Use what talents you possess.  The woods will be very silent if no birds sing except those who sing the best.

 Henry Van Dyke (The Sacred Gift)

I don't sing the best, but the woods are not silent around me!

May 13, 2006

In the upcoming weeks I will be standing on the steps of Flinders Street Station and elsewhere. collecting signatories for a Petition to the Legislative Assembly of Victoria - we want 20,000 of them.   The petition devised by Dying with Dignity Victoria, Promoting the Right to Choose,  reads

To the legislative Assembly of Victoria

The Petition of Residents of Victoria draws to the attention of the House that Victorians do not have the right to choose to die with dignity when suffering a terminal or incurable illness with profound suffering.   Independent research shows that the vast majority of Victorians believe this right should exist.

The petitioners therefore request that the Legislative Assembly of Victoria enact in a timely manner appropriate legislation to create and protect this right, including appropriate safeguards.

Exit International is not a party to this petition as it is seen by them, as too little, too late.   Their members are tired of waiting for legislative change.   Some months ago I was attending an Exit Meeting where Legislative Change was discussed.  I highlighted the need for both practical and legislative change. Reasoning while members of Exit were in many cases ambulant,  and able to help themselves to a degree, legislative change protected those in nursing homes, confined to beds and wheelchairs, and those afraid of offending their families by even discussing their inner most fears about their end of life choices.    Some wit in the audience asked me if I would stand for Parliament and assured me he would get me votes!......I responded to his serious question by saying I was a Single Issue Candidate, who should be a Democrat by nature, but chose Labor because it was a Party "that could make a difference."   Now, with the Liberal Platform so enticing for my interests, I could become a Liberal and divorced all in the one week.   It is all about the Choices we make in life and they always have consequences.    Within my own family discussion is a contentious issue (probably because I am so upfront about it) and I have known of quiet frail people who are terrified to mention the subject but nevertheless worry themselves about how they will end up.

My activities will include continuing to promote the concept of awareness of the needs of others in our society less able to promote their own views on choice and dignity in dying. Documentary, Website, Lobbying!.

Goals take you beyond the limits of your willpower.  Feel the fear and do it anyway!

I intend to make a silent statement by walking through the city streets, and shopping centres  wearing an appropriate T Shirt “www.ourchoiceindying.com" and or a windcheater with appropriate messages (see links page for details) and will sometimes  hand out cards promoting legislative change. 

On occasions,  I sometimes wear the cap that I wore for six months of chemotherapy. I am not making a fashion statement and realize that to most I may look odd. People may stare at me, and probably avoid me, because I am “different”. Most may want to ignore the indisputable fact that they too will die. They’ll hope to be hit by the proverbial bus and death will be quick. I don’t want to be conspicuous but there are not very many options for people wanting awareness to ensure a good death. There is no specific forum for people such as myself. Thank goodness for the Internet. 

T Shirts, promoting choice and dignity in dying Victoria, may be purchased from the DWDV.  Exit also have a lovely coloured Purple T Shirt which promotes their cause.   White, Purple or varied personal tops, whatever creates awareness in the public eye should be encouraged.  I don't necessarily wear mine for "special occasions" because my message is a perennial one, hence I can be seen in my local shopping centres or the gym....(sometimes "yourchoiceindying" gets a grin in the gym) 

I intend to approach organisations which have a number of elderly members to encourage awareness of the need for activism before one become too ill or incompetent. And encourage hope that the full measure of the Medical Treatment Act 1988 will be enforced, on their behalf, regardless of well meaning relatives who don’t want “to let the loved one go.”. I ask again, Who defines the true meaning of that word “love”?

I encourage any organisation to invite the past president of the DWDV to speak on the topic of a good death. Because of the security of knowing a good death waits, life itself can then become more joyful. Dr Rodney Syme is an excellent speaker, a quiet measured man who has all the qualities required of a person in his position. He is extremely patient, unlike me, who feels a great sense of urgency in just getting the Medical Enduring Power of Attorney and the Medical Treatment Act 1988 truly enforceable in a court of law. I’ve realised that for me, it will be too late because of the response of the current State Government but perhaps for my children and a change in personalities within Governments, common sense will prevail and some progression will be made for Legislative Change.

Dr Philip Nitschke of Exit International is an extremely busy man who takes the fight up to the politicians in an assertive way that must impact on all who meet him.    Exit as an organisation is much more confronting than DWDV but there is a place for both organisations to meet the needs of personalities of their members,  who belong to each,  or both of them.

The reason why I have decided to be independent of the DWDV in my activism is because I am not a particularly “nice, passive” personality. I don’t believe “being nice” has done me any good in the past. I tried the polite routes for promoting change without success. I had originally believed that individual members of Parliament were there to represent the Community as individuals and as a whole. But most members just referred me back continuously to the Health Minister etc. This person is only one Member of a Voting Parliament!!!! I could scream with the frustration of the ”pretense” of not being understood when my English is reasonably OK. Most addressed my mother’s death in 1983!

The Premier’s office answered me with an undated letter (Oct 04) eleven months after my first letter merely a form letter that said absolutely nothing about how he, as the Leader of the Government, could, would, deny any meaningful dialogue on a topic which affects every single voter in the state of Victoria. (The office probably couldn’t find any copy of the three I’d sent him, but now they might).

