Calendar of Events

Upcoming Events

Friends of Epworth Race Day

This year’s Friends of Epworth Race Day will be held at the Moonee Valley Racing Club on Saturday March 31. Tickets are available at $120 per person or $1200 a table of ten which includes course entry, three-course lunch, all-day beverages and complimentary car parking. For bookings contact the Epworth Medical Foundation on telephone 03 9426 6132 or email emfinfo@epworth.org.au. We hope you will be able to join us for a great day at the races.

ABI Cup 2012

For the third year running the Epworth ABI Cup will be played as a curtain-raiser to an A-League game between Melbourne Victory and Central Coast Mariners. The traditional soccer game between Epworth HealthCare and Victorian Police will be played at AAMI Park stadium on Friday 10 February 2012.

The fundraising breakfast will be held a day prior to the game on Thursday 9 February 2012 at 7.30am in the Victory Room, Ethiad Stadium.

Through partnerships with the TAC, Melbourne Victory and Victoria Police, the ABI Cup aims to increase awareness of the cost of road trauma to our community as well as raise critical funds for the rehabilitation service provided by Epworth’s ABI Unit.

To purchase tickets to the fundraising breakfast or to find out more information please contact Jayne Coates on 03 9426 6131.

Epworth HeartSmart Mekong Cycling Challenge

Epworth HeartSmart challenges you to take part in a cycling tour from Laos to Cambodia along the Mekong River as a fundraiser for the cardiac rehabilitation program.

Who
All you need is the will to have a go, a sense of adventure and the OK from your doctor. Optional cycling distances are provided each day (60km / 90km) according to ability.

What
The tour includes seven days of moderate cycling with a tour leader, local guide together with Epworth cardiac and rehabilitation staff. Bookings include an economy airfare, fully maintained bicycle, an accompanying air-conditioned support vehicle, twin-share accommodation and most meals.

Where
The trip takes in the natural wonder of the Mekong River including its waterfalls and wildlife plus the native villages straddling its banks.

When
The challenge is scheduled 17 - 27 February 2012 with optional extension to 3 March.

Why
The aim is to improve the health of body and mind whilst raising funds for the Epworth HeartSmart program. Initially designed to get former cardiac patients ‘back on their bikes’ after care at Epworth, all interested parties are welcome to take part.

How
The cost of the trip is $5,850 (plus airport taxes). Of this $2,500 is tax deductible.
A deposit of $500 is required on registration. The balance is due by year-end.
Instead of paying for the trip outright, participants can choose to be sponsored by building a hero page for the Epworth Medical Foundation on the Everyday Hero website.


Tour Itinerary

Day 1: Depart Melbourne
Day 2: Arrive Bangkok and fly to Ubon Rathchatani
Day 3: Drive to Lao border Pakse / warm up ride
Day 4: Drive /Cycle to waterfalls return to Pakse
Day 5: Drive/Ferry Ride/Cycle to Champasak
Day 6: Ferry Ride /Cycle to Don Khone
Day 7: Laos/Cambodia Border cycle to Kratie
Day 8: Cycle to Kampong Cham
Day 9: Cycle to Phnom Penh
Day 10: Free / Depart Phnom Penh evening
Day 11: Arrive Melbourne

Optional (additional $730):
Days 10-15: Drive to Siem Reap; cycle to Angkor Wat and explore the temples.
Depart Siem Reap for Melbourne

For more information visit Raw Travel's website.

Past Events

Epworth Charity Golf Challenge

Sponsored by Princes Laundry, this year’s Corporate Golf Challenge was held at the Yarra Yarra Golf Club on May 23.

A record turnout of 30 teams braved the inclement weather and competed in the 18-hole Ambrose event which was followed by a celebratory dinner in the club house. Despite the weather, a fun day was had by all which was later topped off with a good laugh with Wilbur Wilde and John Blackman (Hey Hey its’ Saturday) hosting the dinner as Masters of Ceremonies.

Hole sponsors Health Super, Jellis Craig, Gallagher Bassett, MIA Victoria and Parmalat joined team sponsors Medibank, Westpac, Rundles, Grand, PCI, Deloittes, Medtronic, Healthcare Imaging Services and Melbourne Pathology together with Epworth divisional teams to compete for the perpetual trophy. The UBS team had a good day out winning both the golf challenge and the raffle prize!

Chairman of the Golf Committee Warwick Brown thanked the sponsors for helping to raise more than $50,000 for the Epworth HealthCare group.

Picture: Players prepare for the Epworth Golf Challenge

Ovarian Cancer - The Silent Disease

Channel Seven’s Jacquie Quist was the Master of Ceremonies at the fourth Women in Healthcare luncheon held just prior to Mothers Day at Zinc on the waterside at Federation Square on Thursday May 5. The topic for this year’s lunch was Ovarian Cancer – the silent disease.

