Dr Geoffrey Kemp VCAT Appeal
Donation protected
GP Geoff Kemp fighting for his medical licence
With over 48 years’ experience in his profession, GP Geoff Kemp is now being forced to quit his life's work by the Medical Board of Australia because he has dedicated himself to helping Lyme Disease sufferers. Geoff has chosen to fight the charges for the sake of his patients and others suffering this illness.
Lyme Disease is not recognised in this country, with those suffering the illness turned away from hospitals, scorned by medical practioners and left with no treatment and hope. Following what appears to be a growing global trend, doctors who treat chronic Lyme Disease in Australia appear to be targeted and persecuted. Geoff is one of only a handful of doctors in the country who, despite the threats, wants to help Lyme sufferers.
The only way for Geoff to fight the Board and continue to help others, is to pursue his case through the Victorian Civil Administrative Tribunal (VCAT). However, this comes with an enormous cost and Geoff desperately needs the public's financial support to help him. A win for Geoff will be a victory all Lyme sufferers.
In 1999 Geoff diagnosed his first case of post tick-bite, and since then has diagnosed, and brought comfort, to over 400 people with Borreliosis/Lyme disease and treated over 1000 people for Rickettsia. Geoff is the most experienced Lyme-literate doctor in Victoria and the first point of recommendation when a patient contacts the Lyme disease association. His expertise and experience has provided significant input into the upcoming Senate Inquiry investigating the growing evidence of an emerging tick-borne disease that causes a “Lyme- like” illness for many Australian patients.
Geoff is a compassionate and caring man who has worked tirelessly and sacrificed so much for his patients. He could retire, but has chosen to fight so he can continue to help those who desperately need him.
We are Lyme sufferers, and Geoff's patients, and we have created this page to help raise funds to help Geoff continue his fight so he can help us, and others like us. Our hope is that we can raise some funds to help this amazing man who has sacrificed so much for so many.
Please take a moment and donate whatever you can to help Geoff retain his medical licence so he can continue to help treat those who have no one else to turn to.
Thank you for your support.
Patient Testimonials in support of Dr Kemp
Dr Kemp actually listens to and cares for his patients, he's been bravely and compassionately producing extraordinary results with patients improving, when most other doctors couldn't, as evidenced here.
But patients are going backwards while result-producing doctors aren't allowed to treat them! I had almost no symptoms left but in the last 2 months the biofilm was building up again and good supplements were barely working. If it weren't for AHPRA, I may not have needed to go researching what else to do! What follows isn't medical advice, it's just what's worked
for me:
In April I was getting dizzy, brainfog and was going backward suddenly. I had bought some MMS (Chlorine Dioxide in solution) so I tried it every hour. Had results the same day and by the next, a massive improvement. MMS removes bio-film. It may also help cleanup 'junk' from a herx. Dizziness gone, I got my brain back. But it's best to go slow, use low dose. CDS is the mildest form of MMS, with a more palatable taste. The taste is worth it
for effectiveness. Kerri Rivera's book ("healing the symptoms known as autism" using MMS/CD/CDS/CDH) is useful, the PDF is free online. On youtube both "Straight talk MMS" clips are useful. MMS only costs about $30 for several months, CDS is a bit more. MMS won't get the last of the bacteria
though as it hides. Suggest learn a lot first and make up your own mind.
Also very powerful (for those who can stomach it) are really hot curries (again build up slowly if not used to it). The spicy hot vindaloo after days of MMS was AMAZING, but it may not be for everybody! I find it
actually doesn't taste that hot when your body really needs it.
Xiren's Youtube channel "know how things work" also has useful info - Ep. 5, 6, 7 (the 56 min one covers MMS). Lots of info, all plausible.
Best wishes to all and take care. Hope this helps!
We need doctors practicing without persecution. I wonder if we even need a medical board. Or who's going to investigate them (for why they would want to stop patients getting better, when they don't have any better plan)?
As this epidemic increases, we need Dr Kemp's knowledge, experience, compassion and proven results in helping return his patients to health! (Name Withheld).
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“FINALLY a medical practitioner was able to definitively tell me what was wrong and offer a tailored treatment. My first appointment with Dr Kemp lasted almost 3 hours...his careful questioning and considered analysis of my symptoms was just extraordinary I felt that finally someone was acknowledging the fact that I was truly ill not just making it up”. (Michele Rattle)
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“Before Lyme disease treatment I experienced fits, poor speech and was unable to walk unaided. I look like I had Parkinson’s disease. I also become easily confused. After treatment I could speak clearly, I stopped fitting for 6 months. I could drive a car and went back to work 3 days a week. Not confused anymore and I could walk distances with a walker and walking stick”. (Louise Watt)
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“Dr K was the first doctor that actually listened and had answers or was willing to find out and try. “ (Name Withheld)
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“For three years prior to seeing Dr Kemp I had been on a merry go round of doctors…
”..After googling Lyme Doctors, I was blessed to find Dr. Geoffrey Kemp. From the outset, I felt enormous relief and confidence…Once treatment started, if not immediately shortly afterwards I started to fell immensely better, sleeping was better, appetite was increased, I still had bad days but it was almost a predictable cycle, where for 3-4 days of the month I was feeling ordinary but overall the improvement was immeasurable, I always felt better after a treatment. Unfortunately after Doctor Kemp was told he could no longer treat Lyme patients my condition has declined..”
“…..It is a sad indictment on the Australian medical system, when a man has been feeling poorly, after trying many doctors is treated by one that makes him feel better, that doctor is used as an example sanctioned and treated poorly…...In very simple terms, I feel unwell, Dr Kemp made me feel well, Dr Kemp is punished for being a good doctor, and a kind caring person, heaven forbid we have more doctors like him
“…..The sooner Dr Kemp can, once again treat Lyme patients, the sooner people will be back on their feet.” (Ray Pignataro)
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“… I found Dr Kemp. With his vast knowledge of Borrelia and co infections he has improved my quality of life to the point that I am no longer require pain control medication and the wheelchair is now packed away, which we hope will remain packed away. I am now at a point that I am no longer getting infections and my immune system is starting to return to normal. I have regained a quality of life and I can now work a full day without issues…”
“…In the belief that I am approaching remission, Dr Kemp was planning on cutting back on many areas of my medication, but as a result of the actions of AHPRA we can no longer do this. I now face a very uncertain future and have no way of keeping this disease under control. I have not been able to find any doctors who have knowledge of this disease and who is able to provide medication to keep this disease under control…”
“..Given the total lack of knowledge in this area by most of the infectious diseases doctors in Australia, where can I go to get support?.. “ (Stephen Bloomer)
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“…I finally got a diagnosis and a Dr that cared and wanted to help me get better. I had become a prisoner in my own body, I could barely function or leave the house or carry out my duties as a mum to my 3 year old. I suffered three unexplained miscarriages, daily panic attacks and was convinced I was dying. With the care and support of Dr Kemp over almost 6 months, debilitating symptoms began to ease and some even started to disappear. I was full of hope that life was going to be good again. I had a Dr who cared so much and was determined to make me better he wanted me to get better. Every week I visited him twice for IV treatment and every week I became that little bit better. “
“..I was so excited and happy that life was turning around after four years of torture for myself and my family.” (Bek Harper)
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“..I presented Dr Kemp with a copy of my Rikettsia results, and within 5 minutes of sitting in his room. Everything I had been feeling in the last 3 years started to make sense.
Dr Kemp knew exactly what I had, and he had a plan for me. I spent 2 hours in his office the first time I met him.
After 3 months of being under his care, I already began to feel 80% better...”
“…I was back playing my sports, and back at work full time within 3 months of meeting Dr Kemp.
I cannot believe that this man had the ability to give me the knowledge and power to fight this disease I have had been suffering from for 3 years in only 3 months.
We need Dr Kemp. We are Lyme sufferers, we need as many Doctors with the knowledge to help us beat this debilitating disease and get our lives back….” (Adele Aloisio)
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“Before seeing Dr. Kemp I'd seen multiple doctors over a 5 year period, who couldn't tell me what was wrong with me. They'd just throw me under the chronic fatigue blanket diagnosis and say I'd just have to get used to it, this was going to be my life now….’
