1 November 1999
It is my pleasure to present to you the annual report of the Medical
Benevolent Association for the year ending 30 June 1999.
THE CHALLENGE.
At the end of 1998, 287 doctors and their dependents were receiving
financial benefits and social work support from the Association. Of these 287 individuals,
166 were adults, 26 were tertiary students, 43 secondary students, 39 primary students and
13 were preschool age. The presenting causes for the doctors coming for help maintained
the trend of recent years, with a worrying number suffering from psychiatric disturbance.
THE MEANS AVAILABLE TO HELP.
We sent our annual and Christmas appeals to 22,000 doctors in NSW and
the ACT. Approximately 1 in 10 of these made a donation to the MBA last financial year.
There was an 11% drop in the number of individual donors compared to the previous
financial year. Fortunately, this reduced number gave more money per donation so that
there was actually an increase of 11% in dollars donated. We are insecure about our
shrinking donor base but deeply appreciative of the great generosity of those who do
support us. The Hon. Treasurer’s report gives details of income and expenditure.
Many groups and associations continued their regular and long-standing
support. Their donations are listed in the letter which accompanies our annual appeal each
June. The Association is appreciative not only of these monetary gifts but also of the
continuing high level of interest in our work from individuals and organisations which
provides moral support for our efforts.
The Association is grateful for the donations-in-kind received from the
NSW Branch of the AMA. The Branch's provision of meeting room and office facilities is
essential to our functioning. We also receive funds from the Branch’s promotion of an
optional donation to us via their annual membership renewal.
The Association receives income from an investment portfolio which is
under the care of Westpac Investment Management. Skilful investing by our manager saw a
healthy return from our portfolio, despite volatile market conditions and an appropriately
conservative policy.
RESULTS ACHIEVED.
Gifts to beneficiaries totalled $232,964. Many beneficiaries do not have
financial problems but do have need of skilled social work and counselling. The
Association provided 997 hours of social work to doctors and their families. This cost
$62,376 over the year. Thus the total funds expended on behalf of beneficiaries was
$295,340, that is $5,679 for every week of the year.
Two trusts were administered for specified beneficiaries.
Our social worker attended a number of conferences and addressed several
of them. She also continued her membership of the Doctors' Mental Health Implementation
Committee and its Working Party.
Social Work services were made available to members of the Australian
Dental Association and the Australian Veterinarians' Association. This was an initiative
of the DHAS (NSW) who also give help to members of these bodies. We make no monetary gifts
to them and minimal demands are made on our social worker's time. This action is in
response to their request, and we believe it reflects well on the medical profession
at
no extra expense to the MBA. Most importantly, it supports our status as an
organisation authorised to raise funds.
Council has always been alert for new ways to bring the
Association’s presence to the attention of members of the profession. Accordingly, a
Medical Benevolent Association of NSW Web site was set up on the Internet this year. This
was an initiative of the Doctors’ Mental Health Implementation Committee. The
Committee wanted to set up a Web site to assist doctors and approached the MBA for
funding. Our Councillor, Dr Gary Galambos,
devoted much time to setting up linked sites for the MBA, the DHAS (NSW) and the
Doctors’Mental Health Implementation Committee. The result is a very professional
production which we are sure will be of great benefit to doctors. The MBA is very pleased
to have contributed $1,770 to setting up this project and has undertaken to contribute
running costs of $708 per annum. We feel this is a totally appropriate way to spend some
of the funds entrusted to us.
Our Honorary Treasurer, Dr Bob Wines, spent much time in researching and
composing a brochure to be sent to doctors, asking them to consider the Association's
needs when they make their wills.
This year's Christmas Appeal will be accompanied by an invitation for
doctors to offer them- selves as MBA councillors. We particularly need younger doctors who
are familiar with the strains of the early years of training and practice, as well as the
expenses of a growing family.
SPECIAL EFFORTS RECOGNISED.
Mary Doughty has completed 35 years as the Association’s social
worker. She is also our executive secretary. Her energy and professional dedication have
been major factors in the development of the Medical Benevolent Association of NSW as the
most productive of all Australian medical benevolent institutions. The MBA of NSW is the
envy of the other states. The Queensland Branch of the AMA is hosting a National
Doctors’ Health Conference next November. Mrs Doughty and I have been invited to
attend and address the conference on "What works and why".
The MBA is in its one hundred and third year. Dr David Pope has served
our profession as a Councillor of the MBA for almost one quarter of that time. He was
elected to Council in 1976. David has chosen not to stand for Council this year.
Fortunately for us, he has agreed to accept appointment as an Honorary Life Member. I will
leave it to the proposer and seconder of his Life Membership to pay appropriate tribute to
David's contribution to the Association. David’s service to his patients, his
profession, his community and his country mark him as one who can truly be known as
"a man for others".
Others must be thanked for their continuing contributions to the success
of our efforts. I have already mentioned the financial and moral support given by the NSW
Branch of the AMA. The Medical Board of New South Wales has made another generous donation
this year and refers doctors for our help. The help we accept from the AMA and the
Board in no way compromises our independence and confidentiality. We continue to look to
the DHAS (NSW) as a source of referrals from amongst those to whom they give such
invaluable help. Our accountants and auditors will be mentioned by name in the
Treasurer’s report. Most importantly, I must thank the members of the
Association’s Executive and Council. They offer their wisdom and experience to the
MBA's deliberations. They give willingly of time, often with personal financial sacrifice.
They carry responsibility for the correct corporate governance of a substantial
organisation which is closely monitored by governmental authorities. Despite these
demands, they bring to each monthly meeting a spirit of fellowship and camaraderie which
makes our shared service in a good cause such a pleasure. This is the only reward the
Association offers and I know every one of us feels well compensated.
