Murray Dear: Two decades of dedication to diabetes

As Diabetes NZ Waikato branch goes through exciting changes, we honour Murray Dear as he steps back from the branch co-ordination role but not from his commitment to the community.

Murray was diagnosed with diabetes in 1986 while undergoing a routine medical. He says, ‘I'd actually lost a bit of weight, which I was happy about! My blood pressure and everything was good, but my GP said, “On the way out, give the nurse a urine specimen. We'll just check it.”

‘So I did, and the nurse came back a few minutes later and said, “You’re not going anywhere.”

‘They were uncertain if it was type 1 or type 2. I was on oral meds for a year or two, but they weren't working.’ Murray was diagnosed with late onset type 1 and switched to insulin.

A FATEFUL MEETING

‘My blood glucose control wasn't wonderful,’ Murray remembers, ‘and it was my wife Lynn who spotted that the local diabetes society was having a meeting. She told me in no uncertain terms that I was going to it.’

It was 1996. Murray went along and, next thing, was roped into the committee. He laughs as he remembers. ‘I asked, “does that involve much?” And they lied and said, “No”!’

He became passionate about this voluntary work and, in 1998, accepted the position of Waikato Diabetes Society president. ‘A few years later, I got shoulder tapped: would I be interested in standing for national vice president at the AGM?

‘I said, “What does the national vice-president do? And they lied – again – and said, “Oh, not very much at all!”

‘So I was national vice president for two years, then national president for three years.’ By then, the Waikato Diabetes Society had become a branch of Diabetes NZ. ‘I came back to the branch as Chair.’

Over his more than 20 years of involvement, Murray has also been a regional representative on the Advisory Council, and in 2008, he was made a life member of Diabetes NZ.

“BLOKES CAN COOK”

One of Murray’s pet projects over the past two years has been Blokes Can Cook, a nutrition and wellness programme for older men, in which Diabetes NZ partners with Age Concern.

The course runs for four mornings, with Diabetes NZ Waikato Branch presenting one full session. Other organisations that present include the Heart Foundation.

‘It's usually me and sometimes another volunteer. We prepare very simple meals that men can have a go at.’

The programme has personal resonance for Murray. ‘It's aimed at men who had wives or partners who cooked for them until their circumstances changed – their partners have passed away, or they’re now cooking for wives and partners who are no longer able to cook.

‘This is what happened with me. My wife has muscular dystrophy and can no longer safely cook. So this is my project to help other blokes who are in the same situation.’

At Blokes Can Cook, Murray also presents on types of carbohydrate and goes through Diabetes NZ's healthy eating resources.

‘It's a good programme. We're talking with men in their 60s plus. They’re getting into that age group when they are at higher risk of diabetes. So if we can teach them how to cook healthy food rather than buying takeaways, so much the better.’

Murray (left) at the farewell dinner thrown for him by Diabetes NZ Waikato Branch.

Diabetes NZ is indebted to the time and energy that Murray so willingly invested into our organisation at both national and regional levels.