Australian pedorthists attend Guangzhou Rehab Fair in China
A group of ten people from Australia used the opportunity for a visit as part of Guangzhou Rehab Fair China. In addition to the exhibition itself, their tour included a social program and a tour of the clinical and technical facilities as well. Ernie Tye, President of the Pedorthic Association of Australia, reports from the trip.
The tour group with the tranlator: Andries Van Tonder, Nelson and Senya Gonzalez, Craig and Linett Kenna, Karl-Heinz Schott, David Sutton, Howard Smith, Kris Nastevski and Ernie Tye. The tour was organised by Howard Smith from PAA sponsor company Gadean footwear.
The Pedorthic Association of Australia (PPA) first became aware of this conference when Casper Ozinger (now PAA GM) was preparing for the IVO conference in Sydney 2012. The IVO organising committee of 2012 shared website links for each of the 2012 conferences.
Through discussions with PAA member and sponsor Howard Smith of Gadean footwear and the organiser they were offered a stand at the exhibition at no cost. What an opportunity for Pedorthics in Australia to once again stand on a world stage! The Southern Cross University tertiary education centre for Pedorthics in Australia was thought of as a a key promotion. Also Australia’s own Annual International Pedorthic Symposiums (IPS) would get a promotional profile. The time zones for Australians travelling to China are favourable and if it sounds easy and enjoyable to travel to China then Chinese may come down under.
Ten people – eight PAA members and two partners – registered for the symposium and worked on the PAA exhibition booth. The conference was held from Saturday to Monday (28st to 31st March 2014).
Exhibition
There were three different promotional upright banners in both English and Chinese translation. One was focussed on the University course at Southern Cross University Queensland Australia. One was the definition of Pedorthics and the third was a more graphic representation of pedorthic work. There were three postcard handouts matching the upright promotional banners equivalent to the posters. These were printed in both English and Chinese – 1000 of each design. After the exhibition the majority was handed out. It was notable that many who stopped at the PAA stand did speak English – maybe a fifth.
On the booth, to see and touch, were a few Pedorthic items and also ran a PowerPoint on loop of a Pedorthic case. The stand looked very professional as did the people manning the stand and the "Aussies" were really popular. The group of travellers took turns on manning the stand. It was generally a fun and enjoyable time for each and the conversations were always interactive. The group had an interpreter in use, which was absolutely necessary.
The exhibition booth had a high flow of interested people.
Scientific meeting
The Rehab Fair is held simultaneous to the scientific portion of the meeting. It was a typical rehabilitation meeting. The session that Australia presented at was amongst a series of Pedorthic presentations. Raymond Ng from China chaired the morning and also spoke. A large audience attended as both Karl-Heinz Schott and Ernie Tye from the Australian group did their presentations: The president of the Australian group Ernie Tye presented on pedorthics in Australia and the horizon of world pedorthics; Karl-Heinz Schott did a presentation on the treatment with senso-motoric othoses. Other speakers were from Hongkong and Singapore.
The PAA president presented on pedorthics in Australia and the horizon of world pedorthics.
Professional tours
The days prior to the exhibition and scientific meeting was all about professional tour sights of Guangzhou itself, a very very large city with much to see. The group had the benefit of a guided tour by a representative of Raymond Ng. Mr Ng is the proprietor of Dr Kong, a very large and well established children's focused healthy shoe franchise. The tour guide Ian, a senior manager at Dr Kong in Singapore, spoke English very well. One highlight was a visit to the Dr Kong footwear factory where children's footwear and backpacks were made. Cameras came out when the group witnessed some of the production processes and got an understanding of ‘the Chinese way’ with employees work conditions and work processes.
As the group toured the town, an organised afternoon showed them through two uniquely different hospitals – a western medicine style hospital rehabilitation