MAGGIE NOLAN, OAM
By Akita Olsen
A caring charity worker from the
south west region, Maggie is a trained nurse who
has spent a few months each year in India working
and helping various communities through New Hope
Leprosy Trust over the last 12 years.
Travelling to India with a friend
to see the country's sights, Maggie had thought
it was a once off trip to India. Known as "Maggie
Sister" to her Indian friends, she has
since returned each year and dedicated her own
time to help communities in India at her own
cost, carrying out valuable work for New Hope.
Some of New Hope's programmes aim to address
such difficulties as leprosy, immunization,
surgery for leprosy and polio affected people,
feeding people and caring for AIDS victims.
Maggie lives in Peppermint Grove Beach, Capel,
which is a blessing compared to the living
conditions Maggie endures during her times
in India. Maggie has been based in the south
west for many years and loves the fact that
it is a close and caring community. Previous
monies raised from the south west have helped
New Hope fund
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| various projects in India, which
Maggie is greatful for. Except for postage,
all monies raised go directly to New Hope India
to assist with these projects. |
I have heard on many occasions people
saying "the more you give, the more you get",
and Maggie agrees with this principle. She has felt
a lot of love from the Indian communities and is
encouraged and inspired by them, and the results
achieved from New Hope's projects lift her spirits.
In 1995 Maggie had a cancerous lung removed yet
this hasn't dampened her enthusiasm to continue
work for the sick and poor of India. The cancerous
lung was removed shortly after a routine TB chest
x-ray that Maggie had asked for, as she travels
to India frequently.
In June 2000 Maggie Nolan received
the Order of Australia Medal, in recognition of
her tireless charity work. Maggie dedicated her
award to everyone in Australia and India who has
helped alleviate some of the suffering of the people
she has encountered during her work with New Hope.
New Hope has published a novel called
"The Ring of Capital L", written by director
Eliazar T Rose, which is prefaced by Maggie's life
story in India. This book portrays the life story
of an Indian woman who contracts leprosy & is
ostracised by her family. The book sells for $10
all of which goes towards giving young women leprosy
patients a vocation in a bid to stop the cycle of
begging.
It amazed me how much Australian money
can make a difference in a country like India. For
example:
20 cents will buy a slate for a village
child's education
$2 will buy a new blanket for a child
$5 will immunize a child for life
$50 will pay the wages of a field worker for a whole
month
Maggie will be returning back to India
during October, with new skills in caring for AIDS
children, to educate other staff involved in the
care for these children.
Donations can be posted to New Hope,
PO Box 47, Capel, WA 6271. For further details on
New Hope's projects and how to donate please click
here to download an information sheet or visit
their web site at: www.newhopeaustralia.org.
Maggie can be emailed at: almag@starwon.com.au
October 2001