“…As soon as I started treatment with Dr Kemp I started to get my life back. My whole outlook changed. Almost straight away I started getting better.” (Daniel)
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“…Before I saw Dr Kemp I had tried so many other things to try to recover but nothing was working. Dr Kemp seemed to understand what was going on with my symptoms. It made sense and he knew what he was talking about. I would go forward a bit then completely backwards with the medical help I was receiving prior to Dr Kemp. …. After about the 5th IV treatment I had picked up so much, my motor skills were improving and kept on improving as we went on. We were so happy and grateful. I was still having problems but could walk again and do more for myself and was no longer gasping for air. …”
“...At the time, Dr Kemp was our closest Lyme literate doctor and that was 3 and a half hrs away. Physically and financially that was hard. There was no way I could have seen myself being able to travel further and definitely not overseas. I know he had a lot of patients who travelled even further than me, as they had nowhere else to go for Lyme disease treatment.” (Leanne Bennie)
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“…I believe that Dr Kemp has nothing but the patients’ best interests at heart as he has treated me with kindness and dignity along the way...” (Dave Stergo)
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“…Dr. Kemp is our last hope for many Lyme disease sufferers like myself, actually I would be grateful and so many others would if he was given funding to help us even more. Dr. Kemp is overworked due to so many sufferers and where do we turn too, he diagnosed me with Lyme in 2013 and no other Dr. took me seriously I saw at least 30 practitioners who either said it was depression or my depression was creating my illness…” (Julie Calleja)
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“…Dr Kemp found the cause. Yes, I know it is controversial, but for years I had been chronically ill despite doing everything right, never drinking or smoking, I was regularly exercising, eating healthy, studying hard, surrounded by amazing friends/family, seeking all possible medical advice and following all given and still was progressively deteriorating and losing all quality of life. The diagnosis fit! … Dr Kemp has been so supportive, helpful, professional and productive in these short few months I have been under his care, always willing to do more research and even refer on when he was unable to treat me further due to restrictions placed on his practice…”
‘…Without this adequate treatment, I am left suffering these symptoms with no hope of relief and no plans for the future. I am unable to attend university, work, drive, travel or even move out of home with my partner. I have lost all independence and choice, and slowly any remaining quality of life. The only option is to seek incredibly expensive treatment overseas, placing me in financial debt and forcing my family to sacrifice time/money/jobs/loved ones to support me, but we are willing to do anything possible for me to regain my health and move forward with my life beyond this disease. This hope for recovery is only possible because of Dr Kemp’s persistence, knowledge, passion and guidance giving me a reason and direction to focus on.” (Tayla Richardson)
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“…Dr Kemp placed me on a regime of antibiotics, outlined my diet, vitamin supplements and ceased any strenuous activities until the illness was under control. I also stopped work for 6 months as I was bed-ridden for two weeks out of every four. Eventually, with rest, medication and under the watchful eye of Dr Kemp, I finally managed to return to full-time work..”
“..I would love to have the life I had before, but to do that, I would need to travel overseas and pay a large sum of money to be “cured”. Dr Kemp has at least given me a life; I wouldn’t know where I would be if I hadn’t stumbled upon him all those years ago...” (Name Withheld)
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“After a journey of misdiagnosis from the medical community, Dr. Kemp was a God send, we finally found a professional doctor who took us seriously and knew exactly what we had and had an extensive understanding of Lyme disease.…My sister and her son who also contracted the condition … was also treated by Dr Kemp with oral antibiotics for nearly 18 months and they were 90% healed due to his treatment plan, they would be chronically ill if it had not been for Dr Kemp. Dr Kemp is an invaluable, caring doctor and our only hope until Lyme is resolved in this country.” (Rose)
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“...Without Dr Kemp I believe I would be in a wheelchair today if I survived at all…”
“Dr Kemp was very supportive and very informed. He educated me and encouraged me and apart from giving me the correct treatment that I needed he was a tower of strength for me. His capacity for caring is beyond any I have ever seen or experienced in a medical practitioner. His dedication is truly amazing. The amount of research he is prepared to do and has done is commendable and should not go unrewarded by the medical board of Australia. If we had more Dr’s like Dr Kemp in Australia we would be very lucky indeed.
I will be forever grateful to Dr Kemp for saving me from Lyme and taking the time to do the correct research and making the effort to help people like myself.”(Michele Walker)
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“…Even if you do go overseas, you still can't access treatment here in Australia. It's just not on the radar of the medical profession here. I grew up in a tick-infested area and I have travelled overseas.”
“…People are suffering. Doctors like Dr Kemp are enabling sufferers to get the care they so sorely need.” (Name Withheld)
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“Dr Kemp put me on a protocol of IV & oral antibiotics & within 5-6 weeks, my symptoms had remarkably improved. I knew that there was still a long road ahead of me, but at least I was able to do things with a lot less pain.”
“Dr Kemp is currently being prevented from treating patients for Lyme. As the repeats for my antibiotic prescriptions continue to run out, I can feel my symptoms returning & worsening every week..”
“The sooner the Health Department fully admits/recognises that Lyme disease exists in Australia the better for hundreds if not thousands of people like me suffering in relative silence.
…Because of the Government's stance on Lyme, people with the disease are refused the appropriate treatment. Many are told "you don't have Lyme", despite the fact that they have the blood tests &/or symptoms that prove that they do!” (Carolyn Beadle)
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“… When I met Dr Kemp, it was like a breath of fresh air! I had been suffering so badly…”
“I found Dr Kemp to be a friendly, thoughtful and knowledgeable man. I found him thorough and he spent more time working out plans of action than any other doctor I’d ever had before.” (Susan King)
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“Meeting Dr Kemp was like meeting someone I had known for years. He understood the condition of Lyme disease and is keen to keep learning…. I could finally tell a doctor all my symptoms, and have them heard, understood, given time and compassion, while being presented with answers and a means to get better. I had spent a lifetime of fearing doctors, having them looking at you puzzled and frustrated, and offering nothing or some scary medication that I would most likely react too.”
“…The treatment for Lyme disease with Dr Kemp was finally giving me hope, that I might possibly get a life back, that I could foresee a time more free of pain and sickness, able to finish some studies, maybe work one day.”
“…Many Lyme sufferers feel we're left to be the practitioners and researchers ourselves.” (Sue Stergo).
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“… By six months of proper treatment I was able to go out and drive again. I also put on 6 kilos of the 14 kilo’s that I had lost while I was very sick and at my worst with Lyme disease. “
“…I believe that if I continued the treatment that Dr Kemp had given me I would be completely symptom free by now, instead I am still struggling with it all.” (Maria Lorenzi)
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“… Soon after treatment began I found to be getting some relief from a couple of major symptoms but mainly noticed the immediate stop of my declining health. I knew it was some time before I was going to get better but at least I was no longer getting any worse. The course of treatment had stopped the progress of the Lyme infection allowing my body to regain some control over itself.”
“Upon stopping treatment with Dr Kemp … I have experienced a substantial decline in my state of health.… The last two months have been extremely difficult with symptoms being back to maximum severity. I am unable to perform my job and have stopped working. I am continuing to lose weight rapidly and have lost my appetite. With no other Doctors available in Victoria to treat me I am now faced with the prospect of having to travel overseas to seek treatment…” (Name Withheld)
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“Prior to being formally diagnosed with Lyme disease, I was diagnosed with MS. My neurologist noted that the right side of my body was noticeable weaker than the left side of my body. I was feeling very fatigued and experienced vertigo, dizziness and ‘brain fog’. I was unable to work for 4 months.
Upon receiving treatment from Dr Kemp my neurologist noted that the right side of my body had increased in strength and I was able to go back to work. I felt less fatigued and the brain fog had decreased substantially.
In the absence of treatment, I am feeling fatigued.” (John Phan)
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Testimony - Debra Croft
To Whom It May Concern,
My life before Lyme was busy. A mum of 5 and grand mum of one I enjoyed hanging out with my kids, babysitting my grand-daughter, caring for my elderly parents, working which required a lot of travel both nationally and internationally, entertaining with weekly dinner parties, gardening in my huge garden, volunteering weekly in our church op shop (when home) and singing in our church worship team.
I was initially diagnosed with MS in Feb 2003 at the Austin Hospital, Melbourne. My first symptom was a very numb half right forearm and thumb and pointer finger. This lasted about 8 hours. After the initial symptom I began having trouble with my right hand fine motor skills, my gait, constant pain of various kinds, stiffening muscles and major fatigue. Annoying things like wriggling nerves in my legs that could be felt externally. Cognitive issues began with things like word search problems, memory issues etc and for someone who gave lectures for a living this was a significant problem.
I moved to Spain in January, 2004 and then France in Sept 2005, finally returning to Australia in August 2006 because by then I was really ill and needed to be able to access medical help here. During the time I was in Spain, the doctors there were not sure that the MS diagnosis was accurate but could not offer an alternative. So with the help of my Spanish doctor I was able to secure an appointment to see Prof. Angela Genge at MacGill University Hospital, Montreal, Canada, who, at the time was considered to be the world’s expert on MS. I spent four days having many tests and her final diagnosis was that it was most likely an atypical form of MS but that all she was certain of was that whatever was wrong with me was to do with my central nervous system.
Once I had returned to Australia, I began seeing a Neurologist at the Alfred Hospital. She finally officially retracted the MS diagnosis in 2007 but had no alternative diagnosis to offer. I spent 18 months being seen at the Caulfield Hospital, Pain Clinic. Not having a diagnosis was very hard to deal with because I felt like I was at the mercy of whatever was wrong with me with no means to fight it. I progressively got worse. On the 7th of April, 2010 I had a heart attack and in January 2011 another.
In July 2012 I googled a bullseye rash that I had been getting on my wrist in roughly 3 monthly cycles for many many years and discovered that it was only attributable to Lyme disease. I also discovered that I was unable to be tested for it here in Australia to confirm it. Fortunately, I was due to travel to the USA within a week so I consulted a Lyme specialist GP in Texas who took one look at the rash and said “you have Lyme Disease”. Once she had taken a comprehensive history she then went on to make a clinical diagnosis of Late Stage Lyme Disease. She gave me a prescription for Doxycycline and instructed me to take it for two years. Even though she suggested that I needed much more than Doxycycline she did understand that it would be impossible for me to receive any other treatment in Australia. She also emphasized that I should only begin the treatment when I was close to a hospital due to the likely herxheimer reaction.
I returned home to Australia and before I was able to begin the antibiotics, I experienced the first of four blood clots on my lung. When in hospital, I was able to speak to the Infectious Diseases Specialist and he approved the beginning of the antibiotic treatment.
Following the fourth blood clot (this one developed in my lung) the Haematologist specialist was unable to fathom why this would be happening all of a sudden when nothing that I was doing or taking had changed in almost a decade (except for the Doxy but the first blood clot occurred before I began taking it). I asked him if it might have something to do with the Lyme but he had no knowledge of this. I now know this to be a symptom of Mycoplasma.
