Margaret Illukol

Margaret Roseland Illukol was born in 1955 in Karimojong, a remote region in the north east of Uganda. Her given name was Illukol and she was referred to as a Child of the Karimojong tribe, a nomadic hunter tribe. Margaret was attacked by a hyena in 1963 that left her with significant facial disfiguration. Margaret was not expected to survive but through strength of will and with the support of many along the long journey to Mulago Hospital in Kampala she commenced years of reconstructive surgery. During the eight years she spent in the hospital she was exposed to Christian services and eventually was baptised, taking on the name Margaret Roseland Illukol (Margaret after her godmother and Roseland after the hospital rose gardens where she spent many hours of her childhood). The hospital staff also encouraged and supported her primary and early secondary school education.

Margaret’s reconstructive surgery in Kampala was coordinated by Dr Arnold Bisase, who recognised further reconstructive surgery was beyond the capacity of the hospital. As a Rotarian he reached out through the Rotary International Magazine for assistance. Several Rotary Clubs around the world responded offering support. Through the Australian Rotary District 967, Margaret was brought to Newcastle in 1975 to continue facial reconstruction surgery at Royal Newcastle Hospital under the coordination of Newcastle Rotarian, Dr William Walker. Rotary Clubs and individual Rotarians in Rotary District 967 funded her medical care, education and social integration and provided her with host families.

Margaret attended high school at St Joseph’s College, Lochinvar as a boarder and completed her Higher School Certificate in 1978. Her ambition was to undertake nursing training so she could return to Uganda. This proved difficult until she was granted a training position at Gosford District Hospital, graduating in general nursing in 1983. She commenced work as a registered nurse at Royal Newcastle Hospital in 1984 in orthopaedics, returning to the ward where she had spent so much time during her own surgery. Later Margaret moved to John Hunter Hospital with the relocation of orthopaedics to the Royal Newcastle Centre. Margaret continued her studies and graduated with a Bachelor of Nursing from the University of Newcastle in 1996.

Margaret returned several times to visit her family in Uganda but this proved difficult due to the political situation in Uganda and the nomadic nature of her family’s tribe. In 1996, Margaret became an Australian citizen and made Newcastle her home. In 1990, Margaret authored a book, “Child of the Karimojong”, that outlined her personal experiences from the time of the hyena attack to fulfilling her desire to become a nurse.

Margaret retained strong associations with Rotary and the families that supported her in Newcastle. Margaret died in 2015 from an unfortunate accident at home. She left her estate to the Rotary International District 9670, to establish a Trust to be used for charitable purposes in the community within Rotary International District 9670 boundaries. Rotary International District 9670 has decided to honour Margaret’s life by establishing equity scholarships with the University of Newcastle for students enrolled in human health studies.