BRIEF HISTORY OF THE LEPROSY MISSION (AUST) - 4
BRIEF HISTORY OF TLM (AUST) - Section 4
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As also with Papua New Guinea, the Mission's progress on the Indonesian field was phenomenal, with the nation facing a very real leprosy problem. In 1967, the Secretary of the Mission in Australia, met with the Indonesian Embassy officials in Canberra in response to a concern expressed by the W.H.O.'s department of leprosy. The following year, as an outcome of those discussions, Dick McKeown and the Rev. Murray Fiest, Secretary for the Mission, in New Zealand, visited Indonesia on their way to London. Following the signing of an Agreement between the Mission and the Govt. of Indonesia, Mr. Laurence McCowan was recruited as Business Manager and Rhona Atkin, as nurse, laying the foundations of what was to become a wonderfully successful ministry to leprosy sufferers in that country.
Dr. Ernest Fritschi, Head of the surgical team at Karigiri, Tamil Nadu, India, was invited to go to Indonesia to initiate the medical program. Rhona Atkin was transferred from Thailand to Vadathorasalur (India) for a period of training to prepare herself for the pioneering of the Indonesian programme. Miss Christine Shepherd also came from Thailand and upgraded her physiotherapy under Jean Gardiner in preparation for the big task ahead, beginning at Sitanala, about 12 miles from Jakarta, the capital. Dr Stanley Browne also shared his expertise through a visit to Indonesia. Dr. Ernest Fritschi spent a year in Indonesia, establishing the work, before resigning from the Mission to accept an appointment with ALERT, in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
Further Agreements with the Govt. of Indonesia opened the way for the launching of a new work in North Samatra and Irian Jaya. Following Dr. Fritschi's resignation, Dr. Handel Thangaraj, Secretary for the Mission's India field, visited Sitanala in September 1971, to perform the back-log of reconstructive surgery. With the needs of Medan, North Samatra, weighing heavily upon the Mission, an application from nurse Aileen Dallimore was accepted and she accompanied Dick McKeown to Thailand to receive training at Chiangmai, before taking up her responsibilities at Medan. Dutch nurse, Jacobi Van Maren, was approved by London to join Aileen at Medan. It was an exciting day when Indonesian national doctor - Dr. Berbudi, expressed the wish to take specialist training in leprosy, enabling him to join the Mission's team. After consultation with the Indonesian Health Authorities and Dr. Thangaraj, it was agreed that Dr. Berbudi should go to Salur, A.P., India, to undertake specific reconstructive surgery training. Myra Ronalds, a member of the Brethren Assembly in Victoria, was so challenged to serve leprosy patients, that, at her own expense, undertook a 6 months training course in the hope of being accepted for service. Dr. Rae W. Dungan, the Mission's medical adviser and member of the Executive, recommended that Myra be given Nursing Aide training before being appointed to West Irian. She left for Sitanala in early 1973.
It was quite obvious that the Indonesian work was going to explode in a big way, for which reason, the Mission approved the construction of Mission buildings in Biak, West Irian, at a cost of $30,000. In August 1972, the TLM staff there comprised Miss Van Maren (Holland), Miss Kuikka (Finland) and Miss Dallimore (Australia); combining these three with their Indonesian colleagues, made up a truly multicultural team, so characteristic of TLM International in over 30 nations and territories.
As the work continued to expand, Dick McKeown and Dr. Dungan found themselves having to make more and more trips to Jakarta, necessitating an expansion of the administrative facilities and infrastructure in the capital, Jakarta. For this reason, one Indonesian national, Mr. Chris Jacob, was appointed as Administrator and his services became invaluable. It has always been the Mission's policy, wherever possible, to appoint nationals to do the duties which once were considered exclusively in the domain of expatriates. Accordingly, Dr. Nasution, the Govt. surgeon at Sitanala, was given a grant of $1,500 to avail of a post-graduate course of training at Karigiri (India) and also to visit Chiangmai on the way home. Another applicant for service in Indonesia was Miss Dorothy Manning, a South Australian nurse and member of Churches of Christ, the Mission Board of which offered to pay Dorothy's travel expenses to Jakarta. Following her medical training at Chiangmai, Thailand, Dorothy joined the Medan (North Samatra) team. The Mission was fortunate to have such a dedicated, brave group of ladies to work in such a field which often required them to endure long and dangerous travel between islands, in very primitive water craft.