Not long after my trip to the USA when I was diagnosed with Lyme I had my usual 3 monthly Neurologist appointment (this was the doctor who had retracted the MS diagnosis but was unable to provide an alternative). When I informed her of the new Lyme diagnosis she became openly hostile and told me it was ridiculous. The appointment following this one was with a newly qualified doctor who had been assigned my case. This doctor simply ignored me when I said I had been diagnosed with Lyme. I never was able to see the experienced Neurologist again.
While on the Doxy I experienced a marginal improvement, which was the first time in a decade that I felt I wasn’t slowly getting worse and I had not had the bullseye rash in all that time (a first in a decade). My health was not improving but at least I wasn’t still slowly getting worse. But by the time I had been taking the Doxy for 16 months I found it impossible to find a doctor who was willing to continue to prescribe it for me so had to cease taking it. In that time many doctors agued against the diagnosis. For about a year I seemed to stay about the same and then slowly began to get worse again.
By February 2015 I had had the beginnings of the bullseye rash back and Google led me to the Lyme Disease Association of Australia. They provided the names of two Melbourne doctors who were treating Lyme. The first doctor I rang I was told the first consultation would be $880 and thereafter the consultations would be $330. This was simply prohibitive. The second phone call led me to Dr Geoff Kemp.
I began a comprehensive treatment plan that included twice weekly IV treatment, other antibiotics and many herbal remedies with Dr Kemp in March 2015 and was having treatment twice weekly from then until he was ordered to stop. In that time, I did not have the rash again. Dr Kemp was very careful to monitor me with regular blood tests looking for my CD 57 K cell count. The level in a healthy person should be between 200 and 300 units, my count was less than 1. I have on disc, a live blood culture clearly showing Bartonella and a major problem with Mycoplasma among many other issues.
During the five months I was being treated by Dr Kemp I noticed many more ‘OK’ days than I had been experiencing in the years previously. My overall feeling of wellness improved and my energy levels increased quite markedly. I was along way from feeling well but Lyme specialists from around the world all agree that for someone who has had Lyme for a very long time, it is a long road to full recovery. But I was on my way there. Until Dr Kemp was ordered to stop treatment. Now, nearly 6 months after my treatment stopped my symptoms are all progressing and it seems faster than ever before.
I cannot explain how gutted I was to hear that people who did not know me, had the right to decide that I was no longer entitled to my right to treatment. And for me, that is what this is now about.
If, when I got married in Africa, I had contracted Malaria, even though there is no Malaria here in Australia, I could receive effective globally recognized treatment here at home. If, when I holidayed in the Sri Lankan jungle I had contracted Typhoid, on returning home, I could be treated for it here in Australia. There is a lady in Queensland who has been diagnosed with the ‘newly recognised’ Zika virus but, even though before very recently no body had even heard of Zika here in Australia and she is the ONLY person EVER to be diagnosed with it here in Australia, not only was the testing available but so is her treatment!! So why is it that I do not have the right to treatment for a disease that was diagnosed overseas and when there are literally hundreds, if not thousands, of people suffering with the same disease. Like Malaria, Typhoid, Zika and many other diseases, it should not matter where you contracted the disease, you should still have the right to receive appropriate treatment in Australia. In this regards, Australia is lagging behind even third world countries.
NOTE: Just before Dr Kemp was ordered to cease treating Lyme patients, my husband was formally diagnosed with Lyme through blood sent to the USA for testing.
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To whom it may concern,
Up until twenty- one years of age I lived a normal life. I was a semester away from finishing my undergraduate degree and alongside my studies I worked part-time in retail, kept active and had a very busy social life.
In July 2014 I started to experience symptoms of what I now know to be Lyme disease. I began to develop right leg tremors, low- grade fevers, vomiting spells, a persistent cough, numbness and tingling on the right side of my body and debilitating weakness and fatigue. Despite these symptoms, I pushed myself to attend university and work. All that were in my presence knew that something was very wrong,
I was never one to call in sick to work and I did not want to stop working despite my work colleagues advising me that I should not be working in the state of health I was in. During my shifts I felt so unwell, I would stand at the register and have to grip onto the desk in hope that I wouldn’t collapse, when I held out my hand to give a customer change my hand would tremor, I’d experience vomiting spells during my shift, I was lucky the department I worked in was a short distance to the bathroom so I could make a quick exit. I struggled to get from one side of the store to another and I would have to sit at times because I couldn’t physically stand up for a long period of time. Within a time frame of 4 weeks I progressively got worse.
Attending university classes proved to be somewhat difficult and my class attendances started to decline. On the days I was able to attend university I spent more time dry retching and shaking in the bathroom than sitting in class. The commute to university became exhausting in itself. It took 2 trains and a tram ride and on a good run I would get there in an hour and a half. I had been doing this commute for over 3 years, 4-5 days a week and had no difficulties. As my health declined I got to a stage where I was unable to carry out everyday activities.
Prior to becoming unwell I kept active and exercised a couple of times a week with a group of friends. We either bike rode along the beach or walked around Albert Park Lake, which is approximately 5km in distance. I soon reached a point where I was barely able to walk 200m without having to stop and rest.
Little did I know that the worst was yet to come. In August 2014 my symptoms began to worsen and I developed full body seizures, which made it impossible for me to work, attend university or exercise. I deferred university and stopped working. My boss has been kind enough to hold my position for me for when I am well enough to return.
In August 2014 I was admitted into a public hospital in Melbourne, under the Neurology department. Two weeks prior to my admission my neurologist advised me to take vitamin D and iron supplements. I noticed that my symptoms further regressed as a result. I began to experience heart palpitations, shortness of breath, increase in vomiting and weakness, excruciating head pressure, sore/stiff neck, blurred vision and my seizures became more violent and consistent. During my stay a nurse came and asked me if I was faking my symptoms, I was shocked, and replied ‘no, why would I choose to live like this?’ In the next sentence she said that if I was fabricating my symptoms, I would of ‘cracked by now’. A psychiatrist later reviewed me and told me at the end of our session that I had passed the test, a friend was visiting me at the time and overheard the psychiatrist say this. A psychological cause to my symptoms was ruled out. During my last day in hospital I could barely see, my vision was so blurred, I thought I was going to lose my sight. I experienced constant seizures and vomiting. A doctor asked me if I was mimicking my mother, as my mum was being treated at this same hospital for a chronic infection. My mum never experienced seizures so I do not understand how it could have been possible for me to be mimicking her. I was discharged after 5 days feeling even worse than when I was admitted, by this stage I could barely stand up on my own.
Several weeks later test results revealed a number of positive tests for Chronic Q fever and an EEG result indicated activity and excluded epilepsy. This was clear evidence that I was suffering from a bacterial infection. I had an outpatient appointment with the infectious diseases department. The ID specialist could not make sense of my results, so he concluded that they were all false positives and diagnosed me with conversion disorder, despite the psychiatrist having ruled this out. By this stage I was bedridden for close to 24 hours a day, I would crawl to the bathroom because walking would be too exhausting. My parents had to take time off work to care for me, I couldn’t be left alone.
I went back to my GP at the time and told her that the hospital discharged me, despite my positive test results. She re-tested for Q fever through Melbourne Pathology and it came back positive….again!! She prescribed me Doxycycline, as she saw how much I had deteriorated. My GP was so concerned for my health that she called me every few days to make sure I was alive and okay.
In the meantime, I was on the search for someone to help me. In September 2014 I was fortunate enough to find a Lyme-literate doctor, Dr Kemp, who specializes in chronic infections. My GP was keen for me to see him, as she had no idea what to do with me. It was a 2-3 week wait to see Dr Kemp. On my first appointment I gave him my positive Q fever tests and he could not believe that the hospital had just left me after seeing the debilitated state of health I was in. During the consultation, he explained to me that he thought I was also suffering from Neurological Lyme disease as he had seen many patients like me before who suffered from what he termed complex partial seizures. For the first time in a long time I felt listened to, understood, and cared for. Finally a doctor was prepared to help me. I did not have to convince Dr Kemp that I was unwell because he already could see it for himself. I had my blood work sent overseas and was tested for Borellia through Igenex. Sure enough, Dr Kemp’s suspicions were confirmed as my test results came back positive.
Dr Kemp developed a treatment plan for me, which included the use of oral, intravenous antibiotics and natural remedies. I went to collect my IV’s from the pharmacy and to my surprise I saw my old store manager who I had worked for 2 years prior, he now managed the pharmacy. He asked me what I was doing collecting IV’s, I explained to him that I had been diagnosed with Lyme disease. He was shocked and said to me, ‘no way not you! You were always running around the store and never called in sick, I can’t believe this, you’re so young, it’s not fair!’ He was genuinely saddened by this news.
Once I began treatment with Dr Kemp I never looked back, I sincerely owe him my life. During my year of tailored treatment I began to notice significant improvements in my health, it was the antibiotic IV therapy that I felt helped me the most. My seizures and tremors reduced, there were days where I had zero tremors or seizures, my vomiting stopped, the numbness and tingling on the right side of my body disappeared, my head pressure reduced, I no longer felt constantly out of breath, my vision was no longer blurred and most of all I began to regain my strength. I was no longer bedridden and had approximately 3-4 good days per week where I was able to leave the house and spend time with family and friends. I managed to be able to go out for lunches and dinners, something that most people would take for granted. It was liberating to gain back my independence.
