Heidi Hindmarsh

Hello, I am Heidi Hindmarsh, the Founder of Connect with Cambodia.

 I am a proud mum of 3 - Claudia 20, Chloe 16 and Edward 15. I am very fortunate that they are remarkably supportive of my work for CWC. I am also a Registered Nurse in Frankston Hospital Emergency Department on the Mornington Peninsula in Victoria. My eldest daughter Claudia has been with me on our last 2 trips- which has been wonderful for me.

My mum Hilary and her husband David live nearby as do my 3 brothers Jason, Michael and David with their wives and children. I am blessed with a supportive, loving and close family.

My passion and drive for Cambodia began over 10 years ago, when I first travelled there with my mum Hilary and brother David. Mum had been to Cambodia a couple of years previously, and had returned to Australia to raise money- to in turn buy a block of land and build an orphanage and a church. We went over to have a look at the Orphanage full of children.

My first day, we travelled to what was the city dump – an incredibly overwhelming experience - I knew in this moment that I had to do something. To say that I was overwhelmed is an understatement. This was not just a work place, but also homes for many. Parents would take it in turns working - one overnight, the other during the day. There were also children as young as five working, their work consisted of collecting recyclable items such as cardboard or plastic which they could sell. These people would make on average only 50 cents a day.

The children captured my heart. One boy, had been abandoned by his mother, and he and his baby sister lived with their grandmother who was very elderly. On the last day in this village, this young boy touched my heart, as he would not get out of my arms. He had his arms around my neck, and was repeating something in Cambodian. The translator who was with us, heard this, and approached us saying “Heidi, do you realise what he is saying to you?”, as I did not, the translator told me the little boy was saying “you are my blessing, you are my blessing”.

After returning home, I knew life would never be the same. I immediately switched from a Law Degree to do Registered Nursing, with the intention of returning to Cambodia to make a difference.

Little did I know, in Cairns when I asked my then boss Caroline, (who is now a lifelong CWC member) if I could collect the out of date dressings, did I know that CWC would grow into what it is today. I have also been fortunate in that some of my very close and wonderful friends have joined me on some trips, and continue to support CWC. Rebecca Fuller being one of those friends, has supported me through university, frequently reminding me of my goal to make a difference in Cambodia - especially when we were studying for exams!

While the trips are challenging and frequently confronting, would you believe that the hardest part is fundraising! Everyone in the team works so hard to fundraise, but it is a difficult aspect of running a charity. We appreciate all the continued support.

In the time we have been running these clinics, we have seen well over 12000 people, distributed more than 10000 pots of tiger balm and scabies soaps, given out more stickers than we could ever imagine to delightful children, and given out hugs to beautiful elderly hard working women. We have also seen men and women cry when they try on a pair of glasses which improve their sight.

None of what we do over there would be possible without the amazing friends I have in Cambodia, who assist with permissions, organising itineraries, working as our talented translators, and being amazing friends.

As our connections with Cambodia grow, so does my passion for Cambodia. My dreams and goals for what I hope to achieve with CWC are endless, thank you for the continued support.

Caroline Witter + Michael Witter

Hi everyone, I’m Caroline and I’m one of the original team members of CWC with my hubby Michael. We live up in beautiful Cairns with our son and also have two daughters who live in Brisbane. We emigrated to Cairns in 2004 (after falling in love with the weather and way of life here on a couple of holidays) and totally love our blessed life in the tropics. 

My background is paediatric (children’s) nursing and I’ve been a nurse for over twenty eight years as a registered sick children’s nurse and I have completed further study in the health and wellbeing of adolescents .  I have worked in a wide range of settings including looking after children with acute illnesses or needing surgery to caring for children in their own home who are dependent on technology to stay alive and I take pride in forming good relationships with the variety of children, young people and their families that I come into contact with at work. Michael is a shop manager in Cairns and his experience allows him to be a very practical voice of reason on our trips. He comes along as our chief pharmacist and inventory manager and keeps us all stocked up during our clinics.

