M AG A Z I N E 2ND EDITION, 2021
RAY MARTIN SEES HOSPITALS GO WITHOUT Medical teams fight to save lives with 'one hand tied behind their back' DAVID KOCH'S CHANCE MEETING Changing the story for Paralympian Rheed McCracken WORKING TOGETHER ON THE COVID-19 FRONTLINE Communities coming together to keep children and their families safe
LABOUR OF LOVE A huge thank you to our contributors for donating their time and expertise to Humpty to help produce this edition of the Good Egg Magazine.
What’s inside
For media enquiries please contact Liz.MacDougall@humpty.com.au
Paul Francis OAM Founder and Chairman, Editor-in-Chief Ray Martin AM Patron and Writer
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We try, with a little help from our friends
Liz MacDougall Editor
Ray Martin sees hospitals go without and medical teams fight to save lives with one hand tied behind their back.
WRITERS Lauren Channon
Xaviera Farrell
Dr Allan Kerrigan
David Koch
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David Koch reflects on Rheed McCracken's success Steve Liebmann
A life-changing meeting with 13-year-old Rheed McCracken, the future Paralympian.
Dr Matthew O'Meara
Elena Reed
YOUR PRIVACY
Humpty will only collect personal information to process donations, issue tax receipts and send you updates. Our Privacy Policy is available on our website humpty.com.au or call us on (02) 9419 2410. If you do not wish to receive communications from the Humpty Dumpty Foundation please email: humpty@ humpty.com.au or mail Humpty Dumpty Foundation: Suite 1402, Level 14, 67 Albert Avenue Chatswood NSW 2067 ABN 59 137 784 724 CFN 11046
FRONT COVER:
Nurse Sweety with baby Wyatt. Image courtesy of Dr Robert Halliday, The Children’s Hospital at Westmead
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Working together on the COVID-19 frontline Communities coming together to keep children and their families safe.
Help Humpty close the healthcare gap
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Team Nicholas meets Team Humpty
Taking the strain
Some people never meet their heroes
One family making gratitude bigger than their sorrow.
Steve Liebmann looks at the impact of COVID-19 on children's health services.
We held our breath as our brave little boy had open heart surgery.
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Message from Humpty's Medical Subcommittee
Chairman’s Wishes
Humpty’s Wish List
The gift of hope and the best chance of a happy and healthy life.
Show your thanks by gifting the frontline with equipment they urgently need.
The right equipment, in the right place, at the right time.
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Humpty’s VIB (Very Important Bear)
Corporate donations step into top gear
Christmas Live Event with Langton’s
Humpty's Junior Ambassador's passion project.
First published in The Australian Financial Review, June 2021.
Join Ray Martin and Phil Kearns for an unforgettable evening.
humpty.com.au
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Humpty's mission The Humpty Dumpty Foundation is celebrating more than 30 years of helping to save the lives of sick and injured children in hospital. Our mission is to raise funds to provide essential and often life-saving medical equipment for hospitals in every corner of Australia. Our unique Wish List model gives donors complete choice and transparency in their giving and many of our donors choose to support their local hospital or community in this way. Having the opportunity to see the equipment, meet with medical professionals, and sometimes the families and children that have benefited from their generosity, makes this process unique and truly special for our donors.
Humpty’s Wish List has meant that thousands of pieces of medical equipment have been delivered straight to the hospitals and health services who need them — creating tangible and life changing outcomes for Australian children and their families.
To date, Humpty has provided medical equipment to paediatric wards, neonatal units, maternity and emergency departments at...
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445
HOSPITALS AND HEALTH SERVICES ACROSS AUSTRALIA.
All donations are 100% tax deductible
Paul Francis, Dr Louise Woodward, The Hon. Natasha Fyles Minister for Health, NT and Ray Martin at Parliament House, Darwin.
We try, with a little help from our friends Ray Martin AM “Why aren’t our tax dollars used to buy life-saving equipment for our children’s hospitals? Why is it left to Humpty?” Wow. We’d love ten bucks for every time we get asked that question.
As the legendary eye doctor Fred Hollows used to say, “The alternative is to do nothing. And that’s not an alternative.”
We’d almost be able to stop fundraising!
So, we have to keep rattling the public cup and asking Humpty’s generous friends to help. Again.
The quick – and true – answer is that health is easily the biggest cost in every government’s budget. In NSW for example, it’s now in excess of $26 billion a year. Yes, that’s twenty six BILLION! The simple fact is, no matter what political party holds power, they can’t afford any more. If Humpty doesn’t buy it, hospitals go without and fantastic medical teams fight to save the lives of children and babies with one hand tied behind their back. Of course, COVID-19 has added enormously to every health budget. But babies and children of all ages keep getting sick. And tragically, they keep dying.
Mind you, if you have a beloved child in your family who suddenly needs hospital care, you can only pray that the life-saving equipment is available. These days, thanks to Humpty's supporters, there is a much better chance it's there. Still, it’s a good time to remind everybody that, since the Humpty Dumpty Foundation began more than 30 years ago, we’ve raised over $85m for equipment for 445 hospitals and health services across Australia. Again, thanks to you.
humpty.com.au
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Governments have played a role, too. Selectively. Since the days of Labor’s Dr Andrew Refshauge in the 1990s, right through to Brad Hazzard MP in the current NSW Coalition government, Health Ministers have all generously found money in their so-called “Contingency Funds” to help Humpty’s good work. While it’s only ever been NSW, still we are very grateful. The occasional, high-profile politician has also rolled-up their sleeves and made a difference, like Joe Hockey. The former Federal Treasurer has been one of Humpty’s oldest (no offence, Mr Ambassador) and staunchest supporters. It was ‘Jovial Joe’ who came up with the crazy idea of walking up Mt Kilimanjaro a few years ago. He led a dedicated mob, clambering up the tallest mountain in Africa. This event has gone on to raise well over $2.5M dollars for Humpty. Brendan Nelson, the former Liberal leader (and maybe the best public speaker in Australia) has been tireless in helping out with a range of Humpty fundraising events. These have included colourful speeches and personally guided tours around the Australian War Memorial when he was the Director. Even long-time PM, John Howard, used to sign a collection of fine wines, which we regularly auctioned off at the Humpty Ball.
It’s no secret of course, that Indigenous babies and children are the sickest and most vulnerable in Australia, as are Indigenous adults. We already have outstanding examples of how Humpty’s intervention has literally saved dozens of babies lives. So, led by our inspirational Chairman Paul Francis, a small Humpty delegation drove down to Canberra a couple of months ago to plead our case. We had appointments with Health Minister Greg Hunt and Ken Wyatt, the Minister for Aboriginal Affairs. Despite the pandemic preoccupying everybody in the national capital, our meetings seemed very successful. As much as you can ever tell. Both Ministers gave us their time, listened attentively, were fulsome in their praise and had genuine advice about how Humpty should access Federal funds in future budgets. So, with a Federal election in the wind, we’ve now made our bids accordingly. We’ll make sure you know how we go with this new Canberra connection, I promise.
In the Northern Territory, Health Minister Natasha Fyles can’t do enough to help Humpty. She has enthusiastically thrown receptions in Parliament House and makes herself available almost every time we ask. As a result, in the space of just a few years, Humpty has become one of the Territory’s biggest fundraising charities, providing life-saving equipment for most of the far-flung, isolated, indigenous communities. Which brings me to our long-overdue Canberra connection. Over the past three years, we’ve had lastminute donations at our The Great Humpty Ball, Darwin from first the Turnbull and then the Morrison Governments. Again, nothing formal, just what used to be indelicately described as “out of the Prime Minister’s slush fund.” (With a hefty bit of arm-twisting by Independent Senator Derryn Hinch and a few other insiders.)
Watch the video we shared at our Canberra meetings in June. Use your camera to hover over the QR code below
A bit like pulling teeth but still, we are very grateful. Despite Humpty’s amazing work saving kids in hospitals right around Australia, we have never formally asked for Federal funds as most other charities do. Well, the time has come. Certainly, given the chronic and growing demands, Humpty sees the need to direct more of our attention and energy to the Northern Territory – without pulling back any of our other commitments. Ray Martin, Hon. Ken Wyatt MP and Paul Francis at Parliament House, Canberra.
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All donations are 100% tax deductible
Founder’s message Over the last 31 years I have visited numerous children’s hospitals and health services across Australia seeing firsthand the amazing passion, care and skill levels of our medical teams as they care for our children. In late September this year I saw our health system from a totally different angle, laying in a hospital bed. I had suffered a heart attack and was rushed to Royal North Shore Hospital Emergency and then transferred to North Shore Private as they had the first available time for a double bypass operation. It quickly dawned on me how bloody lucky we are in Australia to have the health system and medical teams available to care for us. Whether you are a child or an adult entering hospital, in Australia we are in excellent hands. I learnt a lot from my time in hospital, for me it was an up close and very personal experience watching our doctors and nurses in action. Mental health issues, drug abuse, violent confrontations and verbal abuse, all on the increase, are a day-to-day problem for our medical teams in addition to COVID-19.
