I'm not so nervous this trip as we have done it once and local I-Kiribati people were very enthusiastic and supportive of our efforts last August. We continue to be given significant financial support by the Mardi-Chi Dingo Foundation (Dr Jude Mullolland) which makes it possible for us to get to South Tarawa. But the new unknowns are a new team of people, including collaborating with the U.S. Navy Pacific Partnerships who support infrastructure, health and other projects around the Pacific every few years.
Jude and nurse Denise were unable to travel with me again on this trip, so we have a new team. I will be joined by vet nurse extraordinaire Leesa, who has 4 years experience assisting Dr. Stephen Cutter (The Ark Animal Hospital, Darwin) with dog management and health programmes in remote central and north west Australia. I met Leesa (and Stephen) on an Animal Management in Rural and Remote Indigenous Communities (AMRRIC) trip in 2013 in the Pilbarra. She comes with a wealth of invaluable experience and calmness which should prove useful!
My veterinary colleague is Helen whom comes highly regarded by AMRRIC. I connected with Helen through a veterinary article describing her very interesting quests around the world seeking adventure and remoteness, so following google and an email she was hooked at the suggestion of somewhere remote where she could utilize her extensive veterinary skills. Helen has been part of the Canberra Mob - Indigenous Dog Health group, which travels twice a year to the Northern Territory to deliver dog desexing and health programmes. She is also a great supporter of AMRRIC and a veterinary practice owner. We look forward to working together!
And if you didn't work it out from previous blogs I am a small animal veterinarian working in Adelaide, but keen to see some changes in dog health and welfare on South Tarawa. My family and I lived on South Tarawa for 12 months in 2012 so had first hand experience of the impact of dog overpopulation on human community well being, as well as the significant animal welfare issues.
And we will join up with a team of 2 veterinarians and 1 or 2 veterinary nurses from the U.S. Navy Pacific Partnerships team. This trip they are supplying all the equipment and medications and have done alot of the on the ground planning. A truly trans-Pacific project. Should be fun!
So we are busy packing necessities like gastrolyte and mozzie repellant and dog worming tablets and once we meet up in Melbourne we will be on our way!
