Michael’s help knows no holiday

A DANDENONGHospital nurse attendant was so affected by the Asian tsunami that he gave up his holidays to deliver aid.
Now he is getting ready for another trip and he is appealing for donations of food, clothes, medical supplies and toys.
Narre Warren resident Michael Rajoo said his family connections drew him to helping Sri Lanka.
“My wife is from Sri Lanka and, with the Lions Club of South East Business, we decided that, as most aid was going to Indonesia, we would focus our efforts on Sri Lanka,” he said.
Mr Rajoo and his fellow Lions drove all over Melbourne to collect donated goods. However, when it came to medical supplies such as beds, stethoscopes and first aid kits, he had to look no further than his employer, Southern Health.
Between them, the Emergency Departments at both Monash Medical Centre and Dandenong Hospital donated 17 emergency packs valued at $2000 each.
In total, they collected more than 12 containers of food, clothes and medical supplies.
Earlier this year, Mr Rajoo spent 11 days visiting schools, hospitals and orphanages to see where the equipment and supplies he had collected would be distributed.
In November Mr Rajoo will offer his help for a second time, when he travels to Sri Lanka for a threeweek stay.
Medical supply donations for the trip will be contributed by Southern Health.
However, Mr Rajoo is also calling on the community to donate unwanted items in good condition.
“People can donate things like spectacles, walking frames, walking sticks and crutches,” he said.
“And we will also be looking for toys like teddy bears that we can take to the children in the orphanages across Sri Lanka.”
Mr Rajoo is hoping this year’s trip will not be as confronting as the last.
“We knew what we were doing was going to help the people of Sri Lanka, but it was a really difficult trip,” he said.
“The conditions were terrible and it was just so hard, seeing so many dead bodies everywhere and people in need of help.
“The most distressing thing was that wherever you went, people were walking behind you, asking for food and help. It’s hard to know where to draw the line you just can’t help everybody.”
Anyone who would like to donate goods can contact Michael Rajoo on 0416 047 770.