As the work developed, increasing the need for even more such ladies, Linda Fluit from Victoria offered herself as a physiotherapist and was appointed to join the team at Biak in May 1975. It is interesting to note that, in most cases, it was the women who responded to the Call, confirming the conviction of many that women have a greater measure of compassion for which reason they make the best pastors and ministers, responding in a more spiritual way to the claims of the Gospel. In 1979, Dorothy Manning resigned because of her approaching marriage and some wondered how she could possibly be replaced. The harsh climate and primitive living conditions were thought to detract women venturing into such backward parts of the world.
In spite of the fact that some of the ladies, including Esther Gamble and Finnish nurse, Ritva Kirra , developed serious illnesses, applicants still kept on offering themselves. One of these was Philippa Rhodes, a qualified nurse, who was posted to Cirebon, on the north coast of Java, following her training in India.
Following the resignation of Mr. Richard ("Dick") McKeown, as Secretary for the Mission's Australian Auxiliary, Mr. William ("Bill") Robert Edgar, son of the former Secretary, applied for the position of Secretary for Australia. As an entrepreneurial, business type, "Bill" sought to bring the Mission into the 20th. century. On the 5th. January 1977, he assumed his duties, ably assisted by Mr. P.L. Turnbull, the Chairman. With Bill Edgar's vast experience in the business world, he had the expertise to modernise the whole of the Mission's administration. It was an important occasion for the Mission when at the time of its Annual General Meeting in Feb. 1977, Dr. Victor Das,, the Mission's Secretary for India, visited and helped to launch the Mission's latest 16mm colour film, "The Net". This film made a profound impact on all its viewers and helped to raise an awareness of the needs of leprosy sufferers and the funds to meet those needs. Among those who were challenged was Miss Jean Griffin, a nurse from Victoria whose application was approved for her to be posted to Bankura, West Bengal, India. On the 2nd. February 1978, Dr. Brian Adams of the Church Missionary Society (CMS), addressed the Mission's Executive and told of the work of his organisation in Hombolo, Tanzania. The needs of that field made a big impact on Alex Packett and his wife, Pam. The Mission responded to Alex's application by posting him to Hombolo as Administrator.
Dr. Victor Das's visit also had a profound effect on Keith Skillicorn, whose leprosy work in India - "The New Life Leprosy Clinic" - of which he was Superintendent, had earlier been approved as an "Aided Institution" of the Mission . Keith was appointed as Promotional Officer of the Mission in Victoria, following his retirement from the Indian field. He and his wife, Ruth, served the Mission in Australia for a number of years, but their hearts were still back in India. In early 1982, the Mission received an appeal from Dr. Ian Cochrane, Medical Officer in Charge of the HEED (Health Education and Economic Development) project at Kamalganj, Bangladesh. He specifically requested that Keith Skillicorn be released and posted to Bangladesh to serve in an administrative capacity, to oversee the Leprosy Control Programme, in association with the Govt. of Bangladesh. . The Bangladesh Govt., however, insisted that the person to be granted a Govt. permit needed to be an "Expert" . Unfortunately , Keith only had Para-Medic credentials but the problem was solved by Keith first being posted to Salur, A.P., India, to take a Para-Medic "Refresher" course, followed by the full medical officers course, which Ruth also took, at Karigiri, qualifying Keith to be a Leprosy Control Officer, Sector head and, finally Director of Health Services - Leprosy and T.B. with responsibilities for leprosy control in the districts of Sylhet, Moulvibazaar and Hobiganj.