These problems were being exacerbated as families and loved ones weren’t allowed to visit patients who were often very sick and sometimes sadly even dying. So on top of everything else, medical staff were called on to provide services way beyond the expectations of their role within the Australian health system. Our hospital teams won’t be getting big bonuses or extra weeks holiday pay as they continue to save the lives of children and adults, just like me. How can we as a nation say thank you? We can send presents of flowers, chocolates and cards, which are all great, however I can tell you from previous feedback, what our doctors and nurses really appreciate is more medical equipment in the right place at the right time. If you are in a position to donate a piece of medical equipment that will provide a lasting legacy, please see our Wish List on pages 17 27 or visit humpty.com.au Once again, thank you to our awesome medical teams right across Australia. YOU ARE ALWAYS THERE FOR US!
Paul Francis OAM Founder and Chairman
It is with deep sadness that we learned of the recent passing of Humpty’s oldest supporter, Wilim Stader. We will forever be grateful for Wilim’s living legacy, he donated many pieces of life-saving medical equipment to hospitals across Australia. Wilim will live on in our hearts and we are all so much richer for his incredible generosity. On behalf of Humpty, we send our condolences to Wilim’s family, friends and carers. Wilim passed away in August 2021 aged 102.
Wilim Stader visiting Royal North Shore Hospital to see his equipment donations, 2019.
Show your thanks to our medical teams this Christmas
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Nicholas was born with a life-threatening disease called Biliary Atresia.
Nicholas after his life-saving liver transplant.
Nicholas, five years old.
Team Nicholas meets Team Humpty Elena Reed On 10 July 2016, our beautiful baby boy came into this world. Little did we know that in just eight weeks’ time our world would shatter into millions of pieces. A blood test showed that Nicholas was born with a lifethreatening disease called Biliary Atresia, a chronic condition that affects the drainage of bile from the liver and eventually causes liver failure. It meant that without urgent surgery at nine weeks of age and intense medical care to follow, Nicholas had just months to live. To us, his family, the news was devastating. This disease is not genetic, it is not something that mum did or didn’t do during pregnancy, it just happens, and it can happen to any baby born to healthy, active adults. Unfortunately for Nicholas the surgery didn’t work. What followed were endless blood tests, hospitalisations and more invasive procedures. At five months, a liver transplant became his only option of survival so we signed the consent form, knowing that death was a possibility. Nicholas had an 11-hour surgery by the most amazing liver team at The Children’s Hospital at Westmead. And the course of our own lives has been forever altered. Such is the gift of organ donation.
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Nicholas’ journey post-transplant has been rough. In his five short years of life our son has gone through endless invasive procedures, over 300 blood tests, numerous hospitalisations including Paediatric Intensive Care Unit admissions, sepsis, rejection, complications, immunodeficiency and more. Living with a childhood liver disease is like walking on eggshells; you never know what to expect. There are over 100 different liver diseases that can affect children and young people and every day two children get diagnosed with a life-threatening liver condition. The causes are largely unknown; most require a liver transplant – all require a lifetime of care.
Very early in this journey we made a commitment that this disease would not destroy everything we have. Our grief was an evolution and we made gratitude bigger than our sorrow.
All donations are 100% tax deductible
FIBROSCAN TRANSIENT ELASTOGRAPHY THE CHILDREN’S HOSPITAL AT WESTMEAD
We sought revenge on behalf of our child by spreading awareness, hope, and shedding light on the realities of the sick kids' world. And this is how ‘Team Nicholas’ was born. We are a passionate and like-minded group of individuals who have come together through social networks to not only support Nicholas on his journey, but to make a meaningful difference to gravely ill children. We use our own resources, time and energy to fundraise for those who need it most. In the last five years we’ve raised and donated close to $2m, with our latest campaign fundraising to purchase a FibroScan machine for the liver transplantation unit at The Children’s Hospital at Westmead. A FibroScan is a specialised ultrasound machine that allows an instant measure of scarring (liver fibrosis) and steatosis (fatty change in the liver) and means sick children don’t have to be subjected to as many invasive procedures. It also means timely diagnosis and urgent treatments, because time is everything when it comes to childhood liver disease. Westmead Liver Transplantation Centre is the main paediatric liver transplantation centre in Australia and looks after children with liver disease across the country. Any equipment we buy will be used by little patients from far and wide. The Children’s Hospital at Westmead is also the main surgical unit of this nature in Australia and since the beginning of the COVID pandemic, the liver transplant team have performed 18 liver transplants and conducted 22 liver assessments. Our initial plan for the FibroScan was to fundraise as much as we could; and we did well, raising $43,500 in just seven days. When we exhausted our crowd funding options, I was prepared to take a personal loan and look for a sponsor to close the gap. Miraculously, I was approached by the Humpty Dumpty Foundation and I learnt about the incredible work the organisation does. I was left speechless by the generosity and humility of its donors; truly, it is the biggest gift of all.
~ $185,000
This very special equipment request is a result of a conversation between Elena Reed and the team at The Children’s Hospital at Westmead where she asked, “What equipment do you need to help improve care for children like my son Nicholas?” As medical technology becomes more advanced, new ways of assessing, diagnosing and providing treatment become possible. The FibroScan uses cutting edge technology to monitor and assess the health of children who have had a liver transplant or experience liver disease. It significantly reduces the need for a traditional liver biopsy and allows this to be done in real time — painlessly and noninvasively and taking only 5 minutes to do during a consultation. Through this equipment, Team Nicholas and Team Humpty hope to help alleviate pain and improve the care of children with liver disease. Thanks to Elena’s efforts and the generosity of the community, some funds have been raised towards the FibroScan. Humpty hopes to find a donor/s willing to commit to the shortfall. This incredible machine will make a very real difference to Australian children and their families living with liver disease.
“Having a FibroScan will enable clinicians to accurately assess the current state of a child’s liver disease – is it stable, deteriorating or improving? This can be obtained in real-time with parents by the bedside.” Dr Michael Storman, CHW Paediatric Liver Transplant Unit
Call Team Humpty on (02) 9419 2410 today if you can help.
One can do a lot but together we can do so much more!
Support this wish today by calling (02) 9419 2410
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Paraburn participants at the top of the hill, 2010.
Rheed, 13 years old, in his first Paraburn race on Humpty's Hill, 2010.
David supporting Rheed at Humpty's Balmoral Burn, 2011.
Olympic dreams are born on the Burn David Koch How inspiring was the recent Tokyo Paralympics? The achievements of the athletes were phenomenal but for me, it was the stories behind those achievements which left me in awe. Their struggles, the hurdles they overcame and the sheer will to achieve a dream was simply extraordinary.
I met Rheed way back in 2010 when I was on a flight to Bundaberg with the Sunrise team to broadcast the show from North Queensland. By sheer chance I was seated next to this weedy little 13-year-old kid in his maroon track suit flying back home after attending an athletics camp in Brisbane for kids with disabilities.
One of those athletes, Rheed McCracken, started his journey to an Olympic podium with the Humpty Dumpty Foundation. And all of us couldn’t be prouder of his achievements and, more importantly, what a wonderful young Australian he has become.
Rheed was born with cerebral palsy. He’d put his crutches in the overhead locker, sat down, and didn’t say boo. Nothing. I have four (now adult) kids and six grandchildren (with another two on the way) and I love just chatting to them…they make me smile and kids have so many stories to tell if they’re given the chance to tell them.
I’ve been co-hosting Sunrise on Seven for nearly 20 years and I’m often asked who the most inspiring and fascinating people I’ve met are over that time. It’s true that one of the great privileges of the job is the incredible people you meet – from the Dalai Lama to adventurers, Hollywood icons, rock stars, world leaders and yes, average Australians doing extraordinary things. But most people are surprised who my top two most inspiring and fascinating people are. First, a young bloke from Bundaberg named Rheed McCracken and then a paediatric theatre nurse named Claire Kerr, from the Royal Melbourne Children’s Hospital who specialises in organ transplants.
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Anyway, I introduced myself and asked why he was going to Bundaberg. Little by little (young teenage boys aren’t generally great conversationalists) I found out he’d just started high school and had competed in discus and shot put and been given the opportunity to attend an athletics camp in Brisbane for kids with disabilities to see if he wanted to take it further. He didn’t sound that enthusiastic about pursuing it and there followed another period of silence. I asked him who his heroes were. Who he’d like to meet? “Kurt Fearnley”.
