Fund to ease kids’ breathing

By Lia Bichel
A LARGE donation to the Paediatric Respiratory Service will allow children with breathing problems to receive enhanced care at Southern Health’s Monash Medical Centre in Clayton.
The Bunurong Land Council Aboriginal Corporation said it would donate $100,000 over three years in memory of Kara Lennah Compton, who had Down syndrome, suffered severe respiratory problems and was treated by Dr David Armstrong at Monash Medical Centre. She died aged two in 2006.
The donation comes after the Bunurong community was offered $100,000 by a property owner to build on its land.
The City of Greater Dandenong lies across the boundary of Bunurong clans; it takes in the south-eastern land of the Ngaruk Willam Bunurong and the north-west land of the Mayone Bulluk Bunurong.
Kara’s mother, Sonia Murray, is a member of the land council so the community asked for the money to be donated to Southern Health in memory of Kara.
“We wanted to place the money somewhere we knew it could reach many people and a variety of cultures,” Ms Murray said. “We also wanted to educate people on the work the Aboriginal community does locally.”
At the ceremony, Dr Armstrong said the donation would be used to buy two video bronchoscopes, which allow examination of the airways in children with respiratory conditions such as recurrent pneumonia, cystic fibrosis and persistent cough.
Dr Armstrong said money would also be spent on six pulse oximeters that allow monitoring of blood-oxygen levels in children who require home oxygen. “We also plan to purchase two home ventilators allowing children with severe respiratory disease to be cared for at home rather than in the hospital,” he said.
“Dr Armstrong’s dedication was incredible and at times very moving,” she said. “My daughter adored him and, I think, he is one of Australia’s unsung heroes, as are many doctors working hard to save children.”