Members of the Melbourne Nurses on Mission (MNM) live up to the saying, “When you are a nurse, you know that every day you will touch a life or a life will touch yours.” On 25 October 2014, around 250 nurses and guests attended a Gala for a Cause to raise funds for MNM’s Medical Mission in May 2015 for the earthquake victims of Bohol, its feeding program with the street children and help build deep wells for access to potable fresh water. The fundraising was held at Aurora Receptions in East Brunswick.
Most of the nurses who attended the event are currently working at Sunshine Hospital, Williamstown Hospital, Austin Hospital, Werribee Hospital, St. Vincent’s Hospital, Footscray Hospital, Melton Dialisys Unit and Melton Patients Sunbury Dialysis Unit.
Formed in 2011, MNM has a yearly charity work to help disadvantaged children and families in the Philippines. “As our organisation grows in years, I am proud to say that Melbourne Nurses on Mission has stayed strong in the spirit of carrying on its vision to give back to our beloved homeland and share our blessings with our fellow countrymen,” Dory Aban, MNM President, said in her opening speech.
2013 medical mission in Sagada
In last year’s fundraising event, MNM was able to raise $5,000 which they used for its Medical Mission in Sagada, Mountain Province. “It took us 12 hours to travel by land from Manila to Sagada, passing through narrow and winding roads in low visibility due to the dense valley fog common in mountainous areas,” Aban recalls of their mission. The group provided 178 dental services, 52 medical assistance to residents including an epileptic patient with heart complications; 52 surgical excisions, 48 paediatrics services including a child with heart murmur and a young girl afflicted with mental illness. “In all of these, one of the greatest things we have seen was the people’s desire for prayer, desperate for spiritual upliftment hoping that God will extend His mercy upon them. It was a physically taxing endeavour for the doctors, nurses and volunteers but seeing the smiles on the faces of those that we were able to help was well worth everything,” Aban explains about their mission.
MNM Vice President Vilma Rullan-Lleva, in her speech, said that they also distributed 400 school bags to indigenous school children in the province of La Union and sent 20 LBC boxes filled with relief goods through Sagip Kapamilya for those affected with typhoon Haiyan.
A fun night to remember
Despite the night’s focus on helping the less fortunate kababayans, the guests likewise enjoyed the event with all the dancing, singing provided by the Padayon (“Moving Forward”), raffle and auction. Gigi Kalong of Philippine Tours provided a round-trip ticket to the Philippines which was auctioned in the night. Members of Padayon are: Jonathan Anthony, Jei-Anne Hernandez, Edward Hernandez, Leah Ramos and and Janelle Anthony (keyborad).
MNM: What they do
Melbourne Nurses Mission was founded in October 2011 by closely knit Filipino nurses across Melbourne Metropolitan Hospital with the primary goal of championing socio-civic causes that benefit the less fortunate kababayans as well as those affected by natural calamities in the Philippines. It is a non-profit organisation that depends on fundraising, donations and solicitations for its charitable undertaking. It has its own team of medical practitioners, surgeons , dentists and paediatricians.
Aside from its free health services, feeding program and distribution of basic school supplies, it is also sponsoring a student to do a vocational course with Hope of Melbourne School of Arts and Trade (HOMSAT) in Umingan, Pangasinan, Philippines. The group also provided financial and material assistance to Filipino families affected by natural and other disasters.
Officers of MNM are: President- Dory Aban; Vice President- Vilma Rullan-Lleva; Secretary- Michelle Domingo; Treausrer- Mariciel Francisco; Auditors- Fleur Carville and Mari Jean Dantic; Press Relations Officer- Paula Luansing; Adviser: Rey Aban and Official Photographer- Junnifer Fuerte.
For membership, donations or sponsorship, please contact Michelle Domingo on mobile 0433-998-868 or Paula Luansing on mobile 0433-293-889.
