Guest speaker: Neuroscientist and advocate Dr Emma Burrows
SPECIAL PROJECT Moira Kelly and the Children First Foundation
The Moira Kelly Report
Moira Kelly was introduced to the club early in1997 when Past President Dennis O’Gorman invited her to a meeting as a guest speaker where she gave an indication of the good she was doing, and had done not only in the local area but also in the world community.
Later in 1997 Lanny DeAlmeida, thorough the Yous Committee advised the Board that Ave Maria College in Essendon, had been approached by Moira Kelly to fund the $2000 cost of an artificial leg for a teenage girl from Bosnia who had both legs amputated as a result of an accident with a army truck in Bosnia.
Lanny asked whether our club could find the other $2000 and the Board undertook the challenge and this sum was duly raised entirely from member’s donations. Moira was to bring this girl, “Zerina”, along with four other teenagers who had also lost limbs as a result of land-mines and other explosions in the war in Bosnia, to Melbourne in January 1998 to have their prostheses fitted.
District Governor, Geoff McIlvanna, on his official visit on 13th November 1997 showed great interest in the Bosnian Project and asked whether our club could arrange for Moira to be a speaker at the District Conference in Ballarat. A committee was formed to look after the conference presentation and possible funding from the Rotary Foundation for Moira’s work. The committee comprised Lanny De Almeida, Bill Roodenburg, Dennis O‘Gorman, Peter Toomey, Bruno D’Aprano, Eric Granger and Kevin Fernandes
Dennis O’Gorman was the MC for the Conference segment, and Lanny was in charge of the House of Friendship.
Pascoe Vale hosted Moira and the five Bosnian teenagers in Ballarat with District kindly looking after expenses.
Master of Cenremonies, Dennis suggested that if 40 clubs each donated $500 to a Trust Fund there would be $20,000 for the continuation of Moira’s work with Bosnian children and others in similar need. By the end of June 1998, the projected figure was almost complete.
After the Ballarat Conference, it was decided that District should take over the running of the fund. The Pascoe Vale Board unanimously voted for the transfer on the basis that it would give the project greater weight and fund-raising capacity.
Many people are to be thanked for their work in this project including of course Dennis and Lanny, but also Harry Palmer for his magnificent photographs, and other members of the committee.
SPECIAL PROJECT Moira Kelly and the Children First Foundation
District Governor, Geoff McIlvenna showed a great deal of interest in the concept that Moira wanted to put into place here in Victoria, that of an “Open Door” facility whereby Moira would set up a house for foster children, and also provide holidays for disadvantaged children as well as a home for children from overseas requiring surgery in Austtralia. Also in the plan was a “refuge” for women and children in distress.
The facilities in Healesville where Moira and the Bosnian Children stayed whilst they were in Australia were considered to provide an excellent start to the project and several of our members, including Chris Waters, Colin McKenzie and Eric Granger visited this property to assess its worth.
Unfortunately, it looks like this property will not be available and an alternative property will be sought, possibly within District 9790. DG Geoff McIlvenna received endorsement from Incoming District Governor, Neville Miles, and District Governor Nominee, Terry Grant to implement the “Open Doors’ facility as a District project.
The Rotary Club of Pascoe Vale will continue to be involved with representation on the District Committee and participation in working bees. Our Club can feel justly proud of what has been achieved to date for Moira’s cause.
Reference; 1987-1998 Changeover Bulletin, President, Kevin Fernandes
Children First Foundation
The Retreat
The Retreat in Kilmore, Victoria stands as a testament to extraordinary generosity and compassion. Originally established to provide a safe and welcoming space for children from developing countries under-going life-changing surgery, The Retreat was made possible through the kindness and dedication of many. The 42-acre property was generously donated by local Kilmore Rotarian, Noel Baker and family, and the house was gifted and rebuilt by volunteers, primarily from Rotary International District 9790. Their vision and commitment laid the foundation for what Children First Foundation is today and we remain deeply grateful for their support.
The original purpose of the property was to provide a nurturing environment, in a home-away-from-home rural setting as they prepared for and recovered from surgery.
Reference: Children First Foundation: The Retreat.
SPECIAL PROJECT Moira Kelly and the Children First Foundation
Children’s Medical Treatment
In February Moira brought out five children from Albania for medical treatment. Three of these children needed plastic surgery because of attacks by pigs, the other two plastic surgery for severe burns. No suitable treatment was available in Albania and the cost of bringing the children to Australia came from the fund started in at the District 9790 Conference in Ballarat by PP Dennis O’Gorman and our club. Over $24,000 has been donated by District 9790 Clubs less $10,396 spent this year leaves a balance of approximately $14,000 to be used for future treatment of Bosnian/Albanian children.
