Making a Difference

Second Vision Centre in PNG under Development , June 2009

Leunig & Farmer Eyecare cofounding partner and optometrist John Farmer this month returned from his most recent trip to Papua New Guinea.  The primary objective of Mr Farmer’s visit was to provide further training and support to the Vision Centre he established in the Port Moresby General Hospital last year.

The Vision Centre, which enables the community to access low cost eye examinations and glasses where it is otherwise unavailable, has become increasingly busy since its opening in October last year. 

“It is fantastically rewarding to see the Vision Centre delivering affordable eyecare to the people of PNG.  Even with the addition of new staff which have been recruited and trained to help absorb some of the increasing demands of the Vision Centre, there is a large volume of patients coming through for them to assist,” Mr Farmer said.          

The success of the Vision Centre in Port Moresby has lead to plans for the opening of a second Vision Centre in PNG at Mt Hagen.  The third largest city in PNG, Mt Hagen is the capital of the Western Highlands Province, approximately 500 km northwest of Port Moresby.

“Staff has already been appointed for this new Vision Centre, initial training has commenced and some stock has been delivered.  There are many critical things we learnt through the set up of the Port Moresby Vision Centre which will greatly assist this second centre,” said Mr Farmer. 

Mr Farmer says he is deeply satisfied by seeing affordable eyecare in PNG become increasingly available.  His involvement is fuelled by his desire to help others.  “I have been given the opportunity to make a real significant difference and I am delighted to be doing just that.”     

Leunig & Farmer Eyecare has a long history of involvement in optometric training and development abroad.  In recent years, PNG has been the focus of their support through Mr Farmer’s work.  

The Vision Centres are sponsored by the International Centre for Eyecare Education (ICEE), an Australian, not for profit organization that delivers eye care programs worldwide.

Mr Farmer expects to return to PNG later this year to continue his critical assistance with the development of the two Vision Centres.

If you would like to contribute to the Vision Centres, please make a donation through a Leunig & Farmer Eyecare practice in Drouin, Moe, Pakenham or Warragul.    

Optical Workshop in PNG Celebrates its Official Launch in October, 2008

Leunig & Farmer Eyecare cofounding partner and optometrist John Farmer has returned to Gippsland following the official opening of the optical workshop in Port Moresby he helped create.   

Attended by Professor Brien Holden OAM, International Centre for Eyecare Education (ICEE) Chair, Mr Chris Moraitis, Australian High Commissioner to Papua New Guinea,  and optical workshop staff, the launch was a celebration the partnership between ICEE, the staff of the Port Moresby Hospital Eye Clinic, the hospital management and staff and the PNG Health Department and their collective effort to bring the optical workshop to life.  

During the opening, Mr Farmer said he felt immensely proud.  “I felt so proud of the local people and what they have done with a little bit of help and support.  We all want our life to make a difference and I have the privilege of working with these people to make a real difference for good, in helping many people have a better life.” 

“The main thing going through my mind was, wow, we’ve really done it.  We have established a sustainable low cost vision centre in PNG that will enable many more people to access eye care and glasses and so be able to see.  It was a great feeling.” 

Mr Famer said the highlight of the trip was meeting the Australian High Commissioner to PNG, Mr Chris Moraitis and talking with him about eye care and the future needs in PNG.  “He is a fine man and cares about PNG and its development.  He was very supportive of what we are doing,” Mr Farmer explained.  

On his return, Mr Farmer says his patients are overwhelmingly positive and supportive of his work in PNG.  “They are very supportive of what we are doing and supportive of me for being involved.  The Leunig and Farmer involvement in PNG eye care has become important to them over time and they feel a connection through me to the wonderful impact it is having on people in PNG.”    

Mr Farmer said his focus is now to provide ongoing remote support from Gippsland to the staff he has trained.  “We have already increased our staff in Port Moresby to 4 people so it is growing rapidly and having an increasing impact.  They need continued support which I can offer via email and over the phone.” He will be returning to PNG again for short visits next year to continue training and encouragement of the local people. “We will be establishing at least three more similar centres in other major hospitals in PNG over the next six months so there is still more work to be done.”

If you would like to make a donation of funds to the workshop in PNG, please visit your local Leunig & Farmer Eyecare in Drouin, Moe, Pakenham or Warragul. 

Left to right with local dancers, Gerhard Schlenther, Research and Programs Manager, Asia - Pacific, ICEE, Professor Brien Holden OAM, ICEE Chair, and John Farmer, Leunig & Farmer Eyecare

Photo courtesy of ICEE

John Farmer Returns to PNG in August, 2008

Whilst maintaining his work as optometrist and co founding partner of Leunig & Farmer Eyecare, in August John Farmer returns to Port Moresby, PNG to continue the management of a challenging and rewarding project. 

Following Leunig & Farmer Eyecare’s long involvement in optometric training and development abroad, and borne of John’s desire to bring the people of PNG the same access to eyecare that Australia enjoys, the project involves establishing an optical workshop in Port Moresby.  “Many of the people in PNG do not have access to eyecare, and what care is available they simply cannot afford.  I am helping to change that,” explains John.  

This project is being sponsored by the International Centre for Eyecare Education (ICEE), an Australian, not for profit organization that delivers eye care programs worldwide.

Already, the newly renovated workshop can manufacture simple spherical lenses for glasses, and it is anticipated that following John’s visit early this month, the workshop will also be able to manufacture more complex bifocal and cylinder lenses to cater to a broader range of visual deficits. 

During his most recent visit, John’s focus in the workshop meant rolling up his sleeves and being hands on with setting up optical equipment and products, installing phone lines and broadband, establishing bank accounts, completing the physical set up of furniture and office supplies and meeting with the local ophthalmologists all whilst the workshop was already in operation.

Being physically present in the workshop during operation enabled John to spend time training the staff to deal with various optometric situations as they arose, such as prescriptions, refractive errors, associated symptoms and the optical correction of these problems.  “I believe in teaching what is needed”, says John, “to understand and be able to deal with the problems that commonly present, and doing so by building the skill and knowledge up layer by layer.”

John’s August trip will focus on the continuation of training, with an emphasis on the manufacture of complex lenses, and ordering custom made lenses from a laboratory as is done in Gippsland.  Appropriate office and accounting procedures for the workshop will also be set up. 

John says he is feeling “delighted” about the project, as it is something he has wanted to do for many years and is deeply satisfied by seeing it come together.  His involvement is fuelled by his keenness to help others.  “I have been blessed with the opportunity to make a real significant difference in a time and place where others were not doing anything to help.  I believe it is a part of what God created me to do.” 

“It is a logical extension to use my skills and knowledge to help others in developing countries as well as here in Gippsland.  My patients at Leunig & Farmer Eyecare are fantastic and continue to give me great satisfaction.  The support of these patients and those people within the business help make my continued involvement possible, and for that I am extremely grateful,” says John.

If you would like to make a donation to the workshop in PNG, please visit your local Leunig & Farmer Eyecare in Drouin, Moe, Pakenham or Warragul. 

Leunig & Farmer Eyecare Donates Hundreds of Glasses to PNG in 2008

Leunig & Farmer Eyecare is proud to donate hundreds of pairs of a wide range of new frames to the optical workshop in PNG. 

You too can support the optical workshop by making a donation at any Leunig & Farmer Eyecare optometry practice at Drouin, Moe, Pakenham or Warragul.