21 Years ago Heather Marchioni a Martinborough School teacher and her husband Bryan set out for Brisbane to prepare for a life saving liver transplant.
With the co-ordination from the Martinborough Lions Club together with the Martinborough Community a major plan was put in place to fundraise to support Heather physically and financially to enable her to achieve her life saving operation.
She waited 9 months for a suitable donor for her transplant.
On 8th December 1994 her big moment came.
Now 20 years on Heather is coming from Australia to share her 20th Anniversary of her transplant with family, friends and the community who supported her .
Heather will be joining close friends from 11am on Sunday 7th for lunch at the Village Café. She is also hoping to meet up with some of the many Martinborough friends she has made both as a teacher and involvement in community activities. So, from 1pm at the Village Café it’s a very warm invitation to old friends and former pupils to come, enjoy a coffee and some pleasant reminiscenting.
Heather writes:
‘I was driving today, enjoying the glorious Jacaranda trees and the play of light on water as I reflected on the many chapters of my life. We live in a beautiful parkland on a golf course , complete with kangaroos and I feel very settled here , but that said, next week we are going home. To experience a week in Martinborough with family and friends will be a fitting finale to my twentieth anniversary year.
Bryce Courtney once wrote a special message to me, ” Life always depends upon the liver” and the Martinborough I know epitomises that sentiment.
From the unconditional nature of friendships across generations, the gumboots and willing hands work ethic, to the random acts of kindness and endless nurturing cups of tea, the town seems to wear a welcoming smile from the top of the hill.
My memories of that incredible fundraising campaign of 1994 reinforce these feelings, as I recall the energy, commitment and outpouring of love from the Lions and Lioness clubs, Martinborough School staff and children, family, friends and strangers
My recent rereading of news reports and messages of encouragement and hope, has illuminated that rather dark ,uncertain period of time for me. Thank you for the parts you each played in my “Gift of Life” journey.
These special twenty years have been a kaleidoscope of experiences; the most precious being the sheer joy of being” Nanny” to Dannielle and time to share the laughter and tears with my inspirational daughters, Jacqui and Suzie.
I have come to realise the only real courage necessary is in getting from one moment to the next. I am truly fortunate to have chosen the teaching profession as a career because those wonderful years in the classroom enriched and defined me as a person.
I taught at Pirinoa school in 1967 and from 1978 many years at St Teresa’s School and Martinborough School. The magic of working with children still lures me back each year and I cannot imagine a life without teaching’.
Each day of 2014 has been a celebration of life and there have been many serendipitous moments . Michael and I spent eight memorable weeks in Europe and those experiences will colour our lives forever. Although I have walked the streets of Dublin, Naples and Venice, my feet will be just as happy wandering along their namesakes in Martinborough .
Heather
