Welcome Peter Sparks to the Team

Another climber from the NSW Ambulance Service welcome

Peter Sparks from the Rotary Club of Griffith Avanti.

Peter and Lyn at Machupicchu in Peru.

Here is Peter's Story:

Hi Team

My name is Peter Sparks and I have been an ambulance officer with the NSW Ambulance since November 1977. Considering my longest job prior to this was 3 years, and I had lots of jobs of less time, indicates I still enjoy my work and find it very rewarding. My partner who has put up with thousands of disturbed sleeps during this time is Lyn; she works for the local MLA in the State Parliament and is also a marriage celebrant. We have two grown up children, Rebecca who has travelled the world and has had more jobs than me, lectures in hospitality at the International College of Hospitality Management Sydney. Our son Adrian who, I didn't think was ever going to get a job when he left school, has completed a university degree in wine science and has worked his way up from a cellar hand at McWilliams Wines to be a wine maker, recently winning "best wine" award for his Lillydale Chardonnay at many wine shows including the Canberra Wine Show.

Lyn and I are recent converts to the Rotary way, joining as foundation members of the Avanti Breakfast Club in 2006. Lyn was involved immediately writing the weekly bulletin, I was less enthusiastic and wasn't sure what my role in Rotary was to be. I was very impressed with John's presentation one morning on the Huff & Puff Straw Houses, the Kilimanjaro climb and associated charities, and indicated I might be willing to be involved. I have always felt for the children of the third world and failed communist states. I remember watching a documentary once on a children's hospital in Romania, I realised I had more drugs and fluids sitting in the ambulance outside my house, than there was in this entire hospital. That's a raw deal.

Lyn and I attended the D9700 Conference at Temora last weekend and what an experience. I hadn't fully realised the potential, the scope and the ability of Rotary to make a difference. I did have a false start, but I do very much want to be a part of this team. With your permission I would like to record the observations (blood pressure, pulse temperature, oxygen saturation) of team members during the climb, as none of the medical literature on altitude sickness I have read so far appears to have done that.

I want to be part of making a difference for the people of Africa and share the experience of the climb with you all. By the way I had the pleasure of meeting Sharon Daishe (fellow climber) at the conference, and in case you were wondering Michael Dorrian (fellow climber) and I are old friends.

Peter Sparks

Welcome Peter you will be a very valuable member of this team.