder, at a special celebration on Wednesday 5September; the inaugural Founders’ Day.

Over 400 people gathered together to congratulate and give thanks for the past 18 years of service by Klibur Domin to the people of Timor-Leste.

Among those present, were the Chief of Staff of the Presidential Republic, the Director General of the Ministry of Social Solidarity and Inclusion; the US Ambassador to Timor-Leste, Kathleen Fitzpatrick; representatives from the Australian Embassy and the Japan International Cooperation Agency; Ex-Prime Minister, Dr. Rui Maria de Araujo; members of the Klibur Domin Board, including current Chairperson, Dr. Jose Teixeira; representatives of RCA, Air Commodore Peter Newton AO and his wife Helen; Rotary representative, John Kirby; Rev. Fr. Ted Burns; the very first volunteer at Klibur Domin, Joao Martires; current and past Klibur Domin staff, patients and volunteers; along with local community members and supporters of the Foundation. Continue reading Klibur Domin Celebrates Founders’ Day →

Dental Program, KD Volunteers, Klibur Domin, News, SA Foundation, Volunteering

An Australian Team of Dental Volunteers visited Timor-Leste in July 2018.

This is Their Story!

Our Dental Team of Dentist Dr John Denton, Hygienist Lyn Carman, and Dental Assistant Jodie Billinger, arrived in Dili full of excitement and anticipation. We were met at the airport by Joaquim Soares, Director of Klibur Domin, and Patricia McDonell, our Rotary Team Leader. Joaquim shepherded us through customs with our 90 kilograms of dental instruments and supplies. We had each filled our cases full of dental stuff and carried all our clothes for the 10-day adventure in our back packs. We quickly made ourselves at home in the new, very comfortable, Klibur Domin volunteer cottage.

Next morning, we were keen to meet our new local Dental Therapists, Efi, Luis and Maria. Luis and Maria graduated from Dili University, and Efi did a similar course in Indonesia. Their training enables them to perform simple diagnosis and treatment of dental diseases, including fillings, extractions, Silver Diamine Fluoride (SDF) use, scalings and oral hygiene instruction (OHI).

Dr Ian Ridley and I were very pleased when these local clinicians came on board the KD Dental Clinic Project. Co-operation between Maluk Timor and KD has advanced the KD Dental Project three to four years ahead of our projections. Our Australian volunteer dental team roles have changed from us doing everything, to doing some of the operating and much more mentoring; a role we found very satisfactory and satisfying. Efi, Luis, Maria and Juvita, a student Dental Nurse, were very keen to learn from us and eager to help us with translating and support. Continue reading An Australian Team of Dental Volunteers visited Timor-Leste in July 2018. →

News, NSW Foundation, Singleton Home

Vale Cheryl Germaine Nesbitt

I first met Cheryl at the beginning of 1968 in Sydney when my cousin brought her along to a Raphael fundraiser event. It was a Japanese luncheon prepared by Jenny at Barbara Coleman’s home in Sydney.

Cheryl joined Ryder-Cheshire for the next 50 years. She was a Director on the NSW Foundation for 12 years. We met again when she moved to the Hunter Valley and she joined the Singleton Ryder-Cheshire Support Group where, for many years, she was our President and Public Officer, maintaining her support of the Ryder-Cheshire NSW and the National Foundation. She sold copious Christmas cards.

With a background in Real Estate and Banking, her expertise and competence were invaluable. She was compassionate and generous, and had a unique balance of firmly standing up for what she believed was right, coupled with a sense of fun. She could turn her hand to anything, even running up the curtains forLocksley, the then Ryder-Cheshire Home in Singleton, NSW. It was under Cheryl’s watch that we incorporated and eventually wound up the Singleton Home, distributing the funds to other Ryder-Cheshire projects. She was delighted with the progress reports of that money being promptly utilised where needed. Continue reading Vale Cheryl Germaine Nesbitt →