The Otago Ostomy Society was started by the late Ruth Westlake. After having surgery for an ileostomy a year later, she was back in hospital for a total colectomy, where she met an English Nursing Sister with an ileostomy who lent Ruth literature and newsletters, this is when Ruth discovered that there were Ostomy Groups around the world for support. Canterbury had a support group started with the help of the Red cross.

Ruth approached Otago Red Cross for help and they sent letters to known Ostomates inviting them to a meeting held on the 19th October 1964. Mr I J Templeton President of the New Zealand Red Cross Society, Otago Centre chaired the inaugural meeting. Speakers were Professor G J Frankel - Professor of Surgery and Mr John Heslop a Surgeon, both of the Dunedin Public Hospital. Mr John Heslop was still involved with the Society as Patron from 1986 to 2011.

The first president was Mr S D Hamilton and Mrs Ruth Westlake was Secretary. Co-opted on to the Committee were Mr John Heslop, Professor G J Frankel, and Mr K Campbell, Pharmacist at Dunedin Public Hospital. Annual Subscriptions were 7/6, of which 5/- to be donated to the Red Cross for their help and use of rooms.

In June 1967 Ruth Wedlake Received a Winston Churchill Scholarship to attend the United Ostomy Society Phoenix Convention which she attended in 1968 after being invited to go to the Cleveland Clinic by Norma Gill and Dr Robert Turnbull to undergo E T Training. Ruth was the first New Zealander to attend an Ostomy Convention as well as being the first E T Nurse in New Zealand.

In February 1969 talks were held with the Dunedin Public Hospital about an Ostomy Clinic which Ruth held on a voluntary basis until May 1971 when the Hospital employed her as a part time Enterostomal Therapist.

November 1972 Ruth and Elaine Watt (now Dasler) attended the first seminar on Ostomy care in Auckland. Ruth became the first president of the New Zealand Council, another first for Ruth and Otago.

March 1975the Otago Society decided to become an incorporated Society and was registered on 14^th October 1975. The bulk of the work being carried out by Mr M Cockroft.

Ruth Wedlake was the first life member of the Otago Society in June 1981, Other life members elected since then were Mrs Win Cazemeir and Mrs Win Tomkins, both being at the first meeting were elected at our 30^th Birthday Celebrations, all 3 are now deceased. July 200 Mrs Gwen Jones and Mrs Elaine Dasler (nee Watt) were elected as life members.

Over the 40 years the Otago Society has hosted 3 National Conferences in 1974, 1987 and 1996 all were most successful. Awareness days have been held in Alexandra and Oamaru and Dunedin the last being held in October 2004 along with the 40^th Birthday Celebrations.  The Society annually set up a display in the Dunedin Public Hospital running for a week to help increase public awareness.

In 1991 the Otago Society designed and had manufactured Ostomy Badges with the Phoenix Bird symbol, which is available to all Ostomates in new Zealand.

2000 saw the first Youth Camp being held at Tautuku Lodge in the Catlins, South Otago organised by Paula West with camp helpers from the Otago Society.

Over the last 40 years members have visited  new Ostomates in Hospital and at home, then being available by phone or visits for advice and more support if and when required. They have spoken to classes of trainee nurses, caregivers, dieticians, trainee doctors and any other groups interested in Ostomy’s when asked. Also they have taken part in any studies or surveys as requested by the Medical School in Dunedin.

The Otago Ostomy Society has a group of long standing Ostomates who have worked hard for the Society and Welfare of fellow Ostomates over many years and it is hoped they will continue to do so for many years.

To be continued.