The Mothers Milk Bank would like to offer our thanks to all our supporters in 2009. Internationally 2009 was recognised as the Centenary of Human Milk Banking and we celebrate re-joining those ranks. There have been many hurdles along the way but we are proud to announce that we are again providing human donor milk to babies in need, such as Diana Taylor’s triplets Oscar, Lawson and Avalon. Their journey has been celebrated in this article.

There have been two groups of people who were key to the Mothers Milk Bank re-opening in 2009. George Doniger, who with support of the Lions, the Gold Coast Jetstar Titans, IGA supermarkets and many others, cycled almost 2000km from Currumbin to Cairns and raised $30 000. There are some great photos available to view via our Facebook group events or media articles on this website . This money secured a two year tenancy on our new Community Mothers Milk Bank premises in Banora Point on the NSW/QLD border and we thank everyone who was able to play a part.

A second fundraiser for 2009 was held by the fabulous women of the Gold Coast Children’s Society. This event raised $40 000 with many thanks going to the the GCCS and all their generous sponsors, including Advice Solutions sponsored by the AMP Foundation. This money has been needed towards the payment for our human milk pasteuriser.

We have been so appreciative of the support of Dr Howard Chilton in organising our human milk pasteuriser and allowing the use over the last four years with minimum expense, but we need to reimburse the last remaining money outstanding on this vital equipment and have been given until Feb 2010 to do so.

2009 has also seen us secure the complete insurance coverage for providing human milk to human babies – a natural need, but one that is so uncommon in Australia that we have had to source our insurance internationally and pay accordingly. This is an ongoing expense that we need to fund but that should see in the future a lowering of the premiums for ourselves and other milk banks as human milk banking becomes more common.

We have been able to develop screening and pathology procedures that have reduced the processing cost of human donor milk from $30/ 100mL in 2007 to the current $5/ 100mL and are hoping that 2010 will see this reduced even further and allow the Mothers Milk Bank the financial stability and business model needed to expand.

During 2009 we have continued to hear government at federal and state levels support our intent but fail to provide the funding dollars needed to support the development of human milk banking in Australia. It is only through the generosity of supporters and volunteers like yourselves, giving gifts of money, human milk and/or time that enables us to provide this important community service to the most vulnerable in our community. The Mothers Milk Bank is a completely volunteer organisation and runs only on the generosity of our wonderful national community of support. It is saving lives and lowering the need (and expense) for ongoing medical care of the babies we are able to assist. We still envision developing a national network of Mothers Milk Banks and each success brings us closer to this aim.

Our first fundraiser for 2010 is already underway and we invite you all to participate. As previously mentioned, this will go toward the final payment of our human milk pasteuriser and guarantee the operation of the Mothers Milk Bank to supply human donor milk onward into the future. If you would like to participate, have your own ideas for fundraising or would like to make a tax deductable personal donation, please contact us.

Lisa Nielsen, mother of two, donor mum and long term volunteer, has made her 2010 new year’s resolution to donate her income for January to the Mothers Milk Bank! Lisa is an advisor for the Learning Ladder, selling educational books and games for children to adult We need your support to make the most of this offer – invite a few friends and have a Mothers Milk Bank book party at your home or workplace between now and the end of January. This can be anywhere across the country, online or in person. If you are local to the Mothers Milk Bank (Northern NSW to the Sunshine Coast QLD), Lisa can support your party with a display. If you live further away, she will assist you to run a catalogue or email party. Anyone who hosts a book party supporting the Mothers Milk Bank will receive free books as a thank you. This is a personal advisor offer from Lisa, so all party bookings and orders need to go directly to her to be registered toward the Mothers Milk Bank fundraiser: lisa@mothersmilkbank.com.au / 0439749408.

As 2009 comes to a close, please congratulate yourself on your part in supporting the Mothers Milk Bank and our achievements in providing this vital nourishment for our vulnerable babies. We send our best wishes to all the families around the country who have made contact and hope you will continue to support us in 2010 and spread the word about the importance of our service.

The Mothers Milk Bank is the beneficiary of this year’s GCCS event and the invitation is out – come along for a great night of fun on August 1st and make a difference to the lives of sick and premature babies. Tickets and more information are available on the www.gccs.org.au website.

The Gold Coast Children’s Society is an incorporated fundraising committee who raise money for special children in need on the Gold Coast.

They have been helping children for the last ten years through one major fundraising Cocktail Party each year.

All Committee Members are volunteers and with the generous support from Corporate Sponsors and prize givers, they are able to achieve great things for these very Special Children in need. They are a non profit organisation with all funds raised from the evening going directly to aid the children in need.

This year we are thrilled to announce the Gold Coast Children’s Society has chosen the MothersMilkBank as their beneficiary. The Cocktail Party will be held on Saturday the 1st of August 2009 in Broadbeach.  Visit the GCCS website for more information.