All donations are 100% tax deductible
That two-word answer started Rheed McCracken’s journey to multiple Olympic podiums. I’d interviewed wheelchair racer Kurt Fearnley a number of times over the years. He’s an Australian sporting legend in the true sense of the word. An extraordinary athlete and one of the nicest human beings you will ever meet. I’d interviewed Kurt on Sunrise a couple of months beforehand just prior to him setting off to trek the Kokoda Track, a 96km crossing of the mountains of Papua New Guinea and the site of the famous WWII battle which turned back the Japanese invasion. In that 96kms you climb and descend the equivalent of Mt Everest and I’d trekked it the year before. It was the toughest thing I’d ever done in my life.
In my interview with Kurt, I’d rashly said I didn’t reckon he would complete the Kokoda Track in the unbelievable time he’d set himself. Straight back at me, he challenged me to compete in the wheelchair race of the famous Humpty Dumpty Balmoral Burn if he did complete Kokoda. Of course, he completed Kokoda. I knew he would, he’s Kurt Fearnley. I had to now fulfill my part of the deal. Kurt organised an old racing chair of his, some old racing gloves and gave me a couple of lessons. Before I knew it, I was in full-on training. So back to my conversation with Rheed on the plane, after he said he wanted to meet Kurt Fearnley I innocently asked whether he was interested in wheelchair racing. “Maybe.” So I did a deal with Rheed that I’d fly him to Sydney to meet Kurt Fearnley if he did the Humpty Dumpty Balmoral Burn with me. His eyes lit up and the deal was done. I explained The Burn is a race up Awaba Street in the Sydney suburb of Mosman and is just 420 metres, but I sort of skipped over the fact it has a 30 per cent gradient and rises 70 metres over its length. It is a brute of a hill.
Rheed was named the 2012 Junior Athlete of the Year as part of the Australian Paralympian of the Year Awards. He represented Australia at the 2012 London Paralympics, 2016 Rio Paralympics and 2020 Tokyo Paralympics, where he has won three silver and two bronze medals. Photographer Luke Dubbelde
with this weedy kid from Bundaberg struggling with his cerebral palsy and coping with life. A bit of magic happened that day at the foot of the Balmoral Burn. Kurt encouraged Rheed to take up wheelchair racing, organised a racing chair and even had him come and live with his family in Newcastle to train. Rheed’s mum and dad reckon it changed their son’s life forever. This introverted kid struggling to cope with his disability started to do a lot better at school and would even visit other schools and speak at assemblies about living with a disability and what able bodied kids could do to help.
Kurt did the race in 5 minutes 30 seconds, Rheed completed it in 25 minutes and I struggled up in 27 minutes and 45 seconds with two people walking behind me so I wouldn’t roll back down into the harbour.
Rheed is only 24 years old but has now been to three Paralympics and won three silver and two bronze medals. He is managed by international agency IMG, is a fashion model and been on the cover of prestigious international fashion magazines.
That race is now a blur but Kurt meeting Rheed is still clear as day and one of the great moments of my life. This Australian legend was just so encouraging and so inspiring
It’s a great story of a courageous young boy meeting his hero at the Humpty Dumpty Balmoral Burn.
Show your thanks to our medical teams this Christmas
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Mum Sara and baby Olivia using the Medela Swing Electric Breast Pump donated by the Humpty Dumpty Foundation and Hitachi Construction Machinery, Australia, Emerald Hospital QLD.
Theatre staff Kellie Spiers and Mele Palu with a Panda Resuscitation warmer donated by the Humpty Dumpty Foundation, June 2021, Gove District Hospital, NT.
Taking the strain Steve Liebmann Australia continues to grapple with the overwhelming impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. Federal and state governments have been forced to recruit hundreds of health professionals from overseas and encourage thousands of local, retired doctors and nurses to return to work to handle an anticipated rise in virus admissions. Extended lockdowns across the country have forced some hospital administrators to ration care as coronavirus patients have strained their limited resources. The pandemic has changed our lives forever. Tens of thousands of Australians have been infected and more than 1,500 have died. Children have experienced what could become long-term mental health issues. Retailers large and small have vanished never to return. People have lost their jobs and may never secure another one, there is considerable financial uncertainty. The pandemic has prompted people to examine their lives in detail and consider what is really important to us.
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The latest research by the Australian Institute of Family Studies found that women are reshaping their views about having children. Whilst the media debates a so-called baby boom, and some experts argue one is unlikely, those on the frontline say hospitals are under strain because of a spike in births. The number of babies born in New South Wales in the second quarter of this year reached the highest level since that state’s health department began keeping records a decade ago. As well as births, this quarter was the busiest for emergency department presentations. In Victoria, pregnancies are up more than 5%. This has prompted hospitals to review COVID-19’s impact on their ability to maintain their high standard of maternity, paediatric, neonatal and emergency services. Short staffing, under-resourcing and a shortage of maternity and post-natal beds mean some women have given birth in emergency rooms and are being sent home earlier than planned.
All donations are 100% tax deductible
A recent survey by the Humpty Dumpty Foundation found there are widespread staff and bed shortages. Respondants signalled an increase in eating and mental health disorders in adolescent patients, with one facility reporting a 30% rise. More than 50% of hospitals who responded to the survey reported an increase in paediatric presentations by as much as 25% in high-risk births.
Over one third of the hospitals that replied to Humpty’s survey said their paediatric medical equipment is outdated and needs replacing and as a result, is impacting staff confidence and patient care, particularly sick-children-management. Having the latest equipment means hospitals can treat their patients promptly and keep them in the local hospital close to family and friends, while also maintaining or increasing staff confidence in the management of sick children.
Humpty’s mission is a simple one; to raise money to provide essential and often life-saving medical equipment for children and babies in our hospitals. It is equipment that hospitals themselves identify as urgently needed and the list continues to grow.
The Humpty Dumpty Foundation is the largest charitable supplier of children’s medical equipment behind State and Territory Governments across Australia and is working hard with health officials and communities to ensure all states and territories have the equipment they need. It is vital work that can never stop - but it will without the continuing generosity of corporate, community and individual donors. Our supporters willingly involve themselves in Humpty’s regular fundraising initiatives, activities and events and your support can, and will make a difference.
This is where the continuing work of the Humpty Dumpty Foundation is critical. Humpty and its supporters provide our hospitals, large and small, metropolitan and regional, with urgently needed equipment in the right place at the right time. For more than three decades, Humpty has been providing essential and often life-saving equipment for sick and injured children in paediatric wards, neonatal units and emergency departments in 445 hospitals across Australia. The reality is, without this equipment, children would have died.
Nurses at Central Gippsland Health VIC with a donated Broselow Cart.
Humpty's Hospital Survey, September 2021
38%
31%
19%
OUR EQUIPMENT IS OUTDATED AND IN NEED OF REPLACEMENT
WE DO NOT HAVE ADEQUATE FUNDING TO PURCHASE NECESSARY MEDICAL EQUIPMENT
OUR LACK OF MEDICAL EQUIPMENT CREATES PATIENT SAFETY RISKS & COMPROMISES QUALITY OF CARE
12% DECLINED TO COMMENT
Humpty — addressing the national healthcare gap
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Some people never meet their heroes; I gave birth to mine Francis with his family at Humpty's Morning Tea in March, Darwin.
Xaviera Farrell
Our family was blessed with twin baby boys in May 2020, two babies that we had dreamed into life. We had so much wanted to expand our family of three and seven years later Ernest (Ernie) and Francis proved they were worth the wait. Only a day after birth we noticed Francis was working hard to breathe. Our baby Francis was born with a hole in his heart that was not compatible with life. Francis needed a life-saving operation in Melbourne, over 3700km away from our home in Darwin. The distance felt like ten lifetimes as we watched every effort-filled rise and fall of Francis’ chest.
like to think that they all helped carry Francis safely to Melbourne. We held our breath as our brave little boy had open heart surgery, at 22 days old. Francis did not just survive, he thrived! Francis is like the sun; he is life-giving, he is the child that every family dream of and this world needs. From a mother who holds her child in her arms every day because of the Humpty Dumpty Foundation, all the water in the ocean and all the stars in the sky are less than all my thank you’s.
