Following the terrorist bombing in Bali representatives of the Interplast doctors’ and nurses organisation contacted their colleagues in Indonesia and offered assistance. The Balanese doctors said they needed skin graft equipment, costing about $A56,000.
On Friday Oct 18 at 9AM Dr Sally Cockburn (Dr Feelgood), an Interplast subcommittee member, spoke with Neil Mitchell on his 3AW program and explained the situation. Mitchell put the call out for the people Melbourne to donate to this tangible expression of support to the Balinese.
On air they talked about the importance of this being something that had been identified as needed by the Indonesians themselves. The Balinese are a proud people and it “seemed wonderful to have an opportunity to provide something practical that they have asked, rather than a token.”
By 6 PM Friday expectations had been exceeded with more than $64,000 being raised by Melbourne’s 3AW listeners, with pledges still to come. Donations ranged from a little girl’s tooth fairy $5, to a company who donated the money they were to spend on their staff Christmas party.
People even arrived at the Interplast office in Spring Street with boxes of money they had collected on the spot. One woman rang to say a relative had died today and she wanted to collect money for the appeal at their funeral. Qantas, too was quick to react promising free transport for the equipment and staff required to install it to Bali.
Dr Feelgood continues to promote the appeal across the weekend in her programs on Southern Cross stations 3AW,2UE,4BC,6PR. The extra raised to be put towards future Bali missions or other things the medical staff require to look after the victims.
By Monday morning the equipment had been purchased and arrived in Melbourne late that night. On Tuesday early afternoon the equipment and 2 Interplast representatives flew out, bound for Denpasar with the equipment and a commemorative plaque loaded on a Qantas jet. On Wednesday morning the equipment was presented to the Surgeons of Bali and that afternoon it was performing its work harvesting skin for grafting on its first burns patient.
In less than 5 days, through the generosity of Melbourne radio listeners the requested equipment had been purchased delivered and in operation in Bali.
Interplast Australia is a non profit organisation of volunteer doctors and nurses who, since the early 1980’s, have sent many missions to near by developing countries to perform operations and educate local doctor and nurses. They have good working relationships with the local governments and medical groups in those countries. Interplast Australia website is www.interplast.com.au