SAVES is not affiliated with Exit International / Dr Philip Nitschke and opposes the public availability of a 'peaceful pill'.

As you will see from the leaflet included with this edition of The V E Bulletin, the Voluntary Euthanasia Research Foundation Inc. (Director: Dr Philip Nitschke) is organising the first Australian national voluntary euthanasia conference, in Broken Hill. Entitled 'Dying in Australia - Taking Control', it will run from Friday 3^rd to Sunday 5^th August.

SAVES intends to support this conference, along with voluntary euthanasia societies from all other states and the Northern Territory. Several committee members will be attending, and we urge our members to do so if they possibly can.

The date and location have been chosen to commemorate the ordeal of Mr Max Bell, who drove 2,000 km from his home in Broken Hill to Darwin, seeking voluntary euthanasia from Dr Nitschke under the Northern Territory's Rights of the Terminally Ill Act, which was then in force.

Although clearly dying he was unable to obtain the necessary additional signatures, due to the recalcitrance of most of the medical profession in Darwin at the time. Bitterly disappointed he drove back to Broken Hill, where he died in August 1996. He was a true martyr, and after nearly five years since his death, the conference will include the unveiling of a commemorative headstone on his currently unmarked grave.

Arrangements for the conference are still being finalised but it is expected that it will commence early on the Friday morning and conclude at midday on Sunday. It is likely that there will be six sessions, each with a keynote speaker, and with ample time for questions and comments from the floor. In addition there will be the graveside ceremony, an informal 'getting to know one another' gathering on Friday night, and a conference dinner with Marshall Perron on Saturday night.

Cost of registration has not yet been determined, but it is hoped that it will be $150 or less, excluding the cost of the optional dinner. When details are finalised they will be published in a brochure available in April.

To register your interest in possibly attending, and for inclusion on the mailing list for a copy of the brochure, contact VERF Conference Organiser, Bill Lawson, a SAVES Life Member by:

- email : conference@euthanasia.net
- post : 6 Short Street, Wayville, 5034
- telephone : (08) 8271 2846

13 March 2001