We have just completed a very busy and enjoyable 3-week KDT Kimberley trip and are now preparing for a return to the region on the 12th August for two weeks. The first of these two weeks will include the original August 2009 team returning to Halls Creek – there will be some celebrating happening.

 
Plans are also underway for our 10 year celebratory Sundowner to held at for all KDT volunteers and supporters at the Royal Perth Yacht Club on Friday evening 18th October. More details to follow. If anyone would like to be involved in the planning we have a meeting on Monday evening 29th July. Email Jan for details. Help, suggestions and input will be very gratefully received.
 
May 2019 Teams: 
Week 1. As with last year the team came in through Broome on Saturday and enjoyed a sunset picnic on Cable Beach followed by M & J Pizzas. Sunday morning we set off to Halls Creek with our three KDT vehicles and accommodation van. The teams had an extremely busy week at the hospital dental clinic and a smaller team went to Ringer Soak Community on Tuesday and the whole team to Yiyili Community on Thursday. Children in both these community schools were screened and where permissions could be obtained treatment carried out. Many adults also sought treatment and were very grateful for the opportunity to have their pain relieved. We enjoyed some fun filled evenings and delicious meals together concluding with a memorable campfire, popcorn cremation and vegan and pork sausage sizzle at Caroline Pool on Friday evening.
Dr Jilen Patel, Dr Anubhav Verma, DA Sandra Elliot, DA Natalie Lopez, Sue Worsley, final year dental student Lance Giudice, Jan and John.
 
Week 2. On Saturday morning the team drove back to Broome leaving John, Jan and Sandy to take a rest and prepare for the incoming team who arrived Sunday afternoon after a seven hour drive. Following an overnight stay in Halls Creek we headed south on the Tanami Road arriving in Billiluna in time to screen all of the children at Kururrungku before school finished. On Tuesday a dental clinic was set up at the Billiluna medical clinic and we were able to treat children identified as being in need and many adults before packing up and driving further 108 km south to Balgo late that afternoon. On Wednesday a team set up and had a very busy session at the Balgo clinic and the other team examined children at Luurnpa school and set up a clinic in the afternoon to treat those in need. Thursday one team returned to the Balgo clinic and the other travelled across to Mulan on the edge of Lake Gregory to screen the school children at John Pujajangka-Piyirn school and then run a busy session at the clinic before driving back to Balgo. On Friday we packed up and drove the 280 km back to Halls Creek stopping to say goodbye to Ann and Ian who were turning south to head home to Deniliquin NSW via Alice Springs. We arrived back in Halls Creek in time for a late lunch in the park and to unpack and enjoy dinner at the Kimberley Hotel. No flat tyres, fires or other vehicular dramas this trip.
Dr Ian McAtamney, Dr Brian Hurwitz, Dr Tim Clair, DA Ruth Warden, Dr Ann McAtamney, DA Sandra Elliot, Tracy Sandercock, Jan and John.
 
Week 3. Our final May KDT week was spent visiting Warmun Community where we spent Monday and Tuesday. The children at Ngalangangpum school were screened and those in need treated along with many community members. Most of the team drove back to Halls Creek on Tuesday afternoon and we worked at the Halls Creek Hospital clinic for the rest of the week. On Wednesday a small team visited Frog Hollow, Purnululu school to screen and then treat children identified as needing care and adult community members in need. After a morning clinic with all hands on deck the team left Halls Creek at 1pm on Friday and travelled to Fitzroy Crossing for an overnight stay before heading back to Broome on Saturday. We arrived in time to unpack and enjoy dinner together at the Mangrove and then the Sunday markets before flying home Sunday afternoon.
Dr Moses Lee, Dr Natalie Leow, DA Ruth Warden, DA Josie Haplin, Alex Easton, final year dental student Zjana Allen, Jan and John. 
 
Statistics exceeded expectations of the numbers of people treated in May 2019. The teams provided examinations, oral health education and dental services for 477 people. Additionally these services included 215 extractions, 173 restorations, 86 scale and cleans, 41 topical fluoride treatments and 589 fissure seals. In all, this represents $157,119.20 worth of free to the community dental care, assistance and advice. This exceeds the May 2018 trip total by $29,119.
 
Congratulations to Dr JIlen Patel for recently being awarded the Masonic Care WA/Freemasons WA Community Service Award and then going on to win 7 News WA Young Achiever of the Year 2019. Jilen was a final year dental student with KDT in 2011, Became an inaugural KDT Limited board member in 2012, acts as our senior dental advisor and sits on the KDT Steering and Statistics Committees. JIlen has volunteered some 21 weeks in the Kimberley and with KDT Southern.
 
Thank you as always to our incredible corporate sponsors, Maven Dental Group, Denticare, Interntional College of Dentists, CBA Employees Community Grants, the Office of the Chief Dental Officer, the Mc Cusker Charitable Foundation, the Academy of Dentistry International, the Rotary Clubs of Perth, Perth City East and Heirrison for their ongoing support, the young Rotaracts for packing our toothbrushes into classroom ready packs. Maven Group participating volunteers were Dr Anubhav Verma and Ms Natalie Lopez in week 1. Dr Viyaja Wagh and Ms Jessica Maidment will be joining us during the August trip.
 
Thank you to the Australian Dental Association (WA Branch), for their ongoing support of KDT in general and especially for awarding two final year dental students, Lance Giudice and Zjana Allen, with very significant financial support with Remote Area Student Scholarships to assist with their remote placement. The John Prichard Memorial prize was awarded to final year dental student Ashlee Bence. Ashlee and Georgia Charleson also led fundraising for KDT by dental students in the Rottnest Swim. The second recipient of the Richard Lockwood Foundation Award for Community Dental Volunteering was awarded to final year student Marcus Leong. We greatly value the support of the Richard Lockwood Foundation which hopefully we can expand to include a specialist paediatric registrar in 2020.
 
KDT teams continue to engage with remote communities, providing invaluable dental services in a friendly and happy team environment. Volunteers express the pleasure they feel in seeing the difference made by the education program and being able to relieve chronic pain for people who have been suffering. We cover thousands of kilometers in a region twice the size of Victoria and three times the size of the United Kingdom.
 
As always a very big thank you to our fabulous volunteers, sponsors and supporters without whom these results could not be achieved over the last ten years.
 
The KDT Board is very happy to report that the Team is working hard to complete the requirements for our 2018/9 Grant through the Office of the Chief Dental Officer. Which finished on 31st March 2019. We continue to seek further funding through National Partnership Agreement Grants.  
 
Follow our 2019 travels and adventures on the Craig the Croc Facebook page and see our team photos on the KDT website.    
 
Jan and John Owen AM
Kimberley Dental Team
www.kimberleydentalteam.com