By Casey Neill
The Rotary Club of Wandin is holding a fund-raising event to help children in need.
Comedy Hypnotist Gerard V will perform at the two-course dinner at St Patrick’s Community Centre in Jones Street, Lilydale, from 6.30pm on Friday 16 November.
There’ll also be a silent auction, and guests can BYO drinks and will receive sparkling wine on arrival.
All money raised will go to ROMAC, which stands for Rotary Oceanic Medical Aid for Children.
ROMAC brings children who are critically ill, injured or suffering from severe birth defects to leading hospitals in Australia or New Zealand for complex surgery not available in their island homeland.
Wandin Rotarian Gavan McIntyre and his wife Di are heavily involved with the project, and currently hosting a three-year-old boy from Timor Leste, Gaspar, and his mum Estefania.
During minor surgery in Dili, doctors discovered a tumour in Gaspar’s lower abdomen.
“After having chemo in Dili, he was referred to ROMAC who organised for him to come to Melbourne for his operation to remove the tumour,” Mr McIntyre said.
“This surgery is not available in Timor Leste.
“His operation took three hours and was carried out at the Royal Children’s Hospital.
“Gaspar spent a week in hospital recovering from the operation.
“If all goes well, he should be going back home to Timor Leste in about a week’s time – a happy and healthy little boy.”
Mr McIntyre said ROMAC was run totally by volunteers and all of the hospital expenses were covered by ROMAC.
“That’s why our fundraisers are so important to keep this program going,” he said.
Tickets are $60 per head and tables are of eight or 10. The dress code is dress to impress.
Contact secretary John Sanders at secretary@wandinrotary.org or Brian Hodgson at brianhodgson47@gmail.com with any inquiries.
