Sandy Milne

I have just been told of the death on June 9, of the author Vivien Edwards, aged 82, whose 2007 book, Battling the Big B, was so important in ensuring the survival and success of the Whakatāne-based Hepatitis Foundation of New Zealand (HFNZ).

In her book, Vivien covered the obstructions and battles we in Whakatāne endured in order to establish Whakatāne as a centre of excellence in the South West Pacific for diagnosing and managing victims of hepatitis viruses.

Vivien acknowledged many well-known Whakatāne workers, including Dr Chris Moyes, Alen Henderson, Nikki Newport (nee Hopkirk), John Hornell, John Waldon, and Helen Purcell.

She also acknowledged the support we received from eminent New Zealanders including Auckland Professors Bob Elliott, Ed Gane and Garth Cooper, and others too many to name.

The Ministry of Health’s Dr Nigel Ashworth gets a well-deserved special mention.

Former HFNZ chair Robert Chappell wrote one of the forwards to Vivien’s book.

The main forward was by Professor Ron Lucas of Melbourne, who was the foundation’s principal overseas adviser, and the first medical specialist for the Hepatitis Foundation.

We owe Vivien Edwards and Sir Wira Gardiner and Robert Chappell, all of whom did much to help the foundation save hundreds of lives by ensuring early vaccination of New Zealand babies who were in a high-risk environment.