I was determined to finish my degree so I opted to study online. In June 2015 I was able to sit my second last psychology exam and I passed. I will never forget the day I told Dr Kemp the good news, he was so happy for me. It was nice to feel so supported and have a doctor who genuinely cared. This was a small milestone and gave me some confidence that I was on the road to recovery. Eight months prior, this would have been unachievable.
In September 2015 Dr Kemp suspected that I might be suffering from Lyme carditis as my heart rate was resting at approximately 120 beats per minute and I was constantly out of breath. I would walk a few steps and my heart would race. Dr Kemp followed correct procedure and sought the help of the ID specialist who saw me in 2014.
In September 2015 I was admitted into hospital, this time under infectious diseases. On admission I recorded a fever of 37.8. The nurse, who oversaw me in the emergency department, said that I was not allowed up onto the ward unless my heart rate lowered. After an hour or so, it did not lower so they altered the criteria so I could be properly admitted. The ID specialist immediately took me off all antibiotics and over a nine-day period my symptoms worsened.
During my stay several psychiatrists reaffirmed that I was not suffering from a psychological illness. One psychiatrist said ‘I don’t know why I have been asked to talk to you when you have all these positive test results’. An ID registrar asked me if I was taking illicit drugs and whether I was pregnant because apparently pregnancy causes seizures. I must be undergoing a very long pregnancy, as I have been experiencing seizures intermittently for close to 2 years. The same neurologist who examined me in 2014 said that the damage was not permanent. Physiotherapists tried to get me to do exercises, however they did not know what to do when I was barely able to stand. I started to lose the ability to walk and had to borrow a walking frame so I could use the bathroom.
During my stay, I had 5 MET calls with my heart rate reaching a maximum of 180 beats per minute. Only on approximately the fifth day, after my mum pleaded for me to be seen by a cardiologist, that they called one in. He said that a fast heart rate could be due to an underlying infection, yet claimed that he ‘could not override the ID specialist’ I was under the care of. My seizures became more violent and constant. The ID specialist kept ordering the nurses to give me higher doses of Valium, however it did not help reduce my seizures in the slightest. By this stage I felt like I was going to die, I turned to my mum and told her that I didn’t think I had much longer to live.
The last couple of days in hospital the nurses stopped weighing me, I lost 5 kg’s over a 9 -day period. Towards the end of my stay the nurses took my blood pressure 3 times on average, before they were happy with a reading that was acceptable to write down on their chart. My blood pressure was consistently low.
As the ID team watched my health decline they would refuse to do anything to help. I saw 3 psychiatrists during my stay. My reasoning behind this is that they wanted to reaffirm their idea that my symptoms were all in my head. However the psychiatrists did not agree to this. After 9 days of no help, I was discharged in a wheelchair. Prior to this admission I never had any issues with walking.
Upon my return home I began to take my oral antibiotics that I had left over from Dr Kemp. I slowly moved from a wheelchair to crutches.
A few days after my hospital stay I had an appointment with Dr Kemp, I was still on crutches and in a terrible state of heath, he was deeply concerned for my life. Dr Kemp told me that whilst I was in hospital AHPRA had placed conditions on his registration; therefore he was no longer able to treat Lyme disease. He referred me to see another Lyme-literate doctor, however I later discovered that the wait to see this doctor was over a month. He desperately tried to get me in sooner, however it proved to be impossible, this doctor had become so overworked due to Dr Kemp’s restrictions. I left Dr Kemp’s clinic that day, so distraught, I cried all the way home. I can honestly say that would have had to be one of the worst days of my life. The hospital left me, Dr Kemp the one doctor I trusted with my life could no longer help me and my chances of survival looked bleak.
As the days went on, I started responding to the oral antibiotics I had left over, a week later I no longer required crutches and was able to walk unaided.
A follow up appointment with the ID specialist revealed more positive test results for another four strains of Rickettsia; Queensland Tick Tyhpus, Flinders Island Spotted Fever, Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever and African Tick bite fever. Once again the ID specialist claimed that these were all false positive results. I was referred to the endocrinology department of the hospital.
At a later date, I had an outpatient appointment at the Hypertension Clinic. During my appointment the doctor told me that ‘young skinny girls like you, who come into this hospital and say they have Lyme disease we say no’. He told me that I did not have Lyme disease but he could not definitively tell me what I had, I was labeled a mystery case. This doctor prescribed cortisone that is known to exacerbate symptoms of infection. Prior to this he was aware that I had an ongoing fever and several positive blood tests for different bacterial infections.
Since I am unable to receive Lyme disease treatment with Dr Kemp, my walking at times is impaired and I walk with a limp, some days are more noticeable than others. It been 6 months since Dr Kemp’s treatment was ceased and I have barely left the house, I’m experiencing symptoms that I never had, such as excruciating spine and joint pain, dizzy spells and overall an indescribable sense of weakness. I can’t wash my hair in the mornings because its too exhausting, I have to wash it at night when I have a bit more strength. I’m out of breath when I walk up the stairs, there are days when walking across the other side of the room is just too much to bear and at times it’s too difficult to stand up and make a sandwich for lunch.
Since I left hospital in September 2015, my local GP has recorded a fever each week in her consultation rooms and they sit around the 37.5-degree mark. My GP saw me improve under Dr Kemp’s care and has since seen how far I have regressed without his treatment. My GP is my witness that I improved, as nobody seems to believe me.
I’m a far cry from the active happy and healthy person I once was. I only wish to be able to wake up in the mornings and have enough energy to go to work, university and have a social life. This disease has robbed me of my life.
Last year, prior to my hospital admission and Dr Kemp restrictions, I was a few weeks away from finishing my degree and without proper treatment I was unable to sit my final exam, in turn I had to forfeit my position in a Masters degree which was set to commence at the beginning of this year.
For the past 5-6 months I have been in frequent contact with Chief Medical Officer, Professor Chris Baggoley and Chief Medical Advisor, Dr Gary Lum. Dr Lum informed me that I should have been treated for Chronic Q fever back in 2014, as it is an infection that is ‘well described’.
In December 2015, Professor Baggoley advised me to contact Dr Mary Russell, the Victorian Executive of AHPRA as I was told she was responsible for the restrictions placed on Dr Kemp. On the 23rd of December I had a face-to-face meeting with Dr Russell, I was visibly unwell that day, struggling to walk and very shaky. She seemed to be very kind, understanding and deeply concerned when she found out all that I had been through. This made it hard for me to believe that Dr Russell was responsible for the restrictions placed on Dr Kemp. Following our meeting she wrote me a letter and acknowledged that I needed appropriate treatment for my condition. However I informed Dr Russell that I could not find a doctor in Victoria to administer intravenous antibiotics, as Dr Kemp was the only doctor in Victoria who was experienced in using them.
A few weeks later, I received a phone call from the acting state manager of AHPRA, Kath Kelsey. She claimed that she was the head of notifications and informed me that despite AHPRA taking away my doctor who was helping me it was not their problem that I could not find a doctor to administer the appropriate treatment I need for Chronic Neurological Lyme disease. I was given the unhelpful advice to contact another state in Australia. This does not help me as I live in Victoria.
I informed Professor Baggoley and Dr Lum of this, they have stated they remain concerned for my health. I appreciate their concern, however this has not made me feel any better.
I sincerely owe Dr Kemp my life, if I wasn’t for him I don’t think I would be here today to write this letter, I do not know how I survived that hospital stay. I vow to never return to a hospital in Australia again, I would sadly rather die than go through what I endured in those 9 days.
Dr Kemp was always a caring and compassionate medical professional and the best in his field. For the first time in a long time I had a doctor who listened and understood my symptoms. When times were tough he gave me the strength to keep going and he often shared stories of patients who were dreadfully sick but within a few years returned to living a normal life. Dr Kemp gave me hope that one day I would return to the life I once had and loved.
Not only is Dr Kemp my doctor, but he is also someone I look up to and have the greatest amount of respect for. If I grow up to become half, if not a quarter as good a person as he is, I will be content with the person I have become. I will never forget all that he has done for me, and will be forever grateful to him for improving my quality of life over the 12 months I was under his care.
If after reading this letter you still do not believe I have Chronic Lyme disease, please attempt to answer the following questions:
- Why do I have a cd57 immune response of 6 when a normal person’s is approximately 300?
- Why do my positive blood tests match my symptoms?
- I have travelled overseas to Europe, Asia and the Middle East, all countries where Lyme can be contracted. Is it still impossible for me to have Lyme disease?
- Why do I have a continuous fever if I don’t have an infection?
- Why was I able to walk unaided after being on oral antibiotics for a week?
- If I don’t have Chronic Lyme disease, why did I improve under Dr Kemp’s Lyme disease treatment protocol? As you would have read no other form of treatment helped me.
Please reconsider reinstating Dr Kemp, he has so much more knowledge to offer and potential lives to save. Dr Kemp’s experience in treating chronic infections successfully should be commended. (Name Withheld)
***
Testimony from Janine Kooyman
Geoffrey the Owl
Geoffrey the Owl
Cared & knew quite a lot.
He sat in a chair
That looked over his flock.
He knew of the body,
He knew of the mind.
He even knew things
Of the spiritual kind.
His flock would come
And sit by his chair
And tell Geoff their woes,
And all of their cares.
Geoffrey would listen
And run through some tests,
And develop a plan
That would help them find rest.
He cared for his flock,
So Geoff would work late
Into the evening,
Sometimes past eight!
His flock were grateful
That Geoffrey cared.
Someone was listening,
They no longer felt scared.
