The year was 1969, and I was 13 years old. My father was an active Rotarian, and his Rotary group had organised a sports-day carnival at Narrabeen Reserve, inviting children from Royal Far West’s Manly residence to join and compete alongside Rotary families.
Among the group were First Nations children who faced challenges I hadn’t imagined at the time. I had learned about rickets – a childhood condition caused by vitamin D deficiency and a lack of essential nutrients – in school, but seeing children affected by it in real life was eye‑opening. In rural and remote towns during the era, food available was often limited to staples like flour, sugar, tea, and tinned meat. Fresh fruit, vegetables, and dairy were scarce or prohibitively expensive, meaning children could be well fed yet still malnourished. This lack of nutritional variety, combined with barriers to healthcare and isolation, made rickets unfortunately more common in country communities. What struck me most, however, was the children’s energy and joy. Despite the obstacles they faced, they were full of life, and it was clear how much care and support they received from the Royal Far West team.
I won my race that day, and I remember my father encouraging me to share my prize – a pink hairbrush – with the First Nations child who had raced alongside me. That moment stayed with me. It taught me something about empathy and fairness that has shaped my values ever since.
Looking back, that day marked a turning point for me. That experience, more than five decades ago, influenced my decision to pursue a nursing career, and I dedicated over forty years to supporting health and wellbeing.
Children are our future. Together, we can create a world where every child has the opportunity to thrive.
Pictured: Kaylene from Ivanhoe, photographed in 1970 by David Fullagar of the Manly Daily. Kaylene had Perthes disease and wore calipers, but still enjoyed a joyful outing to Dee Why, organised by Kentucky Fried Chicken. This image, which won second prize in a local photography competition, captures the spirit of resilience and care that defined Royal Far West’s work during that era.