I could never have imagined that someone weighing just a little over 3kg would be the strongest person I would ever meet. As the teams in Darwin and Melbourne talked, our family prayed, and our prayers were answered when the Humpty Dumpty Transport Incubator rolled into his hospital room. In the Northern Territory (NT), a family like ours would have no guarantee that their baby would get to Melbourne in time. Sick babies in the NT need to be transported by plane in a Transport Incubator and with a specialist team trained on the equipment. For this to happen, the equipment has to be requested from one of the capital cities like Melbourne or Sydney. For babies in the NT this can, and has been, too long to wait. Now that the Humpty Dumpty Foundation has provided the people of the NT with a Transport Incubator, families with babies like Francis don’t have to wait and see if life-saving transport will make it in time. The Humpty Transport Incubator is a little ICU on wheels and looks like a spaceship. When it sat next to Francis I looked over it carefully and I can distinctly remember seeing all the different names on the many pieces of equipment attached to it. I cannot remember the exact name of each person etched onto the cot, but I would
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All donations are 100% tax deductible
One week old Francis on his way to Melbourne from Darwin for life-saving surgery.
Dr Matthew O’Meara, Chief Paediatrician NSW and Emergency Staff Specialist at Sydney Children’s Hospital, Randwick.
Message from Humpty’s Medical Subcommittee Dr Matthew O’Meara The impact of COVID-19 on hospitals and health care workers, families and our community has been enormous and unprecedented. Since the highly transmissible Delta variant first reached our shores in June we have seen a huge increase in infections, including in children, which is quite different to the first wave of COVID-19 in 2020. It is reassuring that most children only experience mild symptoms rather than serious disease, and very few are hospitalised. However, our healthcare system is managing far more patients than those actually admitted into hospital. Centralised response teams across affected regions are delivering remote ‘hospital in the home’ care to ensure children are closely monitored and any changes in condition responded to as quickly as possible. Infectious diseases like COVID-19 put pressure on hospitals as they need to change how care is delivered and constantly manage risk and prevent infection to other patients, families and hospital staff. These patients need to be isolated from other patients, many health care professionals are isolated from their own families to keep them safe and equipment cannot be readily used across COVID and non-COVID wards, which is a challenge for hospitals with limited resource. Humpty has responded quickly to assist hospitals as they prepare for and manage children presenting with COVID-19. With your support Humpty has already been able to distribute much-needed equipment almost immediately to the frontline. It is an evolving situation and one where hospitals continue to reach out to Humpty daily to seek support from the community.
Healthcare doesn’t stop because of a public health crisis. Every single day there are thousands of babies and children experiencing life-threatening emergencies, requiring urgent medical attention, or receiving treatment for acute or chronic disease. In recent months the Medical Subcommittee has reviewed equipment requests from all over Australia – from Rottnest Island off the coast of Perth, to remote Kalkarindji in the Northern Territory, Port Lincoln at the tip of South Australia, Launceston in the north of Tasmania, Traralgon in Victoria’s Latrobe Valley, Gilgandra in central west New South Wales, up to Weipa in Western Cape York. From health services managing a few births a year in the most remote parts of Australia, through to the largest children’s hospitals in our capital cities, all have needs that are unmet because budgets simply cannot stretch far enough to cover everything. On behalf of Humpty’s Medical Subcommittee, thank you for all that you do to help make sure our health care teams are well equipped to give kids the best possible chance at a healthy life. My frontline colleagues are doing it especially tough right now, but your support makes a huge difference and brings comfort that the right equipment is there when it truly counts.
humpty.com.au
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How Humpty’s Wish List works Each year the Humpty Dumpty Foundation receives hundreds of submissions from hospitals and health services across Australia requesting a wide range of essential and specialised equipment to help them manage newborn and paediatric medical emergencies.
With your support Humpty can continue its critical work of providing much needed medical equipment to 445 regional and metropolitan hospitals and health services nationally. We invite you to join our community of Good Eggs by donating an item on our Wish List. Your gift will make a significant and lasting difference to the health and wellbeing of countless babies and their families.
Our Wish List process is simple:
1 2 3 4 5
A hospital or health service identifies a high priority medical need where equipment can dramatically change or save the lives of sick and injured children. They reach out to Humpty for a helping hand.
Submissions are rigorously assessed by Humpty’s Medical Subcommittee, with representatives from health, senior medical specialists and a former government official.
Approved items are added to Humpty’s Wish List and published online and at events in the hope a ‘Good Egg’ will be able to help and donate.
Humpty orders all donated equipment for delivery directly to the hospitals.
A donor plaque is affixed to the equipment recognising the generous support of the ‘Good Egg’. Feedback and photos are shared with the donor.
To grant some of the very special wishes that follow, use your camera to hover over this QR code, click the link that appears and follow the prompts to donate. Or contact Humpty on (02) 9419 2410. fundraise.humpty.com.au/shop
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All donations tax 100% To donate equipment, call (02)are 9419 2410 ordeductible email humpty@humpty.com.au
Chairman’s Wishes In consultation with Humpty’s Medical Subcommittee, we have selected these pieces of equipment as top priorities for the hospitals and health services that have requested them. They will really make a huge difference to babies and children.
KATHERINE WEST HEALTH BOARD NORTHERN TERRITORY BUNDLE OF 3 PANDA NEONATAL RESUSCITAIRES: $103,000 Katherine West Health Board (KWHB) is an Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisation (ACCHO) servicing a region of around 160,000km2. Three Panda Resuscitation Warmers are required for the Kalkarindji, Lajamanu and Yarralin health clinics and will support babies who need resuscitation or high levels of care while awaiting retrieval to another hospital. While Pandas are available in most large hospitals, remote clinics are often unable to provide the same level of care if babies are born premature or in distress. There have been cases where babies born in remote communities have not survived due to a lack of proper resuscitation equipment, so a Panda can genuinely mean the difference between life and death for some First Nations babies.
SUNSHINE COAST UNIVERSITY HOSPITAL QUEENSLAND MOBILE ELECTROCARDIOGRAM (ECG) WITH CART: $10,410 During the COVID-19 pandemic, there has been a big increase in young people presenting with new onset eating disorders which carry significant morbidity and mortality. A new outpatient clinic for youth is improving access to services, support for patients and families, and management of these complex conditions. Young people with an eating disorder can often have cardiac complications, and this ECG will allow medical review and assessment without having to attend the hospital itself. Detecting potential issues and intervening early can help minimise admissions, length of stay and re-admission rates.
JAMESTOWN HOSPITAL & HEALTH SERVICE SOUTH AUSTRALIA ISOLETTE 8000: $27,500 Jamestown Hospital services regional communities in South Australia, including at-risk populations. The Isolette 8000 is a thermoregulation bed that babies are placed in when admitted to the nursery to keep them warm while being treated and closely monitored by staff. In cases of serious illness, it assists teams to stabilise the baby prior to transfer. Isolettes can be the smallest of patients’ homes for many weeks so having the most up-to-date equipment to care for these babies is extremely important. For Jamestown, equipment like this can mean the difference between babies receiving care close to home or families needing to relocate to a larger hospital.
All donations are 100% tax deductible
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NEWBORN AND PAEDIATRIC EMERGENCY TRANSPORT SERVICE OF NSW (NETS NSW) BANKSTOWN AIRPORT BASE SPECIALIST PAEDIATRIC AMBULANCES $274,000 each, 5 needed NETS NSW operates a 24/7 state-wide service for babies and children in need of specialist medical and emergency care. The highly specialised NETS ambulances take medical teams and equipment to the bedside of critically ill or injured babies and children across NSW and allow patients to be safely transported to hospitals while receiving intensive care en route. NETS ambulances are specially equipped and designed with capacity, facilities and functionality not available in the fleet of the NSW Ambulance Service. They safely accommodate even the tiniest of critically ill patients needing intensive care and transportation. Five ambulances are needed to help replace older vehicles at the Bankstown Airport base. Ambulances based at Bankstown travel frequently between airports, tertiary children’s hospitals at Westmead and Randwick, and travel throughout the Greater Sydney region and surrounds. While in service these life-saving ambulances will each transport over 2000 patients aged 0-16. Each NETS ambulance carries two of the NETS life support systems at any time and the road fleet retrieves patients from up to 400km from Sydney (further in situations where air retrieval is not possible). Ambulances can accommodate life support systems for a baby or older child simultaneously so can carry up to two patients at once. This flexibility also means teams can be diverted to missions without having to return to base to change equipment. Donated vehicles can include prominent donor branding and acknowledgement on the exterior and interior to recognise your support. Donors will also be offered a tour of the amazing Bankstown facility along with substantial media and publicity supported by NETS NSW and Humpty.