With over 48 years’ experience in his profession, GP Geoff Kemp is now being forced to quit his life's work by the Medical Board of Australia because he has dedicated himself to helping Lyme Disease sufferers. Geoff has chosen to fight the charges for the sake of his patients and others suffering this illness.
Lyme Disease is not recognised in this country, with those suffering the illness turned away from hospitals, scorned by medical practioners and left with no treatment and hope. Following what appears to be a growing global trend, doctors who treat chronic Lyme Disease in Australia appear to be targeted and persecuted. Geoff is one of only a handful of doctors in the country who, despite the threats, wants to help Lyme sufferers.
The only way for Geoff to fight the Board and continue to help others, is to pursue his case through the Victorian Civil Administrative Tribunal (VCAT). However, this comes with an enormous cost and Geoff desperately needs the public's financial support to help him. A win for Geoff will be a victory all Lyme sufferers.
In 1999 Geoff diagnosed his first case of post tick-bite, and since then has diagnosed, and brought comfort, to over 400 people with Borreliosis/Lyme disease and treated over 1000 people for Rickettsia. Geoff is the most experienced Lyme-literate doctor in Victoria and the first point of recommendation when a patient contacts the Lyme disease association. His expertise and experience has provided significant input into the upcoming Senate Inquiry investigating the growing evidence of an emerging tick-borne disease that causes a “Lyme- like” illness for many Australian patients.
Geoff is a compassionate and caring man who has worked tirelessly and sacrificed so much for his patients. He could retire, but has chosen to fight so he can continue to help those who desperately need him.
We are Lyme sufferers, and Geoff's patients, and we have created this page to help raise funds to help Geoff continue his fight so he can help us, and others like us. Our hope is that we can raise some funds to help this amazing man who has sacrificed so much for so many.
Please take a moment and donate whatever you can to help Geoff retain his medical licence so he can continue to help treat those who have no one else to turn to.
Thank you for your support.
Patient Testimonials in support of Dr Kemp
Dr Kemp actually listens to and cares for his patients, he's been bravely and compassionately producing extraordinary results with patients improving, when most other doctors couldn't, as evidenced here.
But patients are going backwards while result-producing doctors aren't allowed to treat them! I had almost no symptoms left but in the last 2 months the biofilm was building up again and good supplements were barely working. If it weren't for AHPRA, I may not have needed to go researching what else to do! What follows isn't medical advice, it's just what's worked
for me:
In April I was getting dizzy, brainfog and was going backward suddenly. I had bought some MMS (Chlorine Dioxide in solution) so I tried it every hour. Had results the same day and by the next, a massive improvement. MMS removes bio-film. It may also help cleanup 'junk' from a herx. Dizziness gone, I got my brain back. But it's best to go slow, use low dose. CDS is the mildest form of MMS, with a more palatable taste. The taste is worth it
for effectiveness. Kerri Rivera's book ("healing the symptoms known as autism" using MMS/CD/CDS/CDH) is useful, the PDF is free online. On youtube both "Straight talk MMS" clips are useful. MMS only costs about $30 for several months, CDS is a bit more. MMS won't get the last of the bacteria
though as it hides. Suggest learn a lot first and make up your own mind.
Also very powerful (for those who can stomach it) are really hot curries (again build up slowly if not used to it). The spicy hot vindaloo after days of MMS was AMAZING, but it may not be for everybody! I find it
actually doesn't taste that hot when your body really needs it.
Xiren's Youtube channel "know how things work" also has useful info - Ep. 5, 6, 7 (the 56 min one covers MMS). Lots of info, all plausible.
Best wishes to all and take care. Hope this helps!
We need doctors practicing without persecution. I wonder if we even need a medical board. Or who's going to investigate them (for why they would want to stop patients getting better, when they don't have any better plan)?
As this epidemic increases, we need Dr Kemp's knowledge, experience, compassion and proven results in helping return his patients to health! (Name Withheld).
***
“FINALLY a medical practitioner was able to definitively tell me what was wrong and offer a tailored treatment. My first appointment with Dr Kemp lasted almost 3 hours...his careful questioning and considered analysis of my symptoms was just extraordinary I felt that finally someone was acknowledging the fact that I was truly ill not just making it up”. (Michele Rattle)
***
“Before Lyme disease treatment I experienced fits, poor speech and was unable to walk unaided. I look like I had Parkinson’s disease. I also become easily confused. After treatment I could speak clearly, I stopped fitting for 6 months. I could drive a car and went back to work 3 days a week. Not confused anymore and I could walk distances with a walker and walking stick”. (Louise Watt)
***
“Dr K was the first doctor that actually listened and had answers or was willing to find out and try. “ (Name Withheld)
***
“For three years prior to seeing Dr Kemp I had been on a merry go round of doctors…
”..After googling Lyme Doctors, I was blessed to find Dr. Geoffrey Kemp. From the outset, I felt enormous relief and confidence…Once treatment started, if not immediately shortly afterwards I started to fell immensely better, sleeping was better, appetite was increased, I still had bad days but it was almost a predictable cycle, where for 3-4 days of the month I was feeling ordinary but overall the improvement was immeasurable, I always felt better after a treatment. Unfortunately after Doctor Kemp was told he could no longer treat Lyme patients my condition has declined..”
“…..It is a sad indictment on the Australian medical system, when a man has been feeling poorly, after trying many doctors is treated by one that makes him feel better, that doctor is used as an example sanctioned and treated poorly…...In very simple terms, I feel unwell, Dr Kemp made me feel well, Dr Kemp is punished for being a good doctor, and a kind caring person, heaven forbid we have more doctors like him
“…..The sooner Dr Kemp can, once again treat Lyme patients, the sooner people will be back on their feet.” (Ray Pignataro)
***
“… I found Dr Kemp. With his vast knowledge of Borrelia and co infections he has improved my quality of life to the point that I am no longer require pain control medication and the wheelchair is now packed away, which we hope will remain packed away. I am now at a point that I am no longer getting infections and my immune system is starting to return to normal. I have regained a quality of life and I can now work a full day without issues…”
“…In the belief that I am approaching remission, Dr Kemp was planning on cutting back on many areas of my medication, but as a result of the actions of AHPRA we can no longer do this. I now face a very uncertain future and have no way of keeping this disease under control. I have not been able to find any doctors who have knowledge of this disease and who is able to provide medication to keep this disease under control…”
“..Given the total lack of knowledge in this area by most of the infectious diseases doctors in Australia, where can I go to get support?.. “ (Stephen Bloomer)
***
“…I finally got a diagnosis and a Dr that cared and wanted to help me get better. I had become a prisoner in my own body, I could barely function or leave the house or carry out my duties as a mum to my 3 year old. I suffered three unexplained miscarriages, daily panic attacks and was convinced I was dying. With the care and support of Dr Kemp over almost 6 months, debilitating symptoms began to ease and some even started to disappear. I was full of hope that life was going to be good again. I had a Dr who cared so much and was determined to make me better he wanted me to get better. Every week I visited him twice for IV treatment and every week I became that little bit better. “
“..I was so excited and happy that life was turning around after four years of torture for myself and my family.” (Bek Harper)
***
“..I presented Dr Kemp with a copy of my Rikettsia results, and within 5 minutes of sitting in his room. Everything I had been feeling in the last 3 years started to make sense.
Dr Kemp knew exactly what I had, and he had a plan for me. I spent 2 hours in his office the first time I met him.
After 3 months of being under his care, I already began to feel 80% better...”
“…I was back playing my sports, and back at work full time within 3 months of meeting Dr Kemp.
I cannot believe that this man had the ability to give me the knowledge and power to fight this disease I have had been suffering from for 3 years in only 3 months.
We need Dr Kemp. We are Lyme sufferers, we need as many Doctors with the knowledge to help us beat this debilitating disease and get our lives back….” (Adele Aloisio)
***
“Before seeing Dr. Kemp I'd seen multiple doctors over a 5 year period, who couldn't tell me what was wrong with me. They'd just throw me under the chronic fatigue blanket diagnosis and say I'd just have to get used to it, this was going to be my life now….’
“…As soon as I started treatment with Dr Kemp I started to get my life back. My whole outlook changed. Almost straight away I started getting better.” (Daniel)
***
“…Before I saw Dr Kemp I had tried so many other things to try to recover but nothing was working. Dr Kemp seemed to understand what was going on with my symptoms. It made sense and he knew what he was talking about. I would go forward a bit then completely backwards with the medical help I was receiving prior to Dr Kemp. …. After about the 5th IV treatment I had picked up so much, my motor skills were improving and kept on improving as we went on. We were so happy and grateful. I was still having problems but could walk again and do more for myself and was no longer gasping for air. …”
“...At the time, Dr Kemp was our closest Lyme literate doctor and that was 3 and a half hrs away. Physically and financially that was hard. There was no way I could have seen myself being able to travel further and definitely not overseas. I know he had a lot of patients who travelled even further than me, as they had nowhere else to go for Lyme disease treatment.” (Leanne Bennie)
***
“…I believe that Dr Kemp has nothing but the patients’ best interests at heart as he has treated me with kindness and dignity along the way...” (Dave Stergo)
***
“…Dr. Kemp is our last hope for many Lyme disease sufferers like myself, actually I would be grateful and so many others would if he was given funding to help us even more. Dr. Kemp is overworked due to so many sufferers and where do we turn too, he diagnosed me with Lyme in 2013 and no other Dr. took me seriously I saw at least 30 practitioners who either said it was depression or my depression was creating my illness…” (Julie Calleja)
***
“…Dr Kemp found the cause. Yes, I know it is controversial, but for years I had been chronically ill despite doing everything right, never drinking or smoking, I was regularly exercising, eating healthy, studying hard, surrounded by amazing friends/family, seeking all possible medical advice and following all given and still was progressively deteriorating and losing all quality of life. The diagnosis fit! … Dr Kemp has been so supportive, helpful, professional and productive in these short few months I have been under his care, always willing to do more research and even refer on when he was unable to treat me further due to restrictions placed on his practice…”
‘…Without this adequate treatment, I am left suffering these symptoms with no hope of relief and no plans for the future. I am unable to attend university, work, drive, travel or even move out of home with my partner. I have lost all independence and choice, and slowly any remaining quality of life. The only option is to seek incredibly expensive treatment overseas, placing me in financial debt and forcing my family to sacrifice time/money/jobs/loved ones to support me, but we are willing to do anything possible for me to regain my health and move forward with my life beyond this disease. This hope for recovery is only possible because of Dr Kemp’s persistence, knowledge, passion and guidance giving me a reason and direction to focus on.” (Tayla Richardson)
***
“…Dr Kemp placed me on a regime of antibiotics, outlined my diet, vitamin supplements and ceased any strenuous activities until the illness was under control. I also stopped work for 6 months as I was bed-ridden for two weeks out of every four. Eventually, with rest, medication and under the watchful eye of Dr Kemp, I finally managed to return to full-time work..”
