Last Weeks Meeting
Apologies were read out.
Roy anniversary of joining
AGM took place – Secretary PP PHF Vicki took the record of proceedings
Guest Speaker – Annie Pateman
Exept from book introduction ..
In 1979, I was three months pregnant with my second child and in excruciating pain, pain I’d been dealing with every day for almost 15 months. I couldn’t walk, I couldn’t stand, I couldn’t sleep. In just a year, I’d gone from being an active young woman to being almost entirely incapacitated. Everything was pain.
Trying to find the cause was almost as bad as the diagnosis. At every turn, I was told nothing was wrong. Nobody was helping. Another three months passed, and I went in for my six-month check-up with my obstetrician. He, too, told me everything was fine...but it definitely was not. I broke down in tears in his office. I couldn’t do it anymore. The agony was too much, and I was at my wit’s end. He took me seriously, and what happened next would change my life forever.
After 18 months, I finally had a diagnosis - 1st April 1980 - It was a tumour the size of a tennis ball on my knee. It was cancer. Almost in the same breath they said that I would have to have my leg amputated above the knee and oh, by the way, he said, it was highly probable that I would lose the baby as it wouldn’t survive the trauma of the surgery. I was 26 years old and 26 weeks pregnant.
After 40 years since diagnosis, I’m still here...and that wasn’t the only time I was told I had cancer. Yes, I’ve survived a lot, but I’m just like anyone else. The strength is within us all. You just have to reach for it. There is light at the end of the tunnel, even when you can’t see it. You just have to keep going, especially when it seems like you have nothing left.
©2020 Annie Pateman (P)2020 Annie Pateman
The book was written as a legacy for her grandchildren and for others going through adversity and challenges – it doesn’t have to be cancer. Also wrote it for the carers so they have an understanding of what someone is going through.
- Annie’s brother-in-law was a Rotarian
- Next Sunday is Disaibility Awareness Day so the speech is good timing
- Annie was born with 2 arms and legs but at 25 she started having pains in her knee –
- At the time she was pregnant with her second child and hormone changes speed up cancer growth
- Annie went to see her Gynaecologist and was only 42kg and 6 months pregnant as she had lost so much weight.She said she was not going home until someone told her what was wrong with her as she had a tennis ball lump on her knee
- Called orthopaedic surgeon and had x-rays, biopsy and it turned out to be a Ewing’s Sarcoma – 20% survival rate
- Leg amputated or pass away and was also pregnant – baby may not survive through surgery.Chose to amputate and prayed baby would survive
- Relief to know what it was
- Amputation at Traralgon and 26 weeks pregnant and then went to Royal Children’s Hospital
- The pregnancy was brought forward at 38 weeks and her daughter was born prematurely at 3kg and was in neonatal ward
- She started chemotherapy then undertook rehabilitation at Hampton and had to learn to walk again
- The first prothesis was heavy and unwieldy but things have improved a lot since then
- Although the events were a traumatic time Annie always believed she would survive and the baby would survive.
- Her first goal was to survive and be there for the children
- Her daughter is now married with 2 children of her own
- Annie has just celebrated 70th birthday – a real survivor
Thank you for sharing your story, Annie – it was inspiring
Kids Fun Run with Puffing Billy – PP PHF John Shaw
Thank you to everyone who assisted on Sunday – what a great day despite the rain!!
Been the best year John has run the event!
Thank you to those who assisted – had to follow on from John Henderson!!
- Allan Douglas – Sponsors and manpower manager – 89 people on Sunday including VIPs.Our club really pulled weight with spouses and kids
- John Henderson – ran the event 4 times he is the club expert and was a tremendous assistance throughout the event – he forgot to stop doing it!!!
- PP PHF Shalini Penny – Secretary of the committee – no mean task looking after VIPs on the day
- PP PHF Kris Ash – Registrations…420 entrants and 12 on the day
- PP PHF Lorna Shaw – Treasurer
- PP PHF Marcus Adams – Operations on the day – road closures and council approvals and overnight security etc – a huge job set and bump out
- Pres. Elect Kelly McAllister – showbags a great effort – were the best we have ever had – it was also a great night packing at the station the Thursday before – got 6000 squishy balls!!
- PP PHF Gloria Hargreaves and Chris McLeod – market organisers 22 stalls and a great addition to the day – plenty of food and items on sale.Sold children’s books as well on the day – 4 car and trailer loads (well done).
- Pres Sangeeta – helped a lot of us keep going along the way.She and Allan have put hands up to do it next year.
- PP PHF Ian Wakefield and Andrew McAllister assisted with a lot of transporting of all the ‘stuff’
- PP PHF Emma Clark – MC on the day with Patrick Tessier – did a fantastic job keeping everything on track
- PP PHF Tina McInerney – providing bottles of water, prizes for the fundraisers and the sandwiches on the day
Virtually everyone in the room had a major part to play on the day so thank you one and all!!
The event was a fundraiser for the Monash Children’s Hospital childhood cancer research teams – the crew came along with Associate Professor Peter Downie and Head of the Monash Hospital Foundation,Ron Fairchild who provided insight into their work.
A great segment on Channel 9 from their ride on Puffing Billy on Friday.
We could not do it without Puffing Billy and the sponsors. Puffing Billy assisted with the ambassador day, prizes, fencing and PR – their team were amazing.
We have raised $43,000 approximately – still some work to do on finances and we are still getting a few more donations.
Aneesh kindly recorded the Channel 9 News segment and for those who missed it take a look HERE
The Fundraising Champions
Good to see some of our newest Members enjoying the day!
There were a lot of pictures so these have been compiled into a video - the club member images at about the 5 min mark. HERE IS THE LINK
Our resident Videographer - Sid Umesh is compiling an awesome video which includes drone footage of the day ... here is a picture of Sid in action :) We look forward to the fruits of your labours, Sid.
Christmas Party – PP PHF Tina McInerney
- Sunday 10th December @ Tina’s house
- $35 pp in advance – put money in Tina’s account
- Arrive around 12 noon
- Kris Kringle(dirty santa) - $10
- We are going to have a lot of fun
Pres. Sangeeta
- Emma – thank you for all the items from the school
- Russ Neilsen/Catherine/Ian for work on the day at the start line
- John Shaw – well done and Puffing Billy relationship
Well done Shalini for yet another fantastic review in the EVA Newsletter -
View HERE
When Selling Raffle Tickets PP PHF Catherine Elfick and PP PHF Ian Wakefield came across a Rotarian from Guatemala City Rotary Club!!
