Report By - Quintus de Zylva
Pics - Johann Jayasinha (SNNI) Melbourne

The SPRING CHARITY GALA NITE of the Australia Sri Lanka Medical Aid Team on Saturday 15th September attracted almost 500 guests to an evening packed with fine music, good food and great entertainment.

Sandra and Esrik Jackson of REPLAY 6 set the tone for the evening with their dance music which resounded throughout the GRAND on CATHIES LANE. Alston Koch supported the band with several of his now famous recordings including his gold hit “DISCO LADY”. Keith Potger was the guest artiste who sang many of the old “Seeker’s” hits that had the audience enthralled by his one man repertoire. And Sanushka and Gaye treated the guests to a fine exhibition of ballroom dancing.

The decor and arrangements for the night were handled with perfection by Ranjini Dassenaike ably supported by Ron Meerwald and Rushmini Perera. Corporate support for the evening came from far and wide including Dilmah.

Ron had a continuous strolling power point presentation on two large screens that showed the guests the work AuSLMAT has done in Sri Lanka from their very first visit two days after the Asian Tsunami on Boxing Day 2004.

His Excellency Mr. K Balapatabendi High Commissioner of Sri Lanka and the Honourable Jude Perera MP for Cranbourne spoke of the work AuSLMAT have done and it’s recognition by the Australian government by the Humanitarian Overseas Service Medal awarded to AuSLMAT.

David Cruse President of AuSLMAT spoke with gratitude about the contribution his wife Cathy made when she initiated the support we got from Qantas by speaking on the Neil Mitchell 3AW radio program a day after the Asian Tsunami.

Cardiologist Jennifer Johns and Paediatrician Sian Hughes spoke of the sense of achievement they have felt in the various ways in which AuSLMAT have assisted the desperate souls in southern Sri Lanka.

A generous donation made by Des and Bev Arnolda and the KFC Franchisees will go a long way towards providing the Karapitiya Teaching Hospital with a Portable EEG machine. Nihal de Run – Chairman of Help SL – was MC for the night and he organized a popular silent auction and he was instrumental in the donation. We hope Des and Bev Arnolda will join AuSLMAT when we present this machine to the Karapitiya Hospital on Monday 7th January at Professor Ariyananda’s faculty office.

AuSLMAT will make their 14th visit to SL post – tsunami in January 2008 when we will work at hospitals in Dickoya, Watawala, Udugama, Nakiadeniya, Galle and Hambantota in addition to the health clinics at several places including the Foundation of Goodness at Seenigama.

Dilshan Fernando and the Australian Education Academy supported the event with a corporate package and student guests who will shortly graduate from the Academy. The Hon. Jude Perera touched on the importance of AuSLMAT’s English teaching program in southern Sri Lanka which now operates in Galle, Matara, Weligama and Hambantota.

AuSLMAT welcomes members who are enthusiastic about assisting Sri Lanka in so many different ways.