“..I would love to have the life I had before, but to do that, I would need to travel overseas and pay a large sum of money to be “cured”. Dr Kemp has at least given me a life; I wouldn’t know where I would be if I hadn’t stumbled upon him all those years ago...” (Name Withheld)
***
“After a journey of misdiagnosis from the medical community, Dr. Kemp was a God send, we finally found a professional doctor who took us seriously and knew exactly what we had and had an extensive understanding of Lyme disease.…My sister and her son who also contracted the condition … was also treated by Dr Kemp with oral antibiotics for nearly 18 months and they were 90% healed due to his treatment plan, they would be chronically ill if it had not been for Dr Kemp. Dr Kemp is an invaluable, caring doctor and our only hope until Lyme is resolved in this country.” (Rose)
***
“...Without Dr Kemp I believe I would be in a wheelchair today if I survived at all…”
“Dr Kemp was very supportive and very informed. He educated me and encouraged me and apart from giving me the correct treatment that I needed he was a tower of strength for me. His capacity for caring is beyond any I have ever seen or experienced in a medical practitioner. His dedication is truly amazing. The amount of research he is prepared to do and has done is commendable and should not go unrewarded by the medical board of Australia. If we had more Dr’s like Dr Kemp in Australia we would be very lucky indeed.
I will be forever grateful to Dr Kemp for saving me from Lyme and taking the time to do the correct research and making the effort to help people like myself.”(Michele Walker)
***
“…Even if you do go overseas, you still can't access treatment here in Australia. It's just not on the radar of the medical profession here. I grew up in a tick-infested area and I have travelled overseas.”
“…People are suffering. Doctors like Dr Kemp are enabling sufferers to get the care they so sorely need.” (Name Withheld)
***
“Dr Kemp put me on a protocol of IV & oral antibiotics & within 5-6 weeks, my symptoms had remarkably improved. I knew that there was still a long road ahead of me, but at least I was able to do things with a lot less pain.”
“Dr Kemp is currently being prevented from treating patients for Lyme. As the repeats for my antibiotic prescriptions continue to run out, I can feel my symptoms returning & worsening every week..”
“The sooner the Health Department fully admits/recognises that Lyme disease exists in Australia the better for hundreds if not thousands of people like me suffering in relative silence.
…Because of the Government's stance on Lyme, people with the disease are refused the appropriate treatment. Many are told "you don't have Lyme", despite the fact that they have the blood tests &/or symptoms that prove that they do!” (Carolyn Beadle)
***
“… When I met Dr Kemp, it was like a breath of fresh air! I had been suffering so badly…”
“I found Dr Kemp to be a friendly, thoughtful and knowledgeable man. I found him thorough and he spent more time working out plans of action than any other doctor I’d ever had before.” (Susan King)
***
“Meeting Dr Kemp was like meeting someone I had known for years. He understood the condition of Lyme disease and is keen to keep learning…. I could finally tell a doctor all my symptoms, and have them heard, understood, given time and compassion, while being presented with answers and a means to get better. I had spent a lifetime of fearing doctors, having them looking at you puzzled and frustrated, and offering nothing or some scary medication that I would most likely react too.”
“…The treatment for Lyme disease with Dr Kemp was finally giving me hope, that I might possibly get a life back, that I could foresee a time more free of pain and sickness, able to finish some studies, maybe work one day.”
“…Many Lyme sufferers feel we're left to be the practitioners and researchers ourselves.” (Sue Stergo).
***
“… By six months of proper treatment I was able to go out and drive again. I also put on 6 kilos of the 14 kilo’s that I had lost while I was very sick and at my worst with Lyme disease. “
“…I believe that if I continued the treatment that Dr Kemp had given me I would be completely symptom free by now, instead I am still struggling with it all.” (Maria Lorenzi)
***
“… Soon after treatment began I found to be getting some relief from a couple of major symptoms but mainly noticed the immediate stop of my declining health. I knew it was some time before I was going to get better but at least I was no longer getting any worse. The course of treatment had stopped the progress of the Lyme infection allowing my body to regain some control over itself.”
“Upon stopping treatment with Dr Kemp … I have experienced a substantial decline in my state of health.… The last two months have been extremely difficult with symptoms being back to maximum severity. I am unable to perform my job and have stopped working. I am continuing to lose weight rapidly and have lost my appetite. With no other Doctors available in Victoria to treat me I am now faced with the prospect of having to travel overseas to seek treatment…” (Name Withheld)
***
“Prior to being formally diagnosed with Lyme disease, I was diagnosed with MS. My neurologist noted that the right side of my body was noticeable weaker than the left side of my body. I was feeling very fatigued and experienced vertigo, dizziness and ‘brain fog’. I was unable to work for 4 months.
Upon receiving treatment from Dr Kemp my neurologist noted that the right side of my body had increased in strength and I was able to go back to work. I felt less fatigued and the brain fog had decreased substantially.
In the absence of treatment, I am feeling fatigued.” (John Phan)
***
Testimony - Debra Croft
To Whom It May Concern,
My life before Lyme was busy. A mum of 5 and grand mum of one I enjoyed hanging out with my kids, babysitting my grand-daughter, caring for my elderly parents, working which required a lot of travel both nationally and internationally, entertaining with weekly dinner parties, gardening in my huge garden, volunteering weekly in our church op shop (when home) and singing in our church worship team.
I was initially diagnosed with MS in Feb 2003 at the Austin Hospital, Melbourne. My first symptom was a very numb half right forearm and thumb and pointer finger. This lasted about 8 hours. After the initial symptom I began having trouble with my right hand fine motor skills, my gait, constant pain of various kinds, stiffening muscles and major fatigue. Annoying things like wriggling nerves in my legs that could be felt externally. Cognitive issues began with things like word search problems, memory issues etc and for someone who gave lectures for a living this was a significant problem.
I moved to Spain in January, 2004 and then France in Sept 2005, finally returning to Australia in August 2006 because by then I was really ill and needed to be able to access medical help here. During the time I was in Spain, the doctors there were not sure that the MS diagnosis was accurate but could not offer an alternative. So with the help of my Spanish doctor I was able to secure an appointment to see Prof. Angela Genge at MacGill University Hospital, Montreal, Canada, who, at the time was considered to be the world’s expert on MS. I spent four days having many tests and her final diagnosis was that it was most likely an atypical form of MS but that all she was certain of was that whatever was wrong with me was to do with my central nervous system.
Once I had returned to Australia, I began seeing a Neurologist at the Alfred Hospital. She finally officially retracted the MS diagnosis in 2007 but had no alternative diagnosis to offer. I spent 18 months being seen at the Caulfield Hospital, Pain Clinic. Not having a diagnosis was very hard to deal with because I felt like I was at the mercy of whatever was wrong with me with no means to fight it. I progressively got worse. On the 7th of April, 2010 I had a heart attack and in January 2011 another.
In July 2012 I googled a bullseye rash that I had been getting on my wrist in roughly 3 monthly cycles for many many years and discovered that it was only attributable to Lyme disease. I also discovered that I was unable to be tested for it here in Australia to confirm it. Fortunately, I was due to travel to the USA within a week so I consulted a Lyme specialist GP in Texas who took one look at the rash and said “you have Lyme Disease”. Once she had taken a comprehensive history she then went on to make a clinical diagnosis of Late Stage Lyme Disease. She gave me a prescription for Doxycycline and instructed me to take it for two years. Even though she suggested that I needed much more than Doxycycline she did understand that it would be impossible for me to receive any other treatment in Australia. She also emphasized that I should only begin the treatment when I was close to a hospital due to the likely herxheimer reaction.
I returned home to Australia and before I was able to begin the antibiotics, I experienced the first of four blood clots on my lung. When in hospital, I was able to speak to the Infectious Diseases Specialist and he approved the beginning of the antibiotic treatment.
Following the fourth blood clot (this one developed in my lung) the Haematologist specialist was unable to fathom why this would be happening all of a sudden when nothing that I was doing or taking had changed in almost a decade (except for the Doxy but the first blood clot occurred before I began taking it). I asked him if it might have something to do with the Lyme but he had no knowledge of this. I now know this to be a symptom of Mycoplasma.
