Life
Membership awarded to Eve Waldman in December 2007
Congratulations
to Eve Waldman, who is the first society member to receive honourary
life membership of Diabetes NZ Rotorua.
The
award was presented by the President of Diabetes New Zealand
Mike Smith. Eve received the life membership in recognition
of the dedicated and tireless way that she has worked for those
suffering from diabetes in the Rotorua region.
Rotorua
Diabetes was very lucky to have been blessed with Eve's dedication
over the years as the efforts as she initially resisted joining
the local diabetes society because she thought it might be depressing
'sitting around talking about diabetes all the time'. However,
when an Australian speaker came to Rotorua she turned up for
her first ever meeting and hasn't missed one since!
Nineteen
years later she still serves as a committee member and a representative
on the Lake's local diabetes team. She has also been over that
time both President and Secretary. Eve is also one of the driving
forces behind the Rotorua Diabetes Youth committee that fundraises
to enable eight- to twelve-year-old children with diabetes to
attend diabetic camp's both locally and Long Bay in Auckland.
She has spearheaded the raising of funds from various clubs
and organisations, to set up an ongoing trust fund so that Diabetes
Rotorua doesn't have to worry where the money is 12. coming
from each year. She has been passionate about the committee's
role in supporting these children and their families. Extra
funding has also allowed both local diabetic educators and dieticians
to attend as support personnel at these camps.
Eve
was diagnosed with diabetes 26years ago and knew almost nothing
about the condition. The doctor's diagnosis of Type 1 diabetes
came as a relief as she finally knew what was making her feel
so tired, drink so much water and lose so much weight she was
'fading away'. When Eve was first diagnosed she had to use "proper
syringes" for the insulin injections. She remembers when she
was first learning to inject insulin, her 18-year-old daughter
Donna volunteered to go along for moral support and to learn
how to give the injections in case Eve didn't feel up to it.
Despite having lived with diabetes for over two decades she
has kept fit and well. Keeping physically active is also an
important part of Eve's life. An avid croquet player, she competes
throughout the Bay of Plenty and is the President of the local
club as well as being a croquet umpire. Although Eve and her
husband Phil have been retired for the past 17 years she's busier
than ever. 'At least retirement means you have the choice as
to what you are busy with.' Eve acknowledges that she would
not have been able to achieve what she has, without the love
and support she has received every step along the way from husband
Phil, children Perry, Sandra and Donna and seven grandchildren.
[Reproduced
from Society Newsletter, Feb 2008]