George Doniger is probably best known as Queenslands Top Rugby League caller during the 1970’s – when he and Mick Veivers presented The Match of the Day every Saturday and Sunday night. George himself was a First Grade and Representative Rugby League fullback with the Past Brothers Club in Brisbane in the early 1960’s.

George is also very well know in Surf Lifesaving Circles through his continued involvement with the North Kirra Surf Club – gaining his Bronze Medallion there in 1958 and Life Membership in 1969.

His interest in the Australian Breastfeeding Association – and in particular the Mothers Milk Bank is through his daughter Carrie Brandon. Carrie has three (3) children aged 13 – 11 and 9 – who were all born at John Flynn Hospital, Tugun. Carrie has been heavily involved with ABA from the birth of her first child in 1995.

George is also very well know and respected in business circles – both in Brisbane and the Gold Coast – being instrumental in starting the Wendys Ice Cream and Supercheap Auto chains of stores.

George has been the owner of the IGA Supermarket at Currumbin Fair for the past eight (8) years – the store being under the management of Carrie’s husband Roger Brandon.

George is a very fit sixty eight (68) year old – who continues to exercise most days through the disciplines of Swimming – Cycling – Kayaking and Walking. He has completed fifty (50) full distance (42.2km) Marathons and numerous Triathlons up to the Iron Man distance.

In 2007 George was a member of a Supporters Group during the grueling Tour de France – at that time he had the opportunity to ride the three (3) Big Mountains -Alpe D’Huez – Col du Tourmalet and Mont Ventoux – conquering them at age sixty seven (67) is on of his proudest achievements.

George is very proud and honored to be involved with this Mothers Milk Bank Charity Cycle – one of his favorite sayings is “to give and expect nothing in return – is on of life’s greatest joys”

George hopes that by giving his time to this Charity Cycle Ride – that the Mothers Milk Bank at Tugun will flourish – and that in time be accepted in Australia – thus helping to save many infant babies lives.

The Mothers Milk Bank community will join in celebration of the International Year of Milk Banking, as 2009 is the centenary of International Milk Banking.

The mothers’ milk bank centenary logo will be recognized in 2009 and there after the year Australia joined the international milk banking community.

Following success in the Gold Coast Airport Marathon, 10k run Jenny Jones, mothersmilkbank Lactation Consultant, is competing in the Bridge to Brisbane 10k Fun Run on September 7th 2008. to raise funds for the mothersmilkbank.

Please Support Jenny and help Australian babies have life saving human milk available to them.

Target: $10,000

make a donation here

email us with your support

Where: Sheraton Mirage, Main Beach, 3 course Gala Ball for 500 people

When: 7th June 2008

Who: Kind hearted companies donate $5,000 each

Click here for Corporate sponsorship proposal information.

For further information or to nominate your company as a sponsor please contact mothersmilkbank volunteers Renee Illes on 0410-600-308, or Melinda Parkinson on 0405-055-703

Full Table Ticket – $1000.00

Single Ticket – $125.00

Congratulations to David Alley “Iron Man completes race in 13 hours”. David raised $3,000 towards the mothersmilkbank new home.

Thank you to all who sponsored David.

The mothersmilkbank will move into a new home on May 8th 2008.

David Alley is competing in Iron Man Australia to raise funds, as a thankyou to the mothersmilkbank for providing the donor human milk their preterm twins needed. Become a voice in support of our internal environmental health.

Target:- $85,500 will give mothersmilkbank a home for one year

download pdf here

view newspaper article

• The World Health Organisation and UNICEF support donor mothers’ milk as the first alternative where mother’s milk is not available.
• Breast milk is a perfectly balanced source of nutrition. It is a living substance, more complex than blood, and it contains a variety of nutrient and immunological factors that cannot be replicated.
• The most recent UNICEF statistics show that there is a 50% increase in the onset of juvenile diabetes in children that are artificially fed.
• Artificially fed children also displayed on average, 8-12 IQ points less than children who were breast fed, highlighting the important role breast milk plays in neurological development. 8-12 IQ points less will effect your child’s life potential.
• Australia is one of a few nations that do not have a donor human milk service.
• In 1999-2000, Brazil had a network of some 150 human milk banks that delivered 215,000 litres of human milk to 300,000 preterm and low birth weight infants. By 2006, Brazil’s national network of milk banks had expanded to approximately 300, Pasteurised donor milk is used around the world for infants with failure to thrive, Cardiac patients, Infants with malabsorption and short gut syndromes, infants with renal failure, Infants with inborn errors of metabolism, Paediatric burn patients, feeding intolerance, treatment of infectious diseases (diarrhoea, infantile botulism, sepsis) premature infants and Necrotising Enterocolitis (NEC)
• Preterm infants at the King Edward Memorial Hospital in Perth who receive mother’s milk have their recovery period shortened by approximately two weeks. The estimated cost saving for one preterm infant who is given mothers’ milk versus artificial substitutes is $18,200. In Queensland alone, 4300 preterm and 4000 term babies required donor milk during 2004.