Richard Herlihy
President
1 November 1999
I have pleasure in presenting the audited financial statements for the financial year
ended 30th June, 1999.
The Association recorded an operating surplus for the year of $66,275 - down frorn
$141,858 in the previous year.
On the Income side, individual appeal donations this year increased to $146,621 from
$106, 951 in the previous year. This is the result of an additional appeal at Christmas.
Group donations again decreased. We need to continue to be resourceful to attract our
share of the ever widening demands on the profession's generosity. This year all medical
practitioners in NSW and the ACT received, with the appeal letter, a brochure on making a
bequest to the Association.
Beneficiaries received $232,964 during the year ($295,340 if the Social Worker’s
salary and expenses are included). This is in keeping with expenditure in recent years,
despite there being an increased number of recipients. Our operating expenses of $145,486,
including the Social Worker’s salary, were higher because of the increased appeal
costs; however, the appeal responses more than compensated for this.
Our Investment Portfolio with Westpac Investment Management Ltd over the year realised
5.97% income return and 0.69% growth, a total return of 6.6%. Careful portfolio management
allowed our investments to contribute $148,797 to our total outgoings of $378,450.
Our thanks are due to Gary Scarr of Westpac Investment Management Ltd, to Dennis
Mattiske of HBL Mann Judd and to Mark Kelly of Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu for their
professional assistance, availability for advice and their generosity when claiming a fee.
Mary Doughty’s untiring work for the Medical Benevolent Association continues. I
would like to thank her once again for the assistance she has been to me during the year.
RD Wines
Hon Treasurer
1 November 1999
The past year has again been a busy and rewarding one. In September 1999 I attended the
Annual General Meeting of the Epilepsy Association of NSW - the guest speaker was a young
neurologist from The Sydney Children’s Hospital. In talking with him, he said he had
never donated to the Medical Benevolent Association in the past because he thought no
doctor should be in need; however, the recent death of a colleague from meningitis brought
home the vulnerability of anyone to sudden death. This young man was an overseas
postgraduate student, only halfway through his specially training; he has left a wife and
two preschool children, in straitened circumstances and in need of counselling support.
The Chief Resident Medical Officer at The Sydney Children’s Hospital has made
several confidential referrals to the Medical Benevolent Association in the past but this
is one known to the entire medical staff and it will change their attitude to and
knowledge of the Association.
There has been a slight decrease in the number of doctors referred - only one doctor
and two dentists from the DHAS. I hope this reflects a greater acceptance within the
medical community of its susceptibility to illness, both physical and psychological, and a
willingness to accept help. That they are, in fact, no different to the rest of the
community.
The NSW Medical Board's Impairment Programme continues to encourage doctors to
acknowledge their problems and we certainly have numerous referrals from this source. I
have recently conferred with Anne Scahill, Deputy Registrar, and Rebecca Macken about the
work of the Association and the need for early referral of both the doctor and his/her
family. Anne and Andrew Dix, the Registrar, are with us today.
In September I spoke at the Australian Society of Anaesthetists’ Provisional
Fellows’ Day - a workshop entitled "Going into Practice" - and attended by
anaesthetists and their partners. The workshop was well organised, with sound, practical
advice. My topic was ‘Financial Traps’ and covered the problems presented to the
Medical Benevolent Association, especially over-commitment in the financial area which
leads to bankruptcy. I explained the way the Association could help with the necessities
of life in these situations and why medical colleagues should support its work. I took
part in the full day’s proceedings and was able to pick up on points made by other
speakers.
Last November I went to Melbourne to attend the National Respite Conference and the
National Epilepsy Association's Conference for Carers, speaking at the latter. Apart from
increasing my own knowledge, it was an opportunity to talk with colleagues, parents and
patients, over a wide range of health and care matters.
The Mental Health and Well being of Doctors Implementation Committee has continued its
work. The Policy Document and the Strategies for Area Health Services were launched on
22/10/99 at Parliament House. The strategies for Schools and Colleges will be launched at
the National Conference on Doctors' Health in Brisbane in November, together with a
draft strategy for Rural GPs.
The National DHAS meeting will be held at the same time.
In Melbourne in August I met with Dr George Santoro who has been President of the
Victorian Medical Benevolent Association for 22 years. We had a positive discussion about
the differences in the way the two associations work and the desirability of using the
social worker for initial and follow-up contact. Dr George Tippett, who is here today,
spent yesterday with Richard Herlihy and David Pope talking about the role of the social
worker and the general guidelines for administration.
Recently the Medical Benevolent Association of South Australia, which is being
administered by the South Australian Branch of the AMA, requested information about the
way NSW works and its relationship with other medical bodies.
I hope there will be an opportunity in Brisbane to encourage again the Medical
Benevolent Association of Queensland to use a social worker. I know from telephone
discussion with people who shall remain nameless that this would be welcomed by the
medical community there.
I continue to attend Continuing Professional Education seminars/workshops arranged by
the Australian Association of Social Workers and so remain an Accredited Social Worker.
I would like to thank John Moon and his wife, June, for representing the Order of
Australia at this meeting. He and David Pope share a World War 2 background.
Lastly, my sincere thanks to David for being a wonderful work colleague - I have never
thought of him as my boss. He and Margaret have become part of my extended family - and I
was privileged to attend his 80th birthday celebrations. There is always a warm welcome
and, when needed, words of wisdom.
Mary Doughty AM
Social Worker/Executive Secretary
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Copyright
© 1998-2004.
Medical Benevolent Association of New South Wales. All rights reserved.
Citation suggestion:
Medical Benevolent Association of NSW, Annual Report 1997-9 (http://www.dmh.org.au/mba/report_1999.htm)
[date accessed]
Last revised: 03 May 2004 05:28