THE CHILDREN’S HOSPITAL AT WESTMEAD NEW SOUTH WALES MANOMETRY AND REFLUX TESTING SYSTEM: $220,000–$230,000 If children are born with severe bowel or gastrointestinal disorders it can be very challenging to diagnose what is wrong as it is difficult to pinpoint exactly where the problem is in the body and treat it. When children have abnormalities in their digestive system, they can have very painful and uncomfortable symptoms as well as poor growth and poor nutrition. Conditions can be very hard to assess and many tests will deliver normal results despite severe symptoms which causes a lot of distress for children and families. Children with these conditions often undergo surgical procedures and treatments in the hope this will address the problem. Three-year-old Connor was born at 33 weeks with a non-functional bowel and in severe pain and his parents nearly lost him a few days later. At just two years of age, Connor had already endured 18 surgeries and spent more than 200 days in hospital. Despite all of this, specialists still don’t have an exact diagnosis. Manometry could change this. This highly advanced equipment uses extremely sensitive tubes to measure changes in pressure in the human body. These pressure changes can tell how the gastrointestinal tract is contracting and identify abnormalities that indicate a dysfunctional digestive system. Manometry is currently considered the standard of care in assessing patients like Connor and will help families by giving them answers and better targeting treatment. This sophisticated equipment is not currently available in NSW/ACT. This is an important and high-profile opportunity to support the establishment of a new and transformed standard of care at The Children's Hospital at Westmead that will benefit children from many parts of Australia.
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All donations are 100% tax deductible
Following is a snapshot of equipment urgently needed in hospitals and health services in different States and Territories across Australia. If you are in a position to help support by donating medical equipment, please contact us on (02) 9419 2410 or email: humpty@humpty.com.au
Humpty’s Wish List NSW + ACT COWRA HEALTH SERVICE
KYOGLE MULTI PURPOSE SERVICE
EMERGENCY, MATERNITY & THEATRES, NSW
EMERGENCY DEPARTMENT, NSW
AIRVO 2 HUMIDIFIER: $2,920
HUMPTY'S BREATH OF LIFE: $8,800
Humidification is important for babies and children suffering from respiratory problems, such as bronchitis, pneumonia and cystic fibrosis. Humidified air and oxygen helps them breathe restfully and clears the chest for ongoing treatment and recovery.
THE CHILDREN’S HOSPITAL AT WESTMEAD PAEDIATRIC INTENSIVE CARE UNIT, NSW
F&P 950 HUMIDIFIER: $4,960 each, 10 needed Humidifiers are a vital part of ventilation support within Paediatric Intensive Care Units (PICUs). They provide heated and humidified air to support sick children, helping to make sure tiny lungs stay warm and do not dry out. Currently the hospital is equipped with ventilators to assist COVID-19 positive patients but lack the humidifiers necessary to provide complete care. Humpty has recently donated six units but due to increased demand the hospital needs an additional ten units.
This specially designed Humpty package is life-saving. It includes a Neopuff Infant Resuscitator, Low Flow Bird Blender and an MR850 Humidifier on a mobile stand. ‘Humpty’s Breath of Life’ will provide humidified air during respiratory support to a sick baby or child as well as maintain them on a safe type of ventilation until a transfer arrives.
CALVARY PUBLIC HOSPITAL OPERATING THEATRE, ACT
PANDA RESUSCITATION WARMER: $34,290 This resuscitation unit is vital for providing infants with a purposebuilt examination bed that includes a warmer as well as special monitoring devices. It can be stocked with other smaller equipment and provides oxygen needed for resuscitation as well as treating critically ill babies.
Show your thanks to our medical teams this Christmas
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Humpty’s Wish List VIC + TAS REGIONAL HOSPITALS COVID-19 SUPPORT
ECHUCA REGIONAL HEALTH
GEELONG, COLAC, LATROBE AND WESTERN DISTRICT HOSPITALS, VIC
MATERNITY DEPARTMENT, VIC
BUNDLE OF PULSE OXIMETERS: $25,930
SYMPHONY BREAST PUMP WITH STAND: $3,470 each, 2 needed **
This bundle of five Radical-7 Pulse Co-oximeters and one RAD 5 Pulse Oximeter will support four regional Victorian hospitals to monitor oxygen levels and other vital signs for children presenting in respiratory distress. This is increasingly important due to the COVID-19 pandemic, as early detection of changes in condition enable care teams to quickly respond to deterioration and escalate care.
In 2015, generous Humpty supporters donated two symphony breast pumps to Echuca Regional Health. These have been in regular use since then and are reaching end-of-life. Birth numbers in the region have increased and the Maternity Unit is seeking two replacement units to continue supporting the needs of lactating mums and their newborn babies.
MONASH CHILDREN’S HOSPITAL
LAUNCESTON GENERAL HOSPITAL
NEWBORN INTENSIVE CARE UNIT, VIC
WOMEN’S & CHILDREN’S SERVICES, TAS
BILISOFT LED PHOTOTHERAPY SYSTEM: $9,990
F&P 950 HUMIDIFIER: $4,960 each, 4 needed
Jaundice, detected as a yellowing of the skin and eyes, occurs in 50% of full-term babies and 80% of preterm babies in their first week of life. Without prompt treatment jaundice can cause cerebral palsy, deafness and/ or brain damage. This machine uses phototherapy (exposure to fluorescent light bulbs or other light sources) to effectively treat the jaundice while at the same time enabling the parents to hold or feed their child without disturbing the therapeutic treatment in progress.
Humidifiers keep the air babies breathe moist to prevent the drying out of secretions and nasal passages. Babies suffering from lung infections and chronic bronchitis rely on humidified air and oxygen to breathe restfully and to clear any recurring respiratory problems. The humidifier warms and moistens the air/oxygen to prevent further damage to a baby’s lungs and airway. The Fisher Paykel 950 humidifier is the newest model and offers integrated temperature and flow probes, fewer connections and is quick and easy for staff to put together. It can help provide safe ventilation support to critically ill babies while awaiting retrieval to a larger hospital.
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All donations are 100% tax deductible
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Humpty’s Wish List SA + WA YORKE AND NORTHERN MIDWIFERY GROUP
FIONA STANLEY HOSPITAL
CLARE, CRYSTAL BROOK AND WALLAROO HOSPITALS, SA
NEONATAL UNIT, WA
BUNDLE OF 3 BILICOCOON PHOTOTHERAPY BAGS: $43,290 This equipment is a wonderful asset to have in regional health services as it allows babies and their families to remain close to home rather than to have to travel to access therapy in a bigger hospital. Jaundice, or yellowing of the skin and eyes, is one of the most common problems to afflict babies and up to 80% of preterm babies in the neonatal unit. If left untreated it can gravitate to the brain and cause permanent damage. It is however easily treated with specialised light therapy. This 360-degree phototherapy blanket allows treatment to be delivered by wrapping the baby in a flexible light blanket. Therapy can continue while breastfeeding or just being cuddled. It promotes family centred care, allowing mothers and babies to stay together.
ROTTNEST ISLAND NURSING POST WA
VITAL SIGNS VS30 MONITOR: $5,350 This monitor is for the Rottnest Island Nursing Post which treats around 1000 children each year. This mobile monitor can be used in the clinic, waiting room and treatment areas to assess patients, and allow clinical staff to quickly assess and identify any signs of deterioration to determine the best course of treatment.
OLYMPIC BRAINZ MONITOR KIT: $70,360 The Olympic Brainz Monitor Kit provides actionable neurological information during the early stages of newborn development. Through seamless brain monitoring and seizure detection, clinicians can make lifesaving decisions in the most critical situations. The donation of this piece of equipment will allow for Fiona Stanley Hospital to monitor more babies at any one time, which will reduce the need to transfer babies to another facility and potentially separate the baby and family. The transfer of babies to other hospitals can place financial and emotional stress on the family and baby and therefore is something Fiona Stanley are aiming to avoid. The Olympic Brainz Monitor is urgently required at Fiona Stanley as over 3000 babies are birthed there per year, highlighting the need for this advanced equipment.
WARREN HEALTH SERVICE (MANJIMUP HOSPITAL) MIDWIFERY GROUP, WA
JM-105 JAUNDICE DETECTOR: $9,680 Jaundice, or yellowing of the skin and eyes, occurs in approximately 50% of full-term and 80% of pre-term babies in their first week of life. It is often an indication of underlying symptoms and as a result, screening of babies for jaundice efficiently and effectively is vital. Unlike a traditional blood test, the JM-105 is non-invasive and provides results in minutes rather than hours.
humpty.com.au
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Humpty’s Wish List QLD + NT SUNSHINE COAST UNIVERSITY HOSPITAL
BARALABA HOSPITAL ACUTE CARE, QLD
WOMEN’S & CHILDREN’S UNIT, QLD
CONNEX VITAL SIGNS MONITOR: $6,440
GIRAFFE STAND-ALONE RESUSCITATION SYSTEM: $12,950 each, 4 needed
This equipment allows health care teams to accurately assess a range of vital signs like temperature, blood pressure and oxygen saturation levels within paediatric care settings. The monitor recognises deteriorating clinical conditions immediately and this allows for early intervention to avoid risks and adverse outcomes for the patient. Clinicians at Baralaba Hospital are currently sharing a monitor between wards and are aiming to set up a complete individual set for paediatric patients due to the pressure of COVID-19.
