THOGA Newsletter TALBOT HEA TH OL D GIRL S A SSOCIATION
Autumn 2012
An Al truis tic Donation Service to the community takes many forms. Why Joanna has donated one of her kidneys. Her own good health meant that Joanna Kozubska had no hesitation in deciding to sacrifice one of her kidneys to give better health to someone else. Most of us would consider a kidney donation to save a member of our families, but Joanna’s gift was to an unknown recipient. She says, “For me, it was simply to give somebody else the chance of a better life”. Her dearest wish is that other people will consider doing what she has done. It is not a process undertaken lightly, however. The application process took more than six months, including with psychological assessments, extensive medical tests and scans. After the operation at the Queen Alexandra Hospital in Portsmouth, there was a period of six weeks’ convalescence. Thousands of people carry donor cards, but they are for use after the donor’s death. The success rate for transplants from a living donor, like Joanna, is higher than those from a cadaver. At any given time, about 6,500 people in this country are waiting for the gift of a donated kidney and the transplant rate is only 2,500 per year with 300 patients a year dying from kidney failure. To find out more, go to www.giveakidney.org
Entertainment We propose to invite Old Girls/former pupils to join us in producing a show in the style of the “End of Term Entertainments” (to include musical items, vocal and/or instrumental and short “Talking Heads”-style performances). If you have talent in any aspect of theatrical or musical production, do contact Celia Wood. We plan to put on this “Show” after tea on 21st September following the AGM Business Meeting. This could be great fun, so don’t hide your light under a bushel!
Reminder Please let us know if you change your name and/ or address, particularly your email address (these can go out of date so easily) otherwise we can “lose” you.
Pictured at the Jubilee Celebration at TH in June 2012, left to right: Joanna Kozubska, Sue De Giralamo (née Smith,) Mary Simpson (née Smith), Gaynor McCarthy (née Cheese), Hazel Hebditch (née Laugharne), Judy Kelley (née Todd). They are all representatives of Group H2.
Congratulations to Emily Woodward, Group secretary for 2012, who is going to trek the Great Wall of China to raise funds for the Make a Wish charity!
Badges As most of you know, we do provide badges for you to wear at reunions, if we possibly can. We have had a request for improvements, so that the badge shows your current name (and former name, if applicable) the years you attended TH and your Group. This is a lot of detail to put in a typeface big enough for anyone to read without getting up close or requiring an A5 size badge! Providing we have enough notice, we will do our best next year – or you might like to make your own, which would be nice, particularly if you are of an artistic bent.
THOGA on the internet The new school website should be up and running in the New Year 2013, with links to the Minutes of the AGM Business Meeting and current Newsletters (www.talbotheath.org). A School Magazine is to be published in 2013. Any former pupil can submit articles and of particular interest would be items to inspire today’s young women embarking on their further education and careers. Celia Wood: cwood@talbotheath.org