Many years ago, Dr Kevin Moriarty received an unusual phone call. It was a vet from the Melbourne Zoo who asked Kevin if he could help with newly born orangutan twins and their very ill mother after a very difficult birth. For Dr Moriarty that was the beginning of forty years of voluntary work at the zoo with his wife Val, an anaesthetic nurse and they still continue with this work.
Kevin was born at Mount Evelyn, went to Melbourne University, studied medicine, and practised as an anaesthetist in Melbourne. It is more than twenty five years since Dr Peter Atkinson asked Kevin for help with the annual Lorne Pier to Pub and Mountain to Surf Run where many athletes require medical attention after their exhausting efforts. Kevin convinced the committee to introduce wetsuits for the swim to reduce incidents of hypothermia. He twisted the arms two public figures and role models, Tony Abbot and Ted Baillieu to wear wetsuits in recent years to set an example. Both meekly complied. Kevin was also instrumental in changing the Mountain to Surf from a hot late afternoon run to an early morning event. Previously, there had been too many cases of hyperthermia. Since the time change there has not been one case.
In early days, the Moriarty’s tried holidays at Portsea, Blairgowrie and Point Lonsdale, but once they tried Lorne there was no turning back. They loved the combination of bush and ocean and they purchased a home in 1992. In retirement, Kevin and Val spend more time in Lorne as well as overseas travel. They have been long serving members of the SLSC and their children grew up with the clear mind and body environment of the beach. Kevin’s involvement with the Surf Club gave him the opportunity to give back some expertise that has helped others.
For many years, Kevin and Val have worked as volunteers in the South Pacific, New Guinea, Vanuatu and the Solomon Islands and also in Botswana in South Africa, with a medical team doing plastic surgery, treating children with burns, cleft lips and cleft palates and other similar problems. Their work makes a huge difference to the lives of those lucky enough to receive this treatment.
“Val has been a wonderful, stable influence to both myself and the kids,” Kevin emphasised as we parted company.