Not long after my trip to the USA when I was diagnosed with Lyme I had my usual 3 monthly Neurologist appointment (this was the doctor who had retracted the MS diagnosis but was unable to provide an alternative). When I informed her of the new Lyme diagnosis she became openly hostile and told me it was ridiculous. The appointment following this one was with a newly qualified doctor who had been assigned my case. This doctor simply ignored me when I said I had been diagnosed with Lyme. I never was able to see the experienced Neurologist again.
While on the Doxy I experienced a marginal improvement, which was the first time in a decade that I felt I wasn’t slowly getting worse and I had not had the bullseye rash in all that time (a first in a decade). My health was not improving but at least I wasn’t still slowly getting worse. But by the time I had been taking the Doxy for 16 months I found it impossible to find a doctor who was willing to continue to prescribe it for me so had to cease taking it. In that time many doctors agued against the diagnosis. For about a year I seemed to stay about the same and then slowly began to get worse again.
By February 2015 I had had the beginnings of the bullseye rash back and Google led me to the Lyme Disease Association of Australia. They provided the names of two Melbourne doctors who were treating Lyme. The first doctor I rang I was told the first consultation would be $880 and thereafter the consultations would be $330. This was simply prohibitive. The second phone call led me to Dr Geoff Kemp.
I began a comprehensive treatment plan that included twice weekly IV treatment, other antibiotics and many herbal remedies with Dr Kemp in March 2015 and was having treatment twice weekly from then until he was ordered to stop. In that time, I did not have the rash again. Dr Kemp was very careful to monitor me with regular blood tests looking for my CD 57 K cell count. The level in a healthy person should be between 200 and 300 units, my count was less than 1. I have on disc, a live blood culture clearly showing Bartonella and a major problem with Mycoplasma among many other issues.
During the five months I was being treated by Dr Kemp I noticed many more ‘OK’ days than I had been experiencing in the years previously. My overall feeling of wellness improved and my energy levels increased quite markedly. I was along way from feeling well but Lyme specialists from around the world all agree that for someone who has had Lyme for a very long time, it is a long road to full recovery. But I was on my way there. Until Dr Kemp was ordered to stop treatment. Now, nearly 6 months after my treatment stopped my symptoms are all progressing and it seems faster than ever before.
I cannot explain how gutted I was to hear that people who did not know me, had the right to decide that I was no longer entitled to my right to treatment. And for me, that is what this is now about.
If, when I got married in Africa, I had contracted Malaria, even though there is no Malaria here in Australia, I could receive effective globally recognized treatment here at home. If, when I holidayed in the Sri Lankan jungle I had contracted Typhoid, on returning home, I could be treated for it here in Australia. There is a lady in Queensland who has been diagnosed with the ‘newly recognised’ Zika virus but, even though before very recently no body had even heard of Zika here in Australia and she is the ONLY person EVER to be diagnosed with it here in Australia, not only was the testing available but so is her treatment!! So why is it that I do not have the right to treatment for a disease that was diagnosed overseas and when there are literally hundreds, if not thousands, of people suffering with the same disease. Like Malaria, Typhoid, Zika and many other diseases, it should not matter where you contracted the disease, you should still have the right to receive appropriate treatment in Australia. In this regards, Australia is lagging behind even third world countries.
NOTE: Just before Dr Kemp was ordered to cease treating Lyme patients, my husband was formally diagnosed with Lyme through blood sent to the USA for testing.
****
To whom it may concern,
Up until twenty- one years of age I lived a normal life. I was a semester away from finishing my undergraduate degree and alongside my studies I worked part-time in retail, kept active and had a very busy social life.
In July 2014 I started to experience symptoms of what I now know to be Lyme disease. I began to develop right leg tremors, low- grade fevers, vomiting spells, a persistent cough, numbness and tingling on the right side of my body and debilitating weakness and fatigue. Despite these symptoms, I pushed myself to attend university and work. All that were in my presence knew that something was very wrong,
I was never one to call in sick to work and I did not want to stop working despite my work colleagues advising me that I should not be working in the state of health I was in. During my shifts I felt so unwell, I would stand at the register and have to grip onto the desk in hope that I wouldn’t collapse, when I held out my hand to give a customer change my hand would tremor, I’d experience vomiting spells during my shift, I was lucky the department I worked in was a short distance to the bathroom so I could make a quick exit. I struggled to get from one side of the store to another and I would have to sit at times because I couldn’t physically stand up for a long period of time. Within a time frame of 4 weeks I progressively got worse.
Attending university classes proved to be somewhat difficult and my class attendances started to decline. On the days I was able to attend university I spent more time dry retching and shaking in the bathroom than sitting in class. The commute to university became exhausting in itself. It took 2 trains and a tram ride and on a good run I would get there in an hour and a half. I had been doing this commute for over 3 years, 4-5 days a week and had no difficulties. As my health declined I got to a stage where I was unable to carry out everyday activities.
Prior to becoming unwell I kept active and exercised a couple of times a week with a group of friends. We either bike rode along the beach or walked around Albert Park Lake, which is approximately 5km in distance. I soon reached a point where I was barely able to walk 200m without having to stop and rest.
Little did I know that the worst was yet to come. In August 2014 my symptoms began to worsen and I developed full body seizures, which made it impossible for me to work, attend university or exercise. I deferred university and stopped working. My boss has been kind enough to hold my position for me for when I am well enough to return.
In August 2014 I was admitted into a public hospital in Melbourne, under the Neurology department. Two weeks prior to my admission my neurologist advised me to take vitamin D and iron supplements. I noticed that my symptoms further regressed as a result. I began to experience heart palpitations, shortness of breath, increase in vomiting and weakness, excruciating head pressure, sore/stiff neck, blurred vision and my seizures became more violent and consistent. During my stay a nurse came and asked me if I was faking my symptoms, I was shocked, and replied ‘no, why would I choose to live like this?’ In the next sentence she said that if I was fabricating my symptoms, I would of ‘cracked by now’. A psychiatrist later reviewed me and told me at the end of our session that I had passed the test, a friend was visiting me at the time and overheard the psychiatrist say this. A psychological cause to my symptoms was ruled out. During my last day in hospital I could barely see, my vision was so blurred, I thought I was going to lose my sight. I experienced constant seizures and vomiting. A doctor asked me if I was mimicking my mother, as my mum was being treated at this same hospital for a chronic infection. My mum never experienced seizures so I do not understand how it could have been possible for me to be mimicking her. I was discharged after 5 days feeling even worse than when I was admitted, by this stage I could barely stand up on my own.
Several weeks later test results revealed a number of positive tests for Chronic Q fever and an EEG result indicated activity and excluded epilepsy. This was clear evidence that I was suffering from a bacterial infection. I had an outpatient appointment with the infectious diseases department. The ID specialist could not make sense of my results, so he concluded that they were all false positives and diagnosed me with conversion disorder, despite the psychiatrist having ruled this out. By this stage I was bedridden for close to 24 hours a day, I would crawl to the bathroom because walking would be too exhausting. My parents had to take time off work to care for me, I couldn’t be left alone.
I went back to my GP at the time and told her that the hospital discharged me, despite my positive test results. She re-tested for Q fever through Melbourne Pathology and it came back positive….again!! She prescribed me Doxycycline, as she saw how much I had deteriorated. My GP was so concerned for my health that she called me every few days to make sure I was alive and okay.
In the meantime, I was on the search for someone to help me. In September 2014 I was fortunate enough to find a Lyme-literate doctor, Dr Kemp, who specializes in chronic infections. My GP was keen for me to see him, as she had no idea what to do with me. It was a 2-3 week wait to see Dr Kemp. On my first appointment I gave him my positive Q fever tests and he could not believe that the hospital had just left me after seeing the debilitated state of health I was in. During the consultation, he explained to me that he thought I was also suffering from Neurological Lyme disease as he had seen many patients like me before who suffered from what he termed complex partial seizures. For the first time in a long time I felt listened to, understood, and cared for. Finally a doctor was prepared to help me. I did not have to convince Dr Kemp that I was unwell because he already could see it for himself. I had my blood work sent overseas and was tested for Borellia through Igenex. Sure enough, Dr Kemp’s suspicions were confirmed as my test results came back positive.
Dr Kemp developed a treatment plan for me, which included the use of oral, intravenous antibiotics and natural remedies. I went to collect my IV’s from the pharmacy and to my surprise I saw my old store manager who I had worked for 2 years prior, he now managed the pharmacy. He asked me what I was doing collecting IV’s, I explained to him that I had been diagnosed with Lyme disease. He was shocked and said to me, ‘no way not you! You were always running around the store and never called in sick, I can’t believe this, you’re so young, it’s not fair!’ He was genuinely saddened by this news.
Once I began treatment with Dr Kemp I never looked back, I sincerely owe him my life. During my year of tailored treatment I began to notice significant improvements in my health, it was the antibiotic IV therapy that I felt helped me the most. My seizures and tremors reduced, there were days where I had zero tremors or seizures, my vomiting stopped, the numbness and tingling on the right side of my body disappeared, my head pressure reduced, I no longer felt constantly out of breath, my vision was no longer blurred and most of all I began to regain my strength. I was no longer bedridden and had approximately 3-4 good days per week where I was able to leave the house and spend time with family and friends. I managed to be able to go out for lunches and dinners, something that most people would take for granted. It was liberating to gain back my independence.