His Opposition Counterpart, Mr Ted Baillieu (Liberal) has been heard to say that he considers VE a compassionate alternative.  I really do believe that the 80%, remembering the horrendous debacle of Maria Korp, found breathing but to all intents and purposes dead in a car boot who then went on to survive many months of legal wrangling before life support was removed, will remember.     An Advance Directive/Living Will/ Medical Enduring Power of Attorney would have sorted all that out.   Personally I have settled for a tattoo on my chest.  It can't get lost in the paperwork and is a constant reminder to my health care workers of what I want for end of life choices.   Do Not Resuscitate.

I’ve learnt to recognise the wording of letters that Politicians pay “lip service” to their community hoping they’ll go away. But one of the readers of this site, may have a brother, father, or partner that can harass their relative to think perhaps some of my views are not so far out, after all.

Not too many women in any position of power in Parliament, but one can hope none of them are diagnosed with Ovarian Cancer. Statically, in any one year, 1200 women will be though, of which nearly 800 will die. Perhaps we need more ordinary people in Parliament that can actually relate to where I am coming from. Not just people with cancer, but all those other ugly debilitating diseases that make you wish you could be dead!  Cancer will affect one in four Victorians based on current statistics, and that is "just" cancer.    However, I am grateful for Senators Sandra Knack and Lyn Allison among others.

What about the concept of encoding the Medicare Card with a “Do Not Resuscitate”, or no further treatment other than pain relief!!! How hard would that be? Many have said “what a good idea, Mary!”

What about the Register attached to the organ donors computer system. If Governments can do this for one section of society with serious needs, what about another section with equally but less hopeful aspirations for a good life. I assume that people know that people who are terminally ill are not suitable for an organ transplant, so there need be no concern that one system would be used for the other!. I was always to be an organ donor and gave blood for many years but those are no longer choices for me, because of cancer. Fraud with Medicare cards would drop dramatically giving the Government an additional bonus, if people felt their fraudulent use might be dangerous for their normally healthy bodies.

Can you also encourage Government to consider the extensive bonuses that could be gained from all sources of medical facilities by just allowing people the choice to die with dignity. Preferably, medically assisted. 

It will free up valuable medical resources for the “normally” ill, not the terminally dying. Or for those in society who believe that having lived to 80, they deserve the right to make their own choices regardless of their overall health. It was described to me as being terminally lonely, particular when a beloved spouse of some 50 years has predeceased them. It was said to me, that life ceases to have purpose for many when a loved one dies. That the children, although loving and caring, cannot replace the deceased partner. And again, there are those who have absolutely no living relative, being only children, who’ve never married, or are estranged from all family. They’ve asked me, who will care for me and my choice in dying, when I’m 80 and with no one? Who will care? Although shocked out of my comfort zone, looking after the interests of those with terminal illness or the aftermath of the cure, I too had to be made to realize that intense pain takes many forms. Mental anguish of being alone in the real sense, cannot be compensated by a game of cards for many elderly citizens. Again, who will care for them?

Mind you, this website promotes only the Right for Choice. If you believe for yourself in Pro Life at any cost, that’s good for you, but not when your decision making affects my life.

I’ve asked the help of any politician who is in remission for cancer and is not standing for re election to step forward and introduce a Private Members Bill. I can’t achieve this, but can you? Perhaps even a currently healthy Parliamentarian will have a relative that they care more about than their “stepping outside the square” reputation. Perhaps if one politician can be encouraged, others would follow because some one else made the first move!!! Help me please with this!....Do your own thing! Whatever you are comfortable with! There has to be a method to promote a change in the cultural thinking that death, is actually the very worst thing that can happen to you! It isn’t!. 

You personally can make a difference by doing the sorts of things I have done. Lobby Politicians; take a stand on the steps of Parliament House or Flinders Street Station. Put stickers on your car to create awareness of voluntary euthanasia. (Available from DWDV)...    Perhaps with 2006 law on Suicide Related Materials there may be a little concern, but for the moment, the car stickers are safe as they are not transmitted along a technology carriageway!!

The need for Legislative Change has been broached to various State and Federal Governments for many years. The reason why the Federal Government was able to override the NT legislation is because it did not have the status of a State. 

Please ensure Choice, in the State of Victoria, by your activism.

Some hints for achieving your goals are to make sure they are;

Precise, Positive, Present, Personal Purpose driven and consistent with your values,  Challenging, Achievable, Solution orientated, Clear English,     Be forceful in what you believe so that you inspire others who may waver, not holding a POV for themselves.   Encourage them to see the issue of legislative change from your POV.   Encourage them with the understanding that Your Choice is not necessarily Their Choice, and that each holds a position to be respected in that choice.

Be Heard, Be Seen, Be Known, Be Persistent, and Be Successful!

And please remember, it won't be an easy task and it does tend to drain one's energy's but:  

 There are No Shortcuts to Life’s Greatest Achievements. Start to make the Difference, Today!. 

If you cannot see the menu, click here for an alternate menu