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February 2003 - Annette Culpan

From earthquakes, floods and Bali Belly to magical moments in rural villages with Trust patients and lessons learnt in Hindu Dharma and Karma, this year has been simply awesome.

I’m back in Auckland, but packing up my bungalow and farewelling those who have become my Balinese family was incredibly hard. Every day when I wake I think of this island paradise and her beautiful people and I feel sadness in my heart.

On one of my last days in Bali I went out in the field with Yakkum Bali who work to rehabilitate disabled children & young adults. We visited both new & rehabilitated patients and it was fantastic to see the results of their work in action. One disabled man now runs a carving workshop employing over ten people and producing local work of the highest standard. In the future I hope the Trust may work at times with this effective organisation.

This last month has seen huge leaps forward in the field of fundraising. Over 300 Special Appeal newsletters have been issued, as well as a press release on the closing of this ‘World of Difference Year’. Already in response my local eastern paper has set up an interview as well as another Auckland publication. I also sent out Trust postcards to our highest tier supporters. The greatest milestone for the month however is that our website is now LIVE! Full respect & thanks to Mr John Madden who designed & coded the site free of charge. Check out www.balihealthtrust.com and be inspired!

It’s been brilliant to see the Trust move forward and achieve so many milestones in the last year:

First ever Fundraising & Marketing Strategy formulated & implemented – this for both the 03/ 04 year and 04/ 05 year
Hundreds of patients were treated with groundwork laid for thousands to be treated in 2004
A solution put forward for leprosy patients in Suka Dana Village
Revenue is up nearly 400% on the entire previous financial year, and ahead of budget
Supporters base has grown by over 600%
NZ based events held to commemorate the one year anniversary of the Bali Bombings
Landowners donate a clinic to the Trust on the Northern Coast of Bali
Website developed and live!

The highlight of the last 12 months for me is easily the magical moments with some very brave patients in the villages, especially those with leprosy. These people have taught me humbling life lessons and helped to change my world-view of what I consider to be difficulties & problems. So often in the West we get caught up in consumerism, forgetting to count our blessings and find peace in the fact that our simplest life requirements of good health, food, clean water and shelter are met – when for many especially in the third world these are not.

The lowlights of the year are also clear. The most difficult thing I have had to face remains the smell of rotting flesh from leprosy. This is something I never became used to in the villages and don’t believe I ever will. I am also well and truly over ‘Bali Belly’. The last incident of hospitalisation and being put on a drip was the final straw. The third in the low-light trilogy was being caught in the East Bali earthquake in January – a truly petrifying experience that had me fearing for my life.

This year has also been about facing personal fears & pushing boundaries. I have always loved the ocean but been afraid of both rips & deep water. Tackling the challenge of surfing was incredibly difficult for me, but also extremely fulfilling. The first time I paddled out in a rip on my own, surfed out the back and caught a wave face was euphoric. That same day I faced a big drop on the largest wave I have ever tackled and somehow made it. A good metaphor for this year and for life!

When you experience a year such as this the experience, the people and the cause form a place in your heart. Walking away is impossible. I look forward to providing further support to the Trust in the coming months and thank all of you for your commitment to this organisation and it’s very important work. Slowly but surely together we are making great things happen and every one of you has an important role in this. Sincere thanks to the Trust board, management and to the Vodafone New Zealand Foundation and it’s extraordinary ‘World of Difference’ Programme.

There is a great need for the role of Bali Health Trust in the impoverished villages of rural Bali. This is important primary healthcare work and I feel proud to have had a part in this and also in the organisation of NZ based events to commemorate the one-year anniversary of the Bali Bombing.

Thank you for believing.

Annette

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