Why Cambodia?
Carl and Cambodian boy with facial tumour

Children's Surgical Centre (CSC)
Phnom Penh, Cambodia - 2006

"This boy has a large facial tumour that was expanding quite rapidly and had begun to affect his breathing. A tracheostomy was performed and a plastic airway was inserted into the trachea (windpipe).
A few days later when this photo was taken, the boy was able to breathe much easier and I managed to use some of my physiotherapy skills to teach him how to look after the airway and to cough/clear effectively.
In case you are wondering the airway was to allow time for a specialist surgeon (with experience in removing tumours in this highly problematic region) who would be visiting the CSC in the near future."
(the above photo and description are from Carl's weblog)


During our reflections, we also decided upon a fitting legacy for Carl – a scholarship for undergraduate medical students to undertake an elective placement at a medical facility in Cambodia.

The key factors that contributed to the decision to focus on Cambodia were:

• Carl had undertaken just such an elective in 2006. This had an enduring impact on him. The scholarship would enable other young doctors to experience the same opportunity.

• The Dean of Medicine, Professor Bruce Robinson had a keen interest in assisting the Cambodian people. In 2006, he had heard Carl’s talk about his Cambodian placement.

• In 2008, Professor Robinson was in the process of creating academic links and opportunities for students in both Australia and Cambodia. Through the Dean’s Scholarships, students were assisted with elective placements and he was encouraging others to assist. When we met with Dr Robinson to discuss the creation of Carl’s Scholarship as part of the Medical Department, Cambodia as the beneficiary was suggested.

• In the 1980s, Cathy worked, at Bankstown TAFE, on the Cambodian Refugee Program. The Program interpreter was the wife of the illustrator of the ‘Killing Fields’. Both these young people were the sole surviving members of their families. Their plight and the injustices that had been inflicted on their people created an empathy that had not dulled with time.

• We hope that Carl’s scholarship will provide a small but meaningful contribution to the most needy in Cambodia, and will also provide valuable experience to Australian medical students.