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spring ‘09 www.royalfarwest.org.au
honouring our past and
nurturing our future
Her Excellency, Professor Marie Bashir, AC CVO, We are grateful that in her role as Governor of NSW,
Governor of New South Wales and Patron of Royal Far Professor Bashir continues her connection with
West officially re-opened Drummond House on the 30th Royal Far West as our official Patron. In re-opening
July. Her role as Governor enabled Professor Bashir to Drummond House, she expressed her awareness of
acknowledge Royal Far West on behalf of NSW, and as a the acute lack of specialist services in rural areas – that
country girl herself. It was her personal, heartfelt thanks our greatest challenge in this country is not water, food
and appreciation that truly marked the occasion. or minerals, but the need for more healthy children.
She commended the Board for reverting its focus to
Born in Narrandera NSW, Professor Bashir says she
dedicated care for country children and acknowledged
remembers every day that she is still a country girl at
Royal Far West as one of the great institutions that
heart. She recalls her mother worked very hard and
characterises the human spirit of Australia. ‘It’s a defining
dedicated much of her time to the services of the Royal
quality of Australians’ she said, ‘when someone is in need,
Far West Narrandera branch and for that reason it has
we always find a way to reach out, and that’s the Royal
always been a special part of her life.
Far West children’s service.’
Years later, after graduating from Sydney University with a
Perhaps however it was Professor Bashir’s final words that
Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery, Professor
captured our collective passion for Royal Far West and
Bashir became a Resident at Camperdown Children’s
what she terms as Australia’s most precious resource
Hospital in Sydney (now Westmead Children’s Hospital).
– our children. ‘We must nurture and look after them –
Here she was once again connected to the organisation
and not one single child should be denied the specialist
as the hospital treated children from Royal Far West.
health care that is their right in this wonderful country.’
Professor Bashir’s career saw her dedicate much of her
professional life to community and indigenous health,
juvenile justice, mental health issues and education. In
2001, she made history when she became the first woman
to be appointed Governor of New South Wales and in 2007
she was appointed Chancellor of the University of Sydney.
Australia’s most precious resource –
our children. We must nurture and look
after them – and not one single child should
be denied the specialist health care that is
their right in this wonderful country.
ency,
r Excell
with He
mmond C CVO
Tom Dru Bashir, A
or Marie
Profess
royal far west news spring ‘09 1
royal far west news
WElCOME JANE lESSlIE
We are delighted to announce the appointment of Jane Lesslie as
one of our Clinical Directors and welcome her to Royal Far West.
Jane is a Community Paediatrician with over ten years experience
gston and a special interest in development and behaviour. A mother
Jann Kin
herself with two young girls, she has also spent part of her childhood
and working life in the country. Even now, she says she can recall how
I would like to say thank you isolated it can sometimes be in the country and how wonderful it is to
to everyone for your generous be able to rely on professional support.
donations towards the
refurbishment of Drummond During her many years working in child development, Jane has seen
House. Our first families first-hand how effective it is when we work together with patients and
moved into the building in their families. She fully embraces the family philosophy and multi-
from our CEO
July and they have all been disciplinary approach that is so integral to Royal Far West and says,
very positive about their new ‘by working in partnership with families, team members and our rural
accommodation. To mark this colleagues, we can be more effective in helping the children we see,
important chapter, we invited than by working in isolation. Children with developmental problems
our Royal Far West Patron, Her deserve the greater understanding and compassion that are made
Excellency Professor Marie
possible by this collaborative approach.’
Bashir, AC CVO, Governor
of New South Wales, to
officially re-open Drummond Calling all fun-runners – tHe CountDoWn begins!
House as a facility for country A reminder that the Blackmores Sydney Running Festival kicks-off on
children and their families. Sunday 20 September and we’d love your support. Join Paralympian
The Governor spoke of her Kurt Fearnley, Member for Manly Mike Baird and other Royal Far West
admiration and appreciation staff members and families as we run-for-fun and raise money.
of the work of Royal Far
West in acknowledging our You can support Royal Far West by:
role in caring for ‘Australia’s • registering to run (with our team or as an individual);
most precious resource’. It • volunteering to help on the day;
was a special day for us all • sponsoring our team.
but in particular, for young
To sponsor our team, go directly to www.gofundraise.com.au/
Tom Drummond, great-great
royalfarwest. Or contact Emma Preece on 02 8966 8581 for
nephew of our founder,
Reverend Stanley Drummond. information on registering to run and volunteering on the day.
Tom presented a posy of
flowers to the Governor as a
token of our appreciation.
