ROMAC Rotary Overseas Medical Aid for Children Reaching Out to Mend All Children

The Board of ROMAC Structure

The aim of this The Board of ROMAC (the Board) that this program be fully recognised by the 23 Governors of Australia was achieved at the Melbourne Institute in November of 2001, the goal now is in making ROMAC a recognised program of Rotary.

The next step will be to pursue Rotary International recognition as a program.

History

The concept of ROMAC was born in March 1985 when Barrie Cooper, Past President of the Rotary Club of Kangaroo Flat, a suburb of Bendigo in Rotary District 9800, visited Labassa, Fiji, with a group of Australian Surgeons.

It soon became apparent that these were children living in developing countries who, because of their medical condition, could not be helped by their own or visiting surgeons. ROMAC refers to these children as the "Forgotten Children" of this world. Their appearances have been disfigured by accident and or congenital condition and as such they are often kept hidden from society.

	Kalesita Before and After
This young 12 year old Fijian girl had been taunted for over two years and was forced to leave school due to a hormonal imbalance which produced large breasts. She was so embarrassed that she wore an overcoat in tropical Suva to cover her shame. 7.5 kilos of breast tissue was removed by brilliant Melbourne surgeon Tony Holmes, restoring dignity and happiness to this young girls life.

ROMAC has successfully transformed these young lives by exposing them to Australia's most eminent Surgeons who generously provide their skills. In excess of sixty eight of Australia's finest Surgeons gladly respond to ROMAC's call on behalf of the central focus of this great humanitarian project "THE CHILDREN". Two hundred and sixty two children from fifteen neighbouring countries have returned home to live fulfilled and meaningful lives ... thank you Australia.

In 1991 the six Bendigo clubs combined to expand this project assisting a further two children. In July 1994 District Governor David Rosback declared ROMAC a District 9800 project, this was quickly followed by Rotary District's 9780 and 9790 forming their own District committees. Currently all of the 23 Australian Districts are involved in the program.

Representatives from each District meet monthly to plan and implement a five year strategy plan. Clubs from all over Australia have become financial Supporters and requests have been received from Pakistan, Iran, Bangladesh, Vanuatu, Tonga, Indonesia, Kiarabas, Vietnam, Malaysia, Cambodia, Solomons, Timor, Sri Lanka, Philippines, PNG and Fiji to assist children in desperate need.

Over two hundred and sixty (260) children have now had their lives transformed by successful major and intricate surgery. The types of cases have varied and include herniated brains, severe burn contractures, bladders on the outside of bodies and other complicated congenital deformities.

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