The Giraffe Stand-Alone Resuscitation System is required to provide safe and effective resuscitation to deteriorating neonates allowing stabilisation of the baby in a critical time frame. The device is portable and therefore can be constantly used between beds within the Women's & Children's Unit. Sunshine Coast University Hospital managed 3400 births in 2020-21, and there has been a 27% increase in the region’s birth rate over the past five years. This equipment is vital to accommodate a significant increase in neonates requiring high dependency care.
KATHERINE WEST HEALTH BOARD REMOTE HEALTH CENTRES, NT
BUNDLE OF 20 RAD 67 PULSE CO-OXIMETERS: $67,000 Katherine West Health Board (KWHB) is an Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisation (ACCHO) servicing a region of around 160,000km2 west of Katherine. KWHB provides paediatric primary care and emergency services to seven remote Aboriginal communities. These communities have high rates of childhood anaemia in children aged six months to 15 years and, if left untreated, this can affect a child’s growth and development and lead to lifelong health issues. The existing equipment involves pricking the child’s finger to obtain a blood sample—this is not pleasant for most kids and many avoid regular testing. The RAD 67 CO-Oximeters will replace this tool to allow for non-invasive testing, removing the discomfort factor for kids and making it easier to quickly identify anaemia and treat it early. Aboriginal Health Practitioners and Remote Area Nurses will be able to screen and follow up more children in outreach clinics, schools and in the community with these devices. Around 12 months ago Humpty provided RAD 67s to all NT Health clinics across the Northern Territory and the results of this program are very promising in terms of numbers of kids tested and reduced rates of anaemia. Extending the availability of this equipment to KWHB will ensure children receiving care from community-controlled health services are regularly screened and treated earlier.
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All donations are 100% tax deductible
Detailed list of additional wishes Under $5,000 EZ-IO DRILL: $850 each, 4 needed
New South Wales: Cobar Health Service, Coolah MultiPurpose Service, Grenfell Multi-Purpose Service, Tottenham Multi-Purpose Service
CALESCA MILK WARMING DEVICE: $1,700 New South Wales: Manning Base Hospital
NEOPUFF RESUSCITATION DEVICE: $1,920 New South Wales: Griffith Hospital
RAD 5 PULSE OXIMETER: $2,180 each, 19 needed
New South Wales: Barraba Multi-Purpose Service, Kyogle Multi-Purpose Service (3), Liverpool Hospital**, Quirindi Hospital (2), Vegetable Creek Multi-Purpose Service Northern Territory: Tennant Creek Hospital Victoria: Mercy Hospital for Women, Sandringham Hospital (2), The Northern Hospital (3) Queensland: Cooktown Hospital (2), Toowoomba Hospital Western Australia: Northampton Kalbarri Health Service
RESPIRATION MONITOR FOR INFANT APNOEA: $2,390 each, 3 needed Tasmania: Launceston General Hospital
EZ-IO DRILL & EDUCATOR KIT: $2,430 each, 7 needed New South Wales: Bankstown Lidcombe Hospital (2)**, CareFlight NSW Division (4) Victoria: Sandringham Hospital
Wishes that appear with ** have been on the Wish List for more than a year and are urgently required.
SYMPHONY BREAST PUMP WITH CASE (WITH TRADE IN): $2,530 Victoria: Colac Area Health
SYMPHONY BREAST PUMP WITH STAND (WITH TRADE IN): $2,820 each, 2 needed South Australia: Crystal Brook & District Hospital, Wallaroo Hospital
AIRVO 2 HUMIDIFIER: $2,920 each, 2 needed New South Wales: Bathurst Health Service Queensland: Inglewood Hospital
ASTODIA DIAPHANOSCOPE: $3,410 each, 13 needed New South Wales: Baradine Multi-Purpose Service, Bowral Hospital, Liverpool Hospital, Nepean Hospital (3), Orange Health Service Queensland: Cooktown Hospital, Sunshine Coast University Hospital, Weipa Integrated Health Service South Australia: Loxton Hospital Complex Victoria: Mercy Hospital for Women (2)**
SYMPHONY BREAST PUMP WITH STAND: $3,470 each, 7 needed
New South Wales: Kempsey Hospital South Australia: Port Lincoln Health Service Victoria: Central Gippsland Health Service (2)**, Werribee Mercy Hospital (2)** Western Australia: Newman Hospital
OTOWAVE: $3,660 New South Wales: Coffs Harbour Hospital
Show your thanks to our medical teams this Christmas
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BROSELOW PREMIER PAEDIATRIC COLOUR CODE CART: $4,320 Northern Territory: Tennant Creek Hospital
MR850 HUMIDIFIER: $4,510 each, 2 needed Victoria: Werribee Mercy Hospital
RADICAL-7 PULSE CO-OXIMETER: $4,750 each, 6 needed
New South Wales: Kyogle Multi-Purpose Service (3) Queensland: Toowoomba Hospital South Australia: Jamestown Hospital and Health Service Victoria: East Grampians Health Service Wishes that appear with ** have been on the Wish List for more than a year and are urgently required.
JAUNDICE DETECTOR: $4,940 each, 8 needed
South Australia: Lyell McEwin Hospital, Riverland General Hospital, Whyalla Hospital and Health Services Victoria: Casey Hospital, Dandenong Campus, Frankston Hospital**, Robinvale District Health Services**, Werribee Mercy Hospital**
F&P 950 HUMIDIFIER: $4,960 each, 17 needed
Australian Capital Territory: Calvary Public Hospital Bruce New South Wales: Hornsby Ku-ring-gai Hospital Tasmania: Launceston General Hospital (4) Victoria: Monash Children’s Hospital, The Northern Hospital (6) Western Australia: King Edward Memorial Hospital for Women (4)
Continue your legacy by leaving Humpty a gift in your will. Big or small, your bequest will help save the lives of sick children around Australia. Please call (02) 9419 2410 to speak with a team member or visit humpty.com.au
or
1. Use your camera to hover over the QR code on the right. 2. Click the link that appears and follow prompts for more information.
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Allthanks donations aremedical deductible 100% tax Show your to our teams this Christmas
Under $10,000 CONNEX VITAL SIGNS MONITOR: $6,440 each, 10 needed
New South Wales: Barraba Multi-Purpose Service, Gilgandra Multi-Purpose Service, Kyogle MultiPurpose Service (2) Queensland: Gladstone Hospital Victoria: Latrobe Regional Hospital, Sandringham Hospital, The Northern Hospital (3)
BILILUX LED PHOTOTHERAPY LIGHT: $6,660 each, 8 needed
New South Wales: Bathurst Health Service (2), Dubbo Hospital (3), Orange Health Service (3)
NITROUS MIXER WITH TROLLEY: $6,780 New South Wales: Mudgee Health Service
COSYTHERM NEONATAL WARMING SYSTEM: $7,130 Victoria: Djerriwarrh Health Service
KANMED BABY WARMER MATTRESS: $8,320
JM-105 JAUNDICE DETECTOR: $9,680 each, 23 needed
New South Wales: Bathurst Health Service, Dubbo Hospital (2), Hornsby Ku-ring-gai Hospital (2), Orange Health Service, Westmead Hospital (3), Wollongong Hospital South Australia: Lyell McEwin Hospital, Women’s and Children’s Hospital (3) Victoria: Echuca Regional Health (2), Mercy Hospital for Women (3)**, Sandringham Hospital, South West Healthcare**, The Bendigo Hospital
BILISOFT LED PHOTOTHERAPY SYSTEM: $9,990 each, 12 needed
New South Wales: Blacktown Hospital, Blue Mountains Hospital**, Griffith Hospital, Hornsby Ku-ring-gai Hospital, Westmead Hospital** South Australia: Lyell McEwin Hospital (2), Whyalla Hospital & Health Services Victoria: Monash Children’s Hospital (2), Sandringham Hospital**, Werribee Mercy Hospital** Wishes that appear with ** have been on the Wish List for more than a year and are urgently required.