Gynaecological Oncologist Dr Jane McNeilage told how 1200 Australian women are diagnosed with ovarian cancer each year – that’s three per day. As the disease has no obvious symptoms, identifying it at an early stage is problematic. Signs include abdominal pain, bloating and changes in toileting. Treatment options include surgery, chemotherapy and radiotherapy. Jane was joined by one of her patients Danielle Charak who shared her personal experience with the disease.

Oncologist Dr Geraldine Goss further explained that although the risk of contracting ovarian cancer is low - just 1.4% of the population - almost three-quarters of those identified have already reached an advanced stage. She went on to debate whether removal of the ovaries was a viable option for prevention. Although ovarian cancer is substantially reduced with ovary removal, chances of developing other problems such as heart disease or hip fractures are significantly increased.

Marisa Stevens Oncology Nurse Liaison Coordinator concluded the presentation with an honest account of her work assisting patients to deal with the avalanche of emotions associated with the disease and the myriad of appointments to be coordinated.

Hosted by Ms Janet Latchford, Deputy President Epworth HealthCare Board of Management, the event attracted 300 people including event sponsor Advantage Salary Packaging and table sponsors Cook Medical, Device Technologies, Health Super, Hesta, Holding Redlich, Honeywell, Monahan & Rowell, NAB, Siemens, Silver Thomas Hanley, Slade Pharmacy and Stryker.

Fundraising activities included a raffle with several fabulous prizes on offer. Paul Broster from Siemens gained a laugh when he won four breast screens at Epworth Freemasons Breast Clinic!

Organiser of the event, Jayne Coates from the Epworth Medical Foundation said this year’s event raised $40,000 for women’s health at Epworth HealthCare.

Friends of Epworth Race Day

The Friends of Epworth Race Day was held at the Moonee Valley Racing Club on Saturday April 2, Golden Slipper Day. 300 sponsors, staff and friends enjoyed a three-course lunch in the Champions Room hosted by President of the Committee Jenny Henderson and Group Chief Executive Alan Kinkade.

MC and Guest Tipster, Rob Gaylard led the proceedings which included a Punters Club, Fashions on the Field Competition and six sponsored races during the day.

Four of the named races were sponsored by hospital partners and two by Epworth HealthCare. During his presentation, Alan explained that Epworth sponsored the first race to pay tribute to the Friends of Epworth Committee and the second to show his appreciation of the doctors and staff at Epworth who continue to provide excellent care and service to our patients.

The event raised $27,000 for the Epworth HealthCare group thanks to Race Sponsors Baulderstone, Device Technologies, Schneider Electric and Slade Pharmacy and Table Sponsors Abbott Vascular, Excelior, Honeywell, Health Super, ISIS, Lifehealthcare, Mayo Healthcare, Melbourne Pathology, Medicraft Hill-Rom, Nursing Australia, Riskman, Silver Thomas Hanley and Vital Healthcare.

Next year’s event will again be held on Golden Slipper Day, Saturday 31 March 2012 at Moonee Valley Racing Club.

First time ABI Cup victory for Epworth HealthCare

Established as a fundraiser for Epworth’s Acquired Brain Injury (ABI) unit, this year’s ABI Cup was played as a curtain-raiser to the A-League game between Melbourne Victory and Central
Coast Mariners at Melbourne’s new world class AAMI Park stadium on Thursday November 18.

After a four year drought the Epworth HealthCare team snatched up the ABI Cup with a 3–0 victory over Victoria Police. The Epworth team’s spirit was most evident throughout the whole game.

This, combined with their honed skills from months of practice meant Victoria Police didn’t stand a chance in holding on to the Cup.

A fundraising breakfast was held the day before the game which featured a panel of speakers including A-League Coaches and Captains discussing the important match ahead and their support for the Epworth ABI Unit.

Road trauma victim and soccer fanatic Josh De Silva shared his personal experience about having to put his international soccer career on hold because of his own head injury.

20 year old Josh is representative of a large proportion of young males involved with road trauma incidents. In fact 70 per cent of the state’s road trauma victims are male and an even greater proportion
are under 25 years of age.

The aim of the breakfast and the ABI Cup is to increase awareness of the risk of life and injury on our roads as well as raise critical funds for the rehabilitation service provided by Epworth’s
ABI Unit.

Epworth’s ABI Unit is one of the largest in Victoria and is an integral part of Epworth HealthCare’s Rehabilitation Division providing intensive medical, nursing and allied health care for patients with Acquired Brain Injury (ABI) – injuries often sustained as a result of road trauma.

Picture: Epworth Group Chief Executive Alan Kinkade with Epworth team captain David White