I am not sure that Darryl would want to be called this, but it struck me that he is a wonderful humanitarian. A man who will not practice privately because he wants to serve in the public system. How many of us would have this commitment?
Darryl expained that it was lovely to give something back to Rotary and the community.
He was a senior House Master at St Margaret's and in his last year at Dental School when H Robert Wilson suggested that he apply for a Rotary Scholarship.
He went to Australia to the city of Griffin which is a major regional city in the Murrumbidgee Irrigation Area that is located in the north-western part of the Riverina region of New South Wales, known commonly as the food bowl of Australia.
While there (in 45 degree heat) he got a reply to his Scholarship application.
Friend suggested he go to Seattle for his Scholarship. A city of 5 million people and some major businesses, Starbucks, Microsoft, Seattle Seahawks and Boeing AND the University of Washington. While spending seven years in Seattle he learnt his trade of rebuilding faces. He spent time at the Harbourview Emergency and Trauma Hospital where he saw 'everything' you would not want to see.
Darryl's life in uniform saw him serve first in Vanuatu at Espiritu Santo, just north of Luganville where the NZDF was providing heatlth care. He asked the people what they wanted and it was all related to eyes, ears and teeth ie good general health care.
They saw 700 people a day in the clinic. There were no 'frills' regarding their living quarter, a 14 x 14 tent however they were giving mosquito nets. The Engineers main job was to fix up the community stage.
There were so many people to see that they had to decide which got treated, ie where their efforts would best be used. Advanced cancers etc were not treated as there was no after treatment support.
The national emergency in Christchurch in 2011 saw the Defence Force called into action. They were ready to help early on but the NZDF cannot do anything unless they are invited.
Along with a number of teams Darryl was priviledged to be able to identify 76 people who were killed in the disaster. His team did specifically, teeth, jaw and foot prints etc.
Service in Afganistan was another duty where he was seconded to Kandahar. Kandahar is the second-largest city in Afghanistan, with a population of about 500,000 and was the birth place of ISIS. It is close to the border of Pakistan and is beautiful and has so much history.
Kanadahar airport is a 12,000 ft runway and was the busiest in the world because of the airfoce use. The hospital was right beside the runway so they were always in fear of missile/bomb strikes. They had 6 surgical teams specalising in various fields. There was a fully operational scanner in a 20 x 20 container.
The main function of the defence force surgical teams was to look after the fighting forces and eventially worked their way down to civilians who were on active duty. It was a privilege to wear the NZ uniform.
Life is a jouney
Make use of opportunities
Service to others is a privilege.
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