ROMAC History

Rosie and Dulcia a recent scoliosis patient
Rosie, ROMAC’s 5th patient in 1991 and now our Ambassador, with Dulcia a recent scoliosis patient

ROMAC commenced in March 1988 out of the actions of an Australian Rotarian who, with a group of surgeons, visited Lambasa in Fiji. They found the child mortality rate as high as 25% in some places. They quickly identified that lack of medical and surgical facilities and skills for children of the island nations in Oceania, was a major cause. Rotary faced the challenge to assist an 18-year-old Fijian girl whose right leg was threatened if immediate surgery was not performed.

During the next four years, eight children were brought to Australia for major, often lifesaving, surgery. Soon 20 Australian Rotary clubs were caught up in the success of each case and assisted in various ways. ROMAC established five regions representing clubs in the west, east, south, north and centre of the country.

A New Zealand region was formally established in 2004 and treated its first patient, from Vanuatu, in December 2005. The inaugural New Zealand region representative was Trish O’Reilly and Dr Max Morris, the first New Zealand Medical Director.

It was a slow and steady process to promote the objectives and raise awareness of ROMAC in the New Zealand region, but the number of patients treated in New Zealand has risen to more than 25 patients per year.

ROMAC in New Zealand and Australia enlists assistance from medical experts, hospitals, nurses, physiotherapists, pathology and radiology services, airlines, sponsors and other supporters. Today ROMAC is providing surgical treatment to around 30-40 children from Oceania every year – we are making a huge difference in their lives.

Mission Statement

To facilitate medical aid for children in Oceania in the form of life saving and/or dignity restoring surgery, not accessible to them in their home countries.

Rotary Oceania Medical Aid for Children is a project of Rotary Clubs in Australia and New Zealand.

Objectives

  • Provide hope and restore dignity to transform a child’s life
  • Provide the best possible surgical and medical expertise
  • Engage Rotary and the community at all levels to fund and support the ROMAC cause
  • To maintain and improve the quality of the management process and ensure high quality governance of the ROMAC project