I was determined to finish my degree so I opted to study online. In June 2015 I was able to sit my second last psychology exam and I passed. I will never forget the day I told Dr Kemp the good news, he was so happy for me. It was nice to feel so supported and have a doctor who genuinely cared. This was a small milestone and gave me some confidence that I was on the road to recovery. Eight months prior, this would have been unachievable.
In September 2015 Dr Kemp suspected that I might be suffering from Lyme carditis as my heart rate was resting at approximately 120 beats per minute and I was constantly out of breath. I would walk a few steps and my heart would race. Dr Kemp followed correct procedure and sought the help of the ID specialist who saw me in 2014.
In September 2015 I was admitted into hospital, this time under infectious diseases. On admission I recorded a fever of 37.8. The nurse, who oversaw me in the emergency department, said that I was not allowed up onto the ward unless my heart rate lowered. After an hour or so, it did not lower so they altered the criteria so I could be properly admitted. The ID specialist immediately took me off all antibiotics and over a nine-day period my symptoms worsened.
During my stay several psychiatrists reaffirmed that I was not suffering from a psychological illness. One psychiatrist said ‘I don’t know why I have been asked to talk to you when you have all these positive test results’. An ID registrar asked me if I was taking illicit drugs and whether I was pregnant because apparently pregnancy causes seizures. I must be undergoing a very long pregnancy, as I have been experiencing seizures intermittently for close to 2 years. The same neurologist who examined me in 2014 said that the damage was not permanent. Physiotherapists tried to get me to do exercises, however they did not know what to do when I was barely able to stand. I started to lose the ability to walk and had to borrow a walking frame so I could use the bathroom.
During my stay, I had 5 MET calls with my heart rate reaching a maximum of 180 beats per minute. Only on approximately the fifth day, after my mum pleaded for me to be seen by a cardiologist, that they called one in. He said that a fast heart rate could be due to an underlying infection, yet claimed that he ‘could not override the ID specialist’ I was under the care of. My seizures became more violent and constant. The ID specialist kept ordering the nurses to give me higher doses of Valium, however it did not help reduce my seizures in the slightest. By this stage I felt like I was going to die, I turned to my mum and told her that I didn’t think I had much longer to live.
The last couple of days in hospital the nurses stopped weighing me, I lost 5 kg’s over a 9 -day period. Towards the end of my stay the nurses took my blood pressure 3 times on average, before they were happy with a reading that was acceptable to write down on their chart. My blood pressure was consistently low.
As the ID team watched my health decline they would refuse to do anything to help. I saw 3 psychiatrists during my stay. My reasoning behind this is that they wanted to reaffirm their idea that my symptoms were all in my head. However the psychiatrists did not agree to this. After 9 days of no help, I was discharged in a wheelchair. Prior to this admission I never had any issues with walking.
Upon my return home I began to take my oral antibiotics that I had left over from Dr Kemp. I slowly moved from a wheelchair to crutches.
A few days after my hospital stay I had an appointment with Dr Kemp, I was still on crutches and in a terrible state of heath, he was deeply concerned for my life. Dr Kemp told me that whilst I was in hospital AHPRA had placed conditions on his registration; therefore he was no longer able to treat Lyme disease. He referred me to see another Lyme-literate doctor, however I later discovered that the wait to see this doctor was over a month. He desperately tried to get me in sooner, however it proved to be impossible, this doctor had become so overworked due to Dr Kemp’s restrictions. I left Dr Kemp’s clinic that day, so distraught, I cried all the way home. I can honestly say that would have had to be one of the worst days of my life. The hospital left me, Dr Kemp the one doctor I trusted with my life could no longer help me and my chances of survival looked bleak.
As the days went on, I started responding to the oral antibiotics I had left over, a week later I no longer required crutches and was able to walk unaided.
A follow up appointment with the ID specialist revealed more positive test results for another four strains of Rickettsia; Queensland Tick Tyhpus, Flinders Island Spotted Fever, Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever and African Tick bite fever. Once again the ID specialist claimed that these were all false positive results. I was referred to the endocrinology department of the hospital.
At a later date, I had an outpatient appointment at the Hypertension Clinic. During my appointment the doctor told me that ‘young skinny girls like you, who come into this hospital and say they have Lyme disease we say no’. He told me that I did not have Lyme disease but he could not definitively tell me what I had, I was labeled a mystery case. This doctor prescribed cortisone that is known to exacerbate symptoms of infection. Prior to this he was aware that I had an ongoing fever and several positive blood tests for different bacterial infections.
Since I am unable to receive Lyme disease treatment with Dr Kemp, my walking at times is impaired and I walk with a limp, some days are more noticeable than others. It been 6 months since Dr Kemp’s treatment was ceased and I have barely left the house, I’m experiencing symptoms that I never had, such as excruciating spine and joint pain, dizzy spells and overall an indescribable sense of weakness. I can’t wash my hair in the mornings because its too exhausting, I have to wash it at night when I have a bit more strength. I’m out of breath when I walk up the stairs, there are days when walking across the other side of the room is just too much to bear and at times it’s too difficult to stand up and make a sandwich for lunch.
Since I left hospital in September 2015, my local GP has recorded a fever each week in her consultation rooms and they sit around the 37.5-degree mark. My GP saw me improve under Dr Kemp’s care and has since seen how far I have regressed without his treatment. My GP is my witness that I improved, as nobody seems to believe me.
I’m a far cry from the active happy and healthy person I once was. I only wish to be able to wake up in the mornings and have enough energy to go to work, university and have a social life. This disease has robbed me of my life.
Last year, prior to my hospital admission and Dr Kemp restrictions, I was a few weeks away from finishing my degree and without proper treatment I was unable to sit my final exam, in turn I had to forfeit my position in a Masters degree which was set to commence at the beginning of this year.
For the past 5-6 months I have been in frequent contact with Chief Medical Officer, Professor Chris Baggoley and Chief Medical Advisor, Dr Gary Lum. Dr Lum informed me that I should have been treated for Chronic Q fever back in 2014, as it is an infection that is ‘well described’.
In December 2015, Professor Baggoley advised me to contact Dr Mary Russell, the Victorian Executive of AHPRA as I was told she was responsible for the restrictions placed on Dr Kemp. On the 23rd of December I had a face-to-face meeting with Dr Russell, I was visibly unwell that day, struggling to walk and very shaky. She seemed to be very kind, understanding and deeply concerned when she found out all that I had been through. This made it hard for me to believe that Dr Russell was responsible for the restrictions placed on Dr Kemp. Following our meeting she wrote me a letter and acknowledged that I needed appropriate treatment for my condition. However I informed Dr Russell that I could not find a doctor in Victoria to administer intravenous antibiotics, as Dr Kemp was the only doctor in Victoria who was experienced in using them.
A few weeks later, I received a phone call from the acting state manager of AHPRA, Kath Kelsey. She claimed that she was the head of notifications and informed me that despite AHPRA taking away my doctor who was helping me it was not their problem that I could not find a doctor to administer the appropriate treatment I need for Chronic Neurological Lyme disease. I was given the unhelpful advice to contact another state in Australia. This does not help me as I live in Victoria.
I informed Professor Baggoley and Dr Lum of this, they have stated they remain concerned for my health. I appreciate their concern, however this has not made me feel any better.
I sincerely owe Dr Kemp my life, if I wasn’t for him I don’t think I would be here today to write this letter, I do not know how I survived that hospital stay. I vow to never return to a hospital in Australia again, I would sadly rather die than go through what I endured in those 9 days.
Dr Kemp was always a caring and compassionate medical professional and the best in his field. For the first time in a long time I had a doctor who listened and understood my symptoms. When times were tough he gave me the strength to keep going and he often shared stories of patients who were dreadfully sick but within a few years returned to living a normal life. Dr Kemp gave me hope that one day I would return to the life I once had and loved.
Not only is Dr Kemp my doctor, but he is also someone I look up to and have the greatest amount of respect for. If I grow up to become half, if not a quarter as good a person as he is, I will be content with the person I have become. I will never forget all that he has done for me, and will be forever grateful to him for improving my quality of life over the 12 months I was under his care.
If after reading this letter you still do not believe I have Chronic Lyme disease, please attempt to answer the following questions:
- Why do I have a cd57 immune response of 6 when a normal person’s is approximately 300?
- Why do my positive blood tests match my symptoms?
- I have travelled overseas to Europe, Asia and the Middle East, all countries where Lyme can be contracted. Is it still impossible for me to have Lyme disease?
- Why do I have a continuous fever if I don’t have an infection?
- Why was I able to walk unaided after being on oral antibiotics for a week?
- If I don’t have Chronic Lyme disease, why did I improve under Dr Kemp’s Lyme disease treatment protocol? As you would have read no other form of treatment helped me.
Please reconsider reinstating Dr Kemp, he has so much more knowledge to offer and potential lives to save. Dr Kemp’s experience in treating chronic infections successfully should be commended. (Name Withheld)
***
Testimony from Janine Kooyman
Geoffrey the Owl
Geoffrey the Owl
Cared & knew quite a lot.
He sat in a chair
That looked over his flock.
He knew of the body,
He knew of the mind.
He even knew things
Of the spiritual kind.
His flock would come
And sit by his chair
And tell Geoff their woes,
And all of their cares.
Geoffrey would listen
And run through some tests,
And develop a plan
That would help them find rest.
He cared for his flock,
So Geoff would work late
Into the evening,
Sometimes past eight!
His flock were grateful
That Geoffrey cared.
Someone was listening,
They no longer felt scared.
Organizer
Robyn Barnes
Organizer
Moonee Ponds VIC
