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.

Following the attack, members of her tribe carried her 160kms to the nearest Mission hospital where she received her initial treatment. By the time she reached Kampala Hospital, 800kms away, infection had set in, and doctors battled to keep her alive.

Professor Joe Shepherd was the first to treat Margaret. He was a lecturer at the University of East Africa in Kampala at the time. 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.