To celebrate 60 years of Diabetes WA, we talk to Roger Knight about his experience of attending one of our first Kids Camps.
Six years after the founding of Diabetes WA, the organisation’s first Children’s Camp was held in Bunbury in 1971.
The idea came from Diabetes WA founder Ken Walker, whose son Ean had attended a camp for children living with diabetes in Victoria. Having seen the positive impact and confidence boost it gave his son, Ken brought the idea to a Diabetes WA meeting, where it was met with support.
One year later, 16 children attended the Bunbury camp, supervised by a volunteer nursing sister, camp mother and father, youth leader and cook.
According to a news story at the time in Women’s Day, “As the week progressed, all the children became totally involved in the camp’s activities, from horse riding to kitchen duties. The trampoline was in constant use, swimming was thoroughly enjoyed by all and walking was another favourite with the children. On arrival, only 11 of the children were able to give their own insulin injections. By the end of the week, every child was capable of this.”
Within five years, demand had increased and 28 kids attended.
From the beginning, these events have given children living with diabetes the opportunity to build confidence by being away from their families, having fun with their peers and learning to independently manage their diabetes.
Geraldton man Roger Knight, pictured above at the Kellion Awards and right as a teenager, was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes in 1973, and attended two Kids Camps as a teenager.
Roger credits his endocrinologist, Dr Timothy Welborn, for encouraging him to independently manage his diabetes from the outset, and camp for helping him realise he wasn’t alone.
“When I was diagnosed at the age of 11, living in Morawa in the Wheatbelt, I thought I was the only person in the world to have diabetes,” he said. “One thing I remember is Dr Welborn telling me he was not going to put me in hospital. He sent me home and said, ‘Tonight you’re going to give yourself an insulin injection. You’re not going to get your mum to do it, because when you’re older and you’re off on some footy trip with your mates, the last thing you want is to bring your mum along.’”
With limited access to diabetes support locally, his mother took out a lifelong membership to Diabetes WA for him for $50, and through that network they received news of an upcoming camp.
“I was 12 or 13 when I went to the first camp. We stayed in a boarding school in Nedlands during the school holidays, and there were about 12 of us, building kites and playing games and going to the beach. I don’t know that there was too much diabetes education; it was more a case of spending time with other kids. Sadly, in those days there was no social media so I lost contact with the friends I made that week.”
He says that he returned home with a newfound sense of independence to manage his medication and needles without the assistance of his family.
“Any school kid going on a camp gains independence, and this one is no different. Managing your own medication away from parents, but in a safe environment, helps you to realise that you can do it yourself.”
Type 1 Kids Camp
Diabetes WA and Perth Children’s Hospital, supported by the NDSS, partner to run camps for children living with diabetes during school holidays.
To find out more, contact community@diabeteswa.com.au or call us on 1300 001 880.