New South Wales: Auburn Hospital**
HUMPTY’S BREATH OF LIFE: $8,800 Victoria: Sandringham Hospital
KANMED BABY WARMER WATER MATTRESS: $8,900 New South Wales: Fairfield Hospital
FINGERTIP PULSE OXIMETER BUNDLE: $9,580
YOU CAN HELP save A CHILD’S LIFE
New South Wales: Royal North Shore Hospital
All donations are 100% tax deductible
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Under $20,000 MOBILE ECG WITH CART AND SCANNER: $10,940
I-STAT ANALYSER WITH ACCESSORIES: $16,030
BILICOCOON PHOTOTHERAPY BAG: $14,430 each, 2 needed
TRANSDUCER FOR HEAD ULTRASOUND SYSTEM: $18,130
Victoria: The Northern Hospital
New South Wales: Kempsey Hospital
South Australia: Flinders Medical Centre Victoria: Frankston Hospital
New South Wales: John Hunter Hospital
INTELLIVUE MX450 PATIENT MONITOR ON ROLL STAND: $14,680 New South Wales: Moruya Hospital
INTELLIVUE MX450 MONITOR WITH X3 MODULE: $19,550 Victoria: Djerriwarrh Health Service
From a mother who holds her child in her arms every day because of the Humpty Dumpty Foundation, all the water in the ocean and all the stars in the sky are less than all my thank you’s.
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All donations are 100% tax deductible
Over $20,000 CARESCAPE B650 MONITOR: $22,420 New South Wales: St George Hospital, Special Care Nursery
C-MAC VIDEO LARYNGOSCOPE BLADE BUNDLE: $22,580 New South Wales: Coffs Harbour Hospital, Emergency Department
ISOLETTE 8000: $27,500 each, 4 needed
New South Wales: Bathurst Health Service, Special Care Nursery; Dubbo Hospital, Special Care Nursery (2) Victoria: Mercy Hospital for Women, Special Care Nursery
GIRAFFE SHUTTLE: $27,990 each, 2 needed
ATOM INCU I 101 INCUBATOR WITH ACCESSORIES: $34,500 Victoria: Wimmera Health Care Group, Midwifery Services
GIRAFFE INCUBATOR CARESTATION: $34,640
New South Wales: Goulburn Hospital, Ruth Stevenson Wing Maternity
GIRAFFE WARMER: $38,480 Victoria: Goulburn Valley Health, Emergency Department
ARCTIC SUN TEMPERATURE MANAGEMENT SYSTEM: $52,470 Western Australia: Perth Children’s Hospital, Paediatric Critical Care
Western Australia: Fiona Stanley Hospital, Neonatal Unit**
BABYLEO TN500 INCUWARMER: $59,470
ATOM INCUBATOR: $34,040
New South Wales: Royal Prince Alfred Hospital, Newborn Care
New South Wales: Young Health Service, Maternity
PANDA NEONATAL RESUSCITAIRE UNIT: $34,290 each, 8 needed
New South Wales: Coffs Harbour Hospital, Emergency; Goulburn Hospital, Ruth Stevenson Wing Maternity (2); Tamworth Hospital, Maternity & Birthing Suite; Wollongong Hospital, Maternity; Wollongong Hospital, Operating Theatre Western Australia: Busselton Hospital, Maternity; Kununurra Hospital, Paediatrics & Staff Development**
BABYLOG VN600 NEONATAL VENTILATOR: $65,070 each, 4 needed
New South Wales: Bathurst Health Service, Special Care Nursery; Dubbo Hospital, Special Care Nursery (2); Wollongong Hospital, Neonatal Unit
BABYLOG VN800 NEONATAL VENTILATOR: $76,380 each, 2 needed
Victoria: Mercy Hospital for Women, Neonatal Services
All (02) donations are 100% tax humpty@humpty.com.au deductible To donate equipment call 9419 2410 or email
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Working together on the COVID-19 frontline Kim Ferrari, Administration Officer and Mele Kaufusi, Nurse Manager, Trangie NSW.
Dr Allan Kerrigan
Western NSW Local Health District’s (WNSWLHD) outbreak of COVID-19 started late July/early August and with its epicentre in Dubbo, it quickly spread through the district. As case numbers grew, it was clear that a concerted response from many quarters was required.
By mid-September, new cases in the current outbreak had peaked and the scramble to adapt had given way to business as usual. We hope that in time, vaccination will make our service obsolete.
Royal Prince Alfred Hospital already had an established model of remote monitoring and an existing relationship with Sydney Children’s Hospital Network to support children. This had been going since mid-last year and supported the Special Health Accommodation (SHA) venues required for overseas arrivals. The service had ramped up from mid-June when Sydney’s Delta COVID-19 outbreak started. Care pathways and procedures were shared and adapted for the very different situation WNSWLHD had to deal with. The enormous distances in rural and remote NSW were a given, but this outbreak was disproportionately affecting our Indigenous community, families and children who were very much overrepresented. A unique solution would be required. The LHD’s well established Integrated Care program and associated Remote in Home Monitoring (RiHM) service joined forces with the Virtual Rural Generalist Service (VRGS) - the LHD virtual doctor team - to form the COVIDCare in the Community (CCiC). Staff were pulled in from across the LHD’s many sites and temporary positions created with virtual support from most states and overseas. General, Maternity and Paediatric Streams were created while Aboriginal Health, Social Work, Mental Health and Drug and Alcohol resources were also identified. Within two weeks our case load was over 200 and by four weeks over 500 active cases were being reviewed regularly by CCiC. An SHA was set up and supported by CCiC but it was clear that geography dictated more than one SHA would be needed along with additional, inventive solutions. We now have facilities in Bathurst, two in Dubbo, Bourke and Walgett in both motel units and campervans.
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One of the unexpected rewards from this journey is the unqualified support that has come to our service. Our health partners and also the Ministry of Health and supporting “pillars” have been amazing and our relationship with businesses and charities supporting children and their health has been a can-do experience.
We needed additional saturation monitors to keep small children with COVID-19 at home, and we were grateful for the support the Humpty Dumpty Foundation was able to provide. Essentials like groceries and clothes, nappies and hygiene products just aren’t available when you get rushed into a SHA and a whole family is told to isolate. Everything we asked for was provided, including something to distract the kids for two weeks. Augmenting the intense investment, effort and coordination made by the WNSWLHD, partners from other government and non-government organisations offered support and joined the effort to keep children and their families safe. Well done, we really are a “Community”. There have been 318 children (under 16 years old), including 201 Indigenous children cared for to date (as at 20 September 2021). Out of over 1,000 children, just one child required hospitalisation and they are now recovering. The service has managed an admission rate of just over 5%, keeping the greater majority safely supported at home.
All donations are 100% tax deductible
Nurses Nicola and Sweety caring for baby Wyatt, The Children's Hospital at Westmead.
Humpty’s Christmas Appeal With Humpty’s help our frontline doctors and nurses have given many children another Christmas with their families.
Please donate
By donating to Humpty’s Christmas Appeal you can help us to continue to provide urgently needed and life-saving medical equipment to hospitals across Australia.
1. Use your camera to hover over the QR code below.
at fundraise.humpty.com.au/appeal
or
2. Click the link that appears and follow prompts to donate.
Your donation will make a difference, every little bit counts. 29
Humpty’s VIB
(Very Important Bear) Lauren at CareFlight, Darwin launching her Teddy Bear Care Project in March.
Lauren Channon
Humpty's Junior Ambassador One of the special things about Christmas is the joy of knowing we are giving a gift to someone that means something special to them. Earlier this year I travelled to Darwin to launch Humpty’s first ever Teddy Bear Care Project so that I could give a special gift to parents when they really needed it the most. I designed a special Humpty Teddy Bear that I wanted to give to parents of every baby that uses Humpty Transport Incubators in the Northern Territory. I wanted the parents to have something to hold tight whilst their little baby was travelling for treatment and away from them. I know how special something as simple as a teddy bear can be for parents to hold as my Mum has held one tight through every one of my 132 operations. I saved all the money up to buy the first 75 Humpty Teddy Bears to launch the project and each Teddy Bear has a special handwritten card from me on behalf of the Humpty family. It was really special to me that we launched the campaign at an event where I was able to meet so many of the little children whose lives were saved by the first Humpty Transport Incubator.
The parents told me how life-changing it was for them to know their beautiful babies had been kept alive thanks to the generosity of the Humpty family and it was especially moving to see those little Humpty graduates hugging the Humpty Teddy Bears. It has been a difficult year with so many of Humpty’s big fundraising events cancelled due to the impact of COVID-19. But our sick babies and children need our help more now than ever before. I can’t wait to be able to continue to work with the Humpty team to support their important mission. I’m fully vaccinated so that I can safely support their work in the community over the next year.
This Christmas I’ll be saving up so that I can fund the next lot of Teddy Bears for my project. That will be my special Christmas gift.
