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“Telethon - Don't Expect Any Instant Miracles"

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Description: This image was published in the July 9th, 1978 edition of the Tribune weekly newspaper.

The caption read: “Dr Wigley : Telethon won’t solve all the problems, but it will help.”

Extracts from the article: ”While Telethon was remarkably successful in what it achieved, it won't provide instant solutions to New Zealand's problems with arthritis and rheumatism. An expert on the subject, Dr R. A. D. Wigley, of Palmerston North, says it's going to take a long time before everything is understood about the disease’s 200 different varieties. It’s also going to take time for new equipment to be made to assist sufferers. It’s going to take time to train medical staff to perform the 'more dramatic’ aspects of treatment, like joint replacement. Dr Wigley said there are long waiting lists for this aspect of treatment. This field of work is expanding faster than the number of people qualified to do the operations is growing.”

“Asked if he was happy with the Telethon, Dr Wigley said that would be "a heavy understatement". It was especially gratifying for him, because he helped draft the Arthritis and Rheumatism Foundation’s original constitution "We've waited many years for this kind of fund-raising to take off," he said.”

“The Palmerston North research unit has gone through "a lean financial period" in the last year, as its funds almost dried up, he went on. The Medical Research Council had been supplying its funds along with the Palmerston North Medical Research Foundation. but pressure was put on the funds because the country's new medical schools needed more support. "We've been working on a shoestring for a year” Dr Wigley said “We’ve now got a grant from the War Pensions Fund and the Golden Kiwi, so we're back in business."

This image forms part of the Manawatū Evening Standard Negative Collection. Unfortunately, only negatives between April and December 1978 are held.