Photos by Mary Lyn Fonua

At a formal ceremony at the Royal Palace in Nuku'alofa, this morning, four Australian members of an orthopaedic surgical team were invested with the Royal Order of the Crown by HM King Tupou VI, for their significant charitable work in Tonga.

King Tupou VI said although Tonga is a poor country it is big on gratitude. The medals are a mark of honour and gratitude to the surgical team that has provided ongoing service to Tonga over many years.

Invested as Members of The Royal Order of the Crown, were Dr Mark Ridhalgh, Consultant Orthopaedic Specialist Surgeon (NSW); Mr Geoffrey Rosenberg, Consultant Orthopaedic Specialist Surgeon (NSW); Dr Rod Green, Consultant Specialist Anaesthetist; and Mr Graham Hextell, Chief Operational Manager of Orthopaedic Outreach, Sydney.

Orthopaedic Outreach is an Australian charity that has established close working relationships with the Royal Australasian College of Surgeons, the Pacific Islands Surgeons Association, and the Pacific Islands Orthopaedic Association, working collaboratively to achieve common goals across the region. Australian orthopaedic surgeons, nurses and others give their time freely to work and train in these under-developed countries. Orthopaedic Outreach activities are funded entirely by donations, Rotary and the surgeons themselves.

The orthopaedic team have been visiting Tonga for 14 years since 2005. Sometimes they have been twice a year because of the amount of work to be done.

In a report of the Tonga visit Orthopaedic Outreach stated on its website that, “we continue to see constant improvement in the ability to treat orthopaedic conditions, both emergency and elective, in Tonga. This is primarily due to the enthusiasm and willingness of all the medical, nursing and allied health staff with whom we work.”

The surgeons noted that because patients were making earlier presentations of simple orthopaedic fractures and dislocations, this was improving outcomes for Tongans, as over the years the population was slowly gaining confidence in their own local health system, with patients also more aware of the the importance of follow-up assessments.

Attending the investiture ceremony this morning was an Australian support nurse Lee Mayo; the Minister of Health, Dr Saia Piukala; the CEO for the Ministry of Health, Dr Siale ‘Akau’ola; Lord Tangi; Dr Leiukamea Saafi and others.

The investiture is part of the celebrations for the 60th birthday of King Tupou VI.