“The bears provide much needed comfort for families in what can often be a stressful and emotional time.” CareFlight Nursing Director, Amanda Quinn.
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All donations are 100% tax deductible
Baby Xander with vital equipment donated by the Audi Foundation and Humpty.
Making a difference ... Anthony Altomonte (left) from the Alto Group and Audi’s Paul Sansom.
Corporate donations step into top gear First published in The Australian Financial Review, June 2021
Mark Eggleton Philanthropy Australia’s recent report A Blueprint to Grow Structured Giving, outlines some of the challenges confronting the nation’s charities, not-for-profits and community groups as they endeavour to promote more giving in the community. The report highlighted that while Australia is a generous nation, the proportion of wealthy Australians who donate to philanthropic causes is decreasing at the same time as their numbers rise. In better news, Australia’s corporate giving is at an alltime high - $1.1 billion in 2020, representing a 17 per cent increase on the previous year. This is especially heartening considering last year’s twin hits of the catastrophic bushfires and the COVID-19 pandemic. Both of these, however, have reinforced the increasing importance of community and place-based philanthropy. One particular organisation providing place-based direct assistance to communities is the Humpty Dumpty Foundation who for more than 30 years have been purchasing essential and often life-saving medical
equipment for sick and injured children in paediatric wards, neonatal units, maternity and emergency departments in hospitals across Australia. For the chief executive officer of Sydney-based automotive dealership Alto Group, Anthony Altomonte, the beauty of the Humpty Dumpty Foundation is you know exactly where your money is going. “You’re not just throwing money at a charity, they’re actually going out and buying medical equipment,” Altomonte says. “They have medical experts on their Medical Subcommittee and they find out what various hospitals need. As a donor, you’re actually buying the piece of equipment. “Importantly, Humpty makes sure they’re not giving a hospital a rocket when they only need a glider. They let us know what is needed in a particular hospital and give us guidance so that we invest in the most critical equipment.” This is especially important in regional areas where there may not be the skilled staff to operate expensive medical
Show your thanks to our medical teams this Christmas
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equipment, so Humpty matches what’s needed based on the skills the “hospital may or may not have to actually operate that piece of equipment”. “It gives you a lot of comfort knowing you’re sending something that’s actually going to be useful and not something that’ll be sitting in a corner because there’s nobody to drive it,” he says. Alto Group have been involved with the Foundation since “pretty much its inception” and according to Altomonte, it represents the majority of the Group’s philanthropic efforts. Altomonte believes that with charity you’re often “better off to pick one and be a relevant, significant donor to one than kind of irrelevant to a whole lot”.
“It resonates really well with the whole team as well because it’s pretty hard to say no to a children’s charity especially when you see there are some kids in Australia dying because they don’t have access to a five to 10 thousand dollar machine. To me, that’s fundamentally wrong.” Altomonte is also one of seven major Audi investor dealers who sit on the Audi Foundation Board, which started in 2017 when current Audi Australia managing director, Paul Sansom first arrived in Australia. Sansom also chairs the Audi Foundation and says it was established to give back to communities and progressive organisations in Australia, which fits with Audi’s global brand vision. “It’s all about the idea of ‘living progress’ and since its inception, the Audi Foundation has touched over 1.3 million individuals and families across Australia,” Sansom says. “It has impacted over 6 million Australians and provided over $3.5 million worth of support to its charity partners.” What sets the Audi Foundation apart is a percentage of every Audi sold across the 42 dealer nationwide network is given to charity. As a national charity, Humpty works with businesses like Audi to achieve this national reach. “The more cars we sell, the more we give,” says Sansom. The manufacturer’s charitable efforts are focused on education, medicine and mental health and their association with the Humpty Dumpty Foundation is something Audi is particularly proud to promote. “One can’t be helped being moved by the amazing work they do,” Sansom says.
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“Like the Audi Foundation, they’ve expanded across the nation, providing much-needed medical equipment to rural and remote areas. It’s vitally important because it’s so heartbreaking to hear stories of kids not getting proper care because of where they live.” One of the special experiences for Audi dealers is actually seeing their largesse at work and Sansom says local dealers get the opportunity to go into hospitals to see the difference they make. “It’s amazing for the dealers because sometimes you might give to a charity and, where the money goes can be slightly invisible, whereas here dealers can physically go into a hospital and hand over a cheque or equipment. It’s extremely powerful - being able to assist and help change communities,” he says. And that equipment could be anything from a $1700 milk warming device to a $300,000 neonatal transport incubator that the Humpty Dumpty Foundation purchased for the Royal Darwin Hospital. What this meant for the Northern Territory is they now have life-saving equipment that can transport babies in need of intensive care, and keep them stable in the air as they’re flown to major hospitals in capital cities such as Adelaide, Melbourne and Sydney on board Careflight. For Altomonte, seeing regional hospitals get the equipment they need is immensely satisfying because they “get a little bit overlooked” on occasion when it comes to apportioning health budgets. “And you don’t really realise how much it’s needed until you visit one of these hospitals and you hear from the clinical teams about how often they use it. It’s then you realise how beneficial it really is,” he says. Beyond directly purchasing equipment, Altomonte says Alto Group also support the Humpty Dumpty Foundation across all of its fundraising activities ranging from Sydney’s annual Balmoral Burn to charity dinners and more. “Like all community-based businesses we do lots of work in our local communities but if someone is to ask the question, ‘Who’s the charity partner of the Alto Group?’, that’s clearly Humpty,” he concludes.
Partner
with Humpty Your brand can make an impact. The Humpty team would love to work with you to fundraise, engage your team and assist with your Corporate Social Responsibility Program.
Call or email All donations Humpty to arediscuss partnership deductible opportunities 100% tax
Christmas live event with Langton’s Join Ray Martin & Phil Kearns 16 DECEMBER, 6PM
Take part in an online experience where you taste real wines and have the chance to win some extraordinary prizes. Expand your wine horizons and get closer to top Australian producers with our six-bottle selections, all while supporting the Humpty Dumpty Foundation. Packs are available at three different price points, with six 60mL samples of wine to enjoy, all including a donation to support the Humpty Dumpty Foundation. On the night, you'll taste iconic wines from Langton's Classified wineries such as the 864 Chardonnay 2019 from Oakridge, the Quintet Cabernet Blend 2016 from Mount Mary and the John Riddoch Cabernet Sauvignon 2018 from Wynns Coonawarra Estate, all delivered directly to your door before the event. Stunning prize pack winners to be announced on the evening. To purchase your tasting pack and for full terms and conditions, please visit langtons.com.au/celebratehumpty
Join us at the Christmas live event by purchasing your wine tasting pack or bid on the Ultimate Christmas Cellar now! 1. Use your camera to hover over the QR code on the right. 2. Click the link that appears.
The Ultimate Christmas Cellar Online Auction With appreciation to James Halliday AM and Langton’s
Live Auction closes 16 December, 7pm
300
BOTTLES
“This amazing collection of 300 bottles instantly creates a cellar that captures and celebrates the very best of Australian wineries. Each of these wines have received at least 94 points in my Halliday Wine Companion, but that is only the starting point. Then comes the immense amount of time taken by Langton’s to assemble this wonderfully balanced group of wines from all the major varieties,” explains James Halliday AM.
Thank you to the many Australian wineries for their ongoing support
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How to donate Wish List Items
Select the equipment that you would like to donate
Donate online Use your camera to hover over this QR code, click the link that appears and follow the prompts to donate.
fundraise.humpty.com.au/shop
or Contact Humpty to confirm your donation (via credit card, invoice, or cheque) by: Phone (02) 9419 2410 Email humpty@humpty.com.au Post Humpty Dumpty Foundation Suite 1402, Level 14, 67 Albert Avenue, Chatswood NSW 2067
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All donations are 100% tax deductible
Donations
Go online to humpty.com.au and select donate
Select donation amount and enter your details If you would like to donate regularly on a subscription basis, you can select monthly, and cancel at any time.
or Use your camera to hover over this QR code, click the link that appears and follow the prompts to donate.
fundraise.humpty.com.au/appeal
Foundations & Trusts
Eternally Humpty & Legacy Giving
Corporate Partnerships
Please contact our team via phone (02) 9419 2410 or email humpty@humpty.com.au
Kim Ferrari, Administration Officer and Mele Kaufusi, Nurse Manager, Trangie NSW.
Humpty Dumpty Foundation Suite 1402, Level 14 67 Albert Ave CHATSWOOD NSW 2067 ABN 59 137 784 724 CFN 11046 Phone: (02) 9419 2410 Email: humpty@humpty.com.au humpty.com.au
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