X-Message-Number: 4723
From:  (Thomas Donaldson)
Subject: Re: CryoNet #4682 - #4687
Date: Sat, 5 Aug 1995 23:04:34 -0700 (PDT)

Hi!

I am Thomas Donaldson. I worked at ANU for 15 years, still own half-share (the
other is owned by my wife) in a house in Canberra, and return periodically to
Australia for visits. I retain my residency rights. 

There are a fair number of cryonicists in Australia already. Most of them
are members of Alcor, but there are members of the other two main societies
also. My wife is a cryonicist, too, and has just returned from a 2 month
visit with me in the US. 

By chance there is one cryonicist, a member of Alcor, who works in the ACT
and lives in Queanbeyan. (Be warned: he is far from the most articulate
person I've ever met, but he HAS been a cryonicist and member of Alcor for
years now). His name is Geoff Lee, with address PO Box 315, Queanbeyan, NSW
20). 

I consider my wife among the more level-headed members of the Australian
group, though some may disagree (she can also lose her temper very easily,
though it passes quickly). She did not take my name. Her name is Catherine
(Cath) Woof. Since she does not have a PO Box, and you are a bit of a 
stranger, I won't give you her address without her permission. However I 
write her every week and will mention you in my letter tomorrow. (I don't
think she would want me to give you her address without her permission, and
I like to keep good relations with my wife!).

There is also a kind of "umbrella group" called the Cryonics Association of
Australia. Its current President is Theo Tatton, PO Box 57, Hampton, VIC
3188. Most of its members are also members of Alcor. 

You should know that (despite the fact that Australian cryonicists and
the cryonics community in the US were organized enough to recently bring one
Australian over to the US for suspension here) right now there seems to be
an excess of factionalism. As I understand, Steve Bridge (President of Alcor)
has been intervening by phone, letter, and email. Under Alcor's auspices 
there has been some training. There is also at least one mortician in 
Melbourne who understands what we want to do and has been quite willing to
help. One Alcor member in Australia has charge of the equipment to do a 
washout and cooldown for shipping; part of the factionalism is that he has
been highhanded at least in statements he has made, so that several people
no longer want him to be in that position.

I hope to learn much more about this situation when I come to visit, and
perhaps even do something about it, but we will have to see. 

Finally I must make one MAJOR point. Cryonics is small in Australia. Cryonics
is small EVERYWHERE. Not only that, but things move very slowly. If you 
seriously want to be cryonically suspended, even if you don't think you will
need it for at least 60 years, then the time to start thinking and working
towards that goal is NOW. One important thing you can do, if you are working,
is to get a life insurance policy for a minimum of $50,000 US. (The more the
better). I understand perfectly why you might not want to become involved
right now, but that desire not become involved can turn easily into a recipe
for death. Among other points, the earlier you get a life insurance policy,
the healthier you will be and the less it will cost. When I was younger I
bought lots of life insurance; I personally have recovered from a brain 
tumor, and now would not be accepted by any company on earth. Not only that,
but if you don't like the situation in Australia once you have met some of
the people I listed above, then you are faced with either accepting it or
trying to do something. Cryonics is a wonderful idea, and there are real
people, even in Australia, who are trying to implement it. And as with real
people everywhere, every one of them has very noticeable flaws. (The same
can be said of cryonicists here, except that there are more of them and
it's easier for the flaws to cancel one another out). 

When I come down we might be able to arrange a meeting. In any case, I
wish you the best of luck and the best of your own abilities, and 

			Long long life,

				Thomas Donaldson
				


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