The operations on the children are nearly completed. Some of these operations were quite extensive, but all have been successful and will help the children to get back to relatively normal lives after having suffered from substantial disfigurement for many years. Doctors, specialists, Epworth and St Vincent’s Hospitals all donated their services.
Moira is very appreciative of what we have done for her and hopes to visit the Club before her return to Albania late July.
Reference: Changeover Bulletin 1998-1999: Past President Kevin Fernandes
Children first Foundation
It is Moira’s intention to remain in Australia from early next year to operate a facility “The Moira Kelly Open House” which will include children in foster-care, and units for women’s family emergency accommodation, a small farm, and also a holiday camp for disadvantaged children. The Foundation is being formed and a District Committee will organise the project. Land near Kilmore has been donated for the facility.
Reference: Changeover Bulletin 1998-1999: Past President Kevin Fernandes
SPECIAL PROJECT Moira Kelly and the Children First Foundation
The District Committee has been working during the year with the aim of having the house at Kilmore East ready for Moira’s occupancy when she returns from Albania in October with seven children requiring surgery in Australia before they return to Albania and Iraq. At this stage a lot of work has been achieved, including fencing the property, planting nearly 1000 trees, road making and moving a house from Bright to the property. The house has been re-roofed and will be extended to provide accommodation for up to 10 children. The children will be in foster care or from overseas awaiting surgical procedures. The house is expected to be at lock-up stage by October. Alternative accommodation will be arranged for Moira and the children if the house is not ready to be occupied.
Our Club has received thanks from District 9790 for setting up and administering the fund for Moira to bring children to Australia from overseas for surgery. The fund has now been transferred to the Distrct Committee for future administration.
The support of District Governor Terry Grant, District Governor Nominee Don Cox, and District Governor Elect Syd Lewis in ensuring the project is successful is appreciated.
Reference: Changeover bulletin 1999-2000, Kevin Fernandes
Children First Rotary Farm
Moira Kelly has been busy with up to 14 children at the farm at any one time. The children have come from countries including Somalia, Albania, East Timor for life-saving or life-changing operations including heart, tumours and prothesis.
Bledar is 14 and has never walked due to malformation of his legs. He has been with Children First Foundation for 2 years and walked last week for the first time. Bledar had undergone a very painful operation on both legs and months in fixtures to straighten his legs and it was a miracle he was able to stand for the first time, let alone take a few tentative steps. Before Bledar came to Australia, his mother had carried him on her back until he was about 12 years old. On hearing that the “Australian Girl” was in Tirana, Albania, she carried him to every block of flats in the area over a period of six days looking for Moira.
Moira brought Bledar to Australia where one of our orthopaedic specialists assessed and operated on him. Bledar’s mum came to Australia a couple of months ago and on seeing him stand just cried and cried with joy. Bledar will continue to have an extensive rehabilitation program.
The Children First Project featuring Moira and Rotary Volunteers appeared on the Channel 9 Television Program “Backyard Blitz” in August.
Reference; Changeover Bulletin2002-2003, Kevin Fernandes Secretary, Children First.
SPECIAL PROJECT Moira Kelly and the Children First Foundation
Recognition of Moira’s work was received when she was awarded the Officer (AO) in the General Division of the Order of Australia in the Queen’s Birthday Honors list.
Reference: Changeover Bulletin 2000-2001, Kevin Fernandes
Officer (AO) in the General Division of the Order of Australia
Miss Moira Therese KELLY
Saunders Road, Kilmore, Victoria, 3764
For Service to the Australian Community through the provision of social support and services for disadvantaged people, and to the international community through the provision of humanitarian relief and assistance and the organisation of medical treatment for those affected by war or insurrection.
Ms Kelly is an international humanitarian aid-worker. She trained in special education as a lay missionary and as a probation officer. She has worked in dozens of locations throughout the world, and in Australia, assisting the needy, setting up facilities in refugee camps, and establishing soup kitchens as the need arises. She has brought many children from war-torn and poverty-stricken areas to countries willing to provide medical aid. Ms Kelly travels with the children and stays to care for them while they receive medical attention.
Much of her work is sponsored by Rotary. Her latest endeavour is the Children First Foundation; an open-door farm being set up in Kilmore, Victoria where children requiring surgery can be rehabilitated, and as a base to expand her work among the disadvantaged in Australia.