I’ve been involved in all types of volunteering both in the UK and in Australia, but it wasn’t until I was exposed to Heidi’s experiences in Cambodia that I knew I wanted to contribute on a bigger scale and really use my experience as a nurse in a truly rewarding way.  From the very first visit to Cambodia we were hooked – the people, their smiles and their humble gratitude got right under our skin and straight away I knew we were doing something really worthwhile.  Providing necessary access to healthcare is a fantastic component of our time in Cambodia but to do nothing more than kick a ball around with the children or provide a touch or smile to someone and know they appreciate that someone cares about them never ceases to give me goose bumps.  There are many ups and downs on our trips and emotionally they take their toil too but showing compassion and kindness to some of the most beautiful people in the world who have seen many years of struggle politically, allows them to feel respected and worthwhile.  Endorsing to the locals that they are valued and making these connections whilst we are in Cambodia, is pivotal to our work and confirms in my mind that I am making a difference.

Rebecca Fuller

Rachael Norton

I'm a registered nurse in Cairns, and have been nursing for 7 years. I completed my Bachelor of Nursing and Midwifery Science at James Cook University in Cairns. I currently work a duel position in Paediatrics as a clinical nurses on the Children's Ward at Cairns Hospital and as a Clinical Nurse with Paediatric Hospital in the Home. I'm also involved with with Paediatric Oncology and Palliative care, which I'm extremely passionate about. At the start 2017 I commenced studying a Master of Paediatrics through The University of Sydney. 

Since I was a little girl I have always wanted to be a nurse like my Grandmother (my shining star, best friend and true north). My grandmother nursed and volunteered in third world countries like PNG, the Solomons and Vietnam, as well as running Primary Health Care Clinics in remote Indigenous communities with in Australia. She has been and will be forever my source of inspiration and strength.

In 2012, when I was invited by Heidi to participate/join Connect With Cambodia (then called Nursing Kids in Cambodia), I jumped at the chance to offer my time and service to the people of Cambodia. I have since been on every trip and wouldn't have it any other way. Cambodia now has a firm grip on my heart and soul. Part of me will always belong to Cambodia and its beautiful people. The friendship and bonds we have formed with our patients, village leaders, drivers, interpreters and other CWC members are everlasting and overarching, they are family. I feel like I have found my calling and true love and I am forever thankful. Xxxxxxx

Gabby Pulbrook

I am a registered nurse working on the Surgical Specialties/Orthopaedic ward at the Royal Hobart Hospital. On this ward, we care for patients from a wide array of specialties, including: burns; plastics; ear, nose and throat; oral maxillofacial; urology; ophthalmology; and orthopaedics. I have done further study, and have a graduate certificate in acute care nursing, and have also worked in Intensive Care.

I live and work in Hobart, and love Tasmania and its natural beauty, and my husband Danny and I love to explore our beautiful state as often as we can. I love my family, and my fur babies; Pablo and Ford, and would do anything for them.

Since the age of 15 years old I wanted to become a nurse, so that I could work for people and communities less fortunate than myself. I have always had a strong calling to help people in less developed countries, who are just so poor. I truly believe that people who are in the position to help others less off that themselves, have a responsibility to do so. All nurses have a basic desire to help people, and helping the Cambodian people has become my passion, from the very first clinic I was involved in back in 2013. 

Dianne Shkurka

Hi I’m Dianne and I qualified as a mental health nurse in the UK many years ago…….. working the majority of my nursing career with older people and specialised in caring for people living with dementia. I am passionate about  helping and caring for people in need and was fortunate to take a lead role in providing support for Kosovan refugee’s  in crisis when they arrived in the UK. 

I moved to Australia with my husband in 2007 and started volunteering and using my existing skills and knowledge to support refugees from different parts of the world here too. Helping families who were unable to speak English settle into a new environment, introducing them to buses , shops and watching the children explore the beach for the very first time are all rewarding aspects of the role.

I currently work as a GP Liaison Manager at Cairns Hospital improving communications between the hospital and primary care and I soon got to know  some of the nurses involved with CWC and learned about the wonderful work they  were doing.   I got bitten again by the volunteering bug and have been helping ever since.