Kellion Medal Winners 2010

50 Years

Heather Matthews

I remember when I was nearly 14 I was quite unwell. I was constantly thirsty, frequently urinating and feeling sick. I spent quite a good deal of time in the ‘sick room’ at school. My mother also noted that I was losing weight and took me to the local GP. Shortly afterwards I was admitted to the QEH.

I found it extremely difficult when I came home to join in on activities with my friends, ie: playing netball, going to parties and socialising as I felt so different. Pregnancy required frequent visits to the doctor and many blood tests as well as concerns for not only me but the health of my unborn baby(s).

There have been many changes over the 50 years – new ways to check blood glucose, new insulin both short and long acting, blood pressure, cholesterol and other medications that have made it possible to exist without serious complications.

I have always been fairly active both physically and mentally and I feel that this has also helped me to remain reasonably healthy. I try to remain positive and am always able to think I could be much worse off.

Denis Molyneux

Many people have helped me on the way. I owe an enormous debt to my wife for her care in assisting me to cope with the dietary limitations and her encouragement to stay firm in a resolve to live sensibly yet fully.

In January 1976 I migrated to South Australia and within a few days through my new GP I had become aware of a support group assisting people with diabetes. It was the forerunner of DASA operating for a limited period each week from a small upstairs room in Gawler Place. Over the years, in my experience, Diabetes SA's services have grown immeasurably – through journals and newsletters, recipes, displays and sales points, food supplements, clothing and footwear, seminars and workshops on current and recently completed research, Health Educators and Podiatrists, orientation camps for children recently diagnosed with the disease, advice on shopping, travel, exercise regimes and the list of support services goes on.

Thank you Diabetes SA.

Joan Schulz

I became a diabetic when I was 15 and when I was 17 I decided not to have any more insulin. Dad had told me of a mixture that helped a friend so I took this for about a year and got into trouble of course and was told I must never do that again.

Later I had four children, 2 boys and 2 girls, 3 by caesarean and I naturally, but six weeks premature. I went to the Diabetes Clinic at the QEH and was called the naughty diabetic for many years.

Because of the diabetes I had a triple bypass 15 years ago.

60 Years

Desmond Loft

I had received the 50 year Kellion Victory Medal for diabetes survival in December 2000.

August 1950, aged 20 admitted to the Alfred Hospital, Melbourne in an unconscious state. Upon regaining consciousness the doctor stated: you are diabetic, will live on injections, on a strict diet, will go blind and be dead before 40.

Lexie, my first wife of 40 years and 2 children experienced a daily ordeal of what would the day reveal?

Verna, my present wife of 8 years, who has a lengthy period of nursing experience has almost a constant ordeal to check on my condition with 6 eating periods each day.

The constant demand of my condition has reached the stage where to allow my wife some relaxation, I have considered hostel accommodation.

Life is good.

75 Years

Mavis Walters

I was diagnosed with diabetes in June 1934 aged 5 years, at a time when very little was known about diabetes. Living on the Eyre Peninsula hundreds of miles away from any main town the doctor put me on a diet of cabbage and eggs until I could get to Pt Lincoln to work out how to treat my condition. When I was admitted to the Pt Lincoln Hospital I was given insulin. Mum and Dad were trained on how to test my urine with benedict and boiled it on a flame so as to tell the amount of sugar I had. We later moved to Adelaide and soon after so did Dr Bennett. In 1939 I contracted the measles and was in the Children's Hospital for six months. Later in life I married Tom and have been married for 58 years. During this time I had 2 healthy children and now have five healthy grandchildren.

Mavis has lived with diabetes for 75 years and this indeed is a remarkable feat and will certainly be an inspiration to others.