Bill Edgar's dynamism attracted attention in London and it was decided to broaden his sphere of influence by promoting him to the international position of Communications Director. This left a vacuum in the Australian Auxiliary's leadership but the gap was soon filled when Ken Martin, a Victorian who had previously been involved in Papua New Guinea in a business capacity, applied for the position of Secretary for the Mission in Australia. With so much advance being made in the area of research and the fear that the leprosy bacillus would become more resistant to anti-leprosy drugs, a biochemist was needed to conduct "Mouse-Food-Pad" laboratory experimentation in Karigiri, India. Mr. David Reichardt applied for the position and, in July 1981, left for India, first to undergo training at Salur, A.P., before taking up his laboratory work at Karigiri, under Indian pathologist, Dr. K. Chako. At the same time, Miss Lyn Hinks, a Victorian nurse, was accepted for a position at Anandaban, Nepal, for where she left in July 1987.
It was a great occasion for the Mission when Dr. Paul Brand visited Australia and shared in the occasion of the Annual General Meeting, when the Mission inaugurated its new Box Hill Headquarters for all Australia. This was a great improvement on the primitive office building it had occupied in 274 Collins Street, Melbourne, part of the Baptist Church complex. Joyful though the occasion was, it also brought sadness to see the beloved Mr. P.L. Turnbull retire from his position as Chairman, an office he had held with great dignity. His office was accepted by Mr. Ian Milne, a very prominent business man who had been Managing Director of Kraft Foods. Ltd.. Also, he had considerable experience in Missions, having served on the Boards of "Asia Pacific Christian Mission" and "Scripture Union". The next person to leave the Mission's service was Miss Val Bock, who had served exceptionally well in Papua New Guinea, Indonesia and Thailand and had contributed, as a gifted author, to the publication of a number of T.L.M. publications . She felt the Call to accept theological training at the Fuller Theological Institute, U.S.A., to be ordained to the Christian ministry. Jean Gardiner also retired around the same time, after many years of dedicated service. But others were to take their place, among them, Dr. Helen Stokes, a young surgeon who was challenged to respond to the Call to Bhutan.
It was no surprise when Dr. Grace Warren was elected to the Royal College of Surgeons, London, in June 1983 - a fitting tribute to her outstanding ministry not only through the Australian Auxiliary, but world-wide, in all of the Mission's fields in over 30 countries. On completion of his laboratory research work, Mr. David Reichardt resigned but not before marrying Leina Nillsen, a Swedish nurse who had been working at Anandaban, Nepal. David had felt the challenge to train for the full-time ministry with the Uniting Church and Leina felt the urge to advance her medical experience to become a doctor, which she successfully did., in Sweden. David has remained in touch with the Mission as a member of the New South Wales advisory Committee. Dr. Grace Warren's awards continued to come, thick and fast, this time from the Sydney University, who bestowed on her a Honorary Doctorate of Medicine. As if this was not enough for this world-famous person, on Australia Day, 1986, Dr. Grace Warren was honoured with the Award of Member of the Order of Australia (A.M.), in the General Division, for her --"Service to medicine and International Relations, particularly in the field of leprosy Care and Treatment".
Ruth and Keith Skillicorn, after 31 years in overseas service, resigned from HEED to which they were seconded by The Leprosy Mission, to prepare for retirement. On returning to Australia, in December 1987, both Ruth and Keith were honoured with Awards of Member of The Order of Australia (A.M.), General Division, for - "Contribution to Agriculture and the Management of Leprosy in India and Bangladesh". Keith has maintained his contact with the Mission as a Member of the National Council and also the South Australian Advisory Committee. He presently is finding leprosy sufferers through his Internet web-site "Forum on Leprosy", and teaches leprosy to those in Cyberspace who are interested.
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