BTC Projects Update

It’s been a while, so I thought I should update you on what I have been working on.

Speaking at the Halogen Foundation’s National Young Leaders’ Day

Last Friday I was honoured to be asked to address 4500 young primary school leaders in Melbourne at the Halogen Foundation’s National Young Leaders’ Day. Young leaders converged from about 300 schools from all over Victoria to hear Matt Preston (Master Chef judge, food journalist), Stevie Nicholson and Tim Maddren (Hi-5 members), Craig Lapsley (Victoria Fire Services Commissioner) and Mike Martin (Halogen Foundation GM).  Have a look at www.halogenfoundation.org to see what they are all about.  

We’ve been working away on trying to get the documentary up – just need some funding.

I’ve just written the first draft of a feature article for Outer Edge magazine, who have been good supporters of the expedition. After much deliberation and baulking at the enormity of the task ahead, I’ve finally started writing the book. So there’s plenty of work ahead.

Another exciting project ahead involves connecting the Hargeisa Group Hospital with the Royal Melbourne Hospital. As I learned during the journey, Hargeisa Hospital was built by the British in 1952 when the population of Hargeisa was about 10,000. It is now around a million. The 450-bed hospital is in dire need of just about everything, from basic supplies and equipment to the need for teaching local medical staff. There’s nothing concrete yet, its just an idea with a lot of potential. They do receive some good assistance from Australian Doctors for Africa, but they could do with some extra help. I’ve made a few other connections too which are benefiting some of the projects visited during the expedition.