Our next big event and
challenge is the Blackmores
Sydney Running Festival in
three generation
September. We’re all looking
forward to what promises to Coonamble mother Michelle McCauley first contacted royal far West
be a great family day and I for help with behavioural management for her two young boys, Evan
hope that you will continue and Nick. Impressed and overwhelmed with the positive difference
your generous support of this made to their lives, Michelle and her mother Helen, wanted to
‘Team Royal Far West’ as we give something back – to support the organisation that supported
pursue our vision of healthy them when they needed it most.
country children. There are now three generations of the McCauley-Jackson family
connected with Royal Far West. Evan, 12 and Nick, 10, both participate
in a range of treatments and attend the Royal Far West school. Michelle
still can’t believe how much they enjoy their visits and says ‘after their
first visit, they lay in bed and talked about everything they’d learnt!’
Jann Kingston After each visit, the team at Royal Far West communicate with the
Chief Executive Officer local school to ensure a smooth transition and continued support in
their daily learning environment. What the boys learn at Royal Far
West can then be translated to primary school work and homework
is adapted appropriately. With firm structures in place and ongoing
2 www.royalfarwest.org.au
a bright future for
the morey family
Ron Morey is a single father raising two children on his
own. As a child, he suffered from learning problems for the first time, David
that went unchecked so he understands first-hand,
the long-term effects this can have on a young child.
was able to have a complete,
naturally, he is passionate his own children don’t follow
the same path and wants to ensure they have every
holistic assessment
opportunity possible to succeed in life.
Now that David has been accurately assessed, he’s
Ron’s two children – Rhonda, 16 and David, 15 – have been placed in a support unit at school for learning
both presented with learning difficulties of varying difficulties. He can express himself more clearly and
degrees in the past. David also suffers from epilepsy understand his problems and this has resulted in an
but a lack of communication, particularly with regard increased awareness by everyone involved. David is
to medication management, helped contribute to much happier, his behaviour has improved and there is
ongoing dysfunctional behaviour. At school he was less pressure at home.
repeatedly being suspended and had been placed in
Rhonda has also benefited from their visits and says
a class for children with behavioural disturbances. This
‘the thing that has helped me most out of all this is that
also impacted at home with Rhonda pressured to help
David is now helping himself more’.
with David and Ron seeking much-needed support.
Ron is relieved his family now has the care they need
Just over two years ago, the family made their first
and knows he did the right thing in pushing hard to
visit to Royal Far West. Here they had access to a
address David’s learning issues. ‘I like coming here
whole team of clinicians, including paediatricians,
because I can speak to people about everything at
psychologists, physios and speech pathologists – and
once. It’s good that the kids can both get their points
for the first time, David was able to have a complete,
of view across. Things are really starting to fall into
holistic assessment, including a review of his epilepsy
place for our family’.
and medication requirements. Most importantly, the
communication between the staff and family meant
they were working together on solutions. ‘It’s so much
better here,’ says David. ‘I can talk to people and
they listen’.
ns making a difference
support from Royal Far West, Michelle says both Evan and
Nick’s report cards have totally turned around. They are
all in a routine that’s working for the whole family – the
boys are making good progress and home life is much
easier too.
Michelle has also gained from the experience and says Evan
and Nick f
that mixing with the other families that stay at Royal Far rom
West also helped her cope. Her appreciation for the Coon
amble
service is such that both her and her mother are actively
involved at the local Coonamble branch where they
each volunteer their time to raise awareness and funds.
It is Michelle’s hope that her involvement signals the
Impressed and overwhelmed with the
beginning of a whole new generation of support for Royal positive difference this made to their
Far West.
lives, Michelle and her mother Helen,
wanted to give something back .
royal far west news spring ‘09 3
a new era for
drummond house contact us
Freshly painted walls, sparkling clean bathrooms with piping hot 19-21 South Steyne
showers and a safe, homely atmosphere – the newly refurbished Manly NSW 2095
Drummond House has been given a definite ‘thumbs-up’ by one PO Box 52
happy family who recently stayed in the new accommodation. Manly NSW 1655
Australia
Ann Parkins and her daughters Rebecca and Kirsty travel from
Telephone: 02 8966 8500
Bowraville in northern NSW for their appointments at Royal Far
1800 500 061
West. Their latest visit meant that they were among the first families
to stay in the new accommodation at Drummond House. All three Facsimile: 02 9976 5361
were overwhelmed at the improvements and said it feels far more www.royalfarwest.org.au
Supported by the NSW Health Department
welcoming and comfortable. ‘It feels more like you’re at home –
not in a hospital!’ says Ann.
Among the many improvements, every room now has its
own private bathroom and tea and coffee making facilities.
Whereas previously there was only one common area for
everyone to share, now there are three – one on every level.
The girls commented on this agreeing it was much better
because the common rooms are less-crowded and it gives
them more options to have quiet time as well as mixing with
other families.
Add in a new security system to ensure a safe and secure
environment and by all accounts, it would seem that the
new refurbishment has been a big success. A new era for
Drummond House has begun.
All three were overwhelmed at the
improvements and said it feels far more
welcoming and comfortable.
‘It feels more like you’re at home –
Kirsty
not in a hospital !’ and Rebe
cca f
rom Bowr
aville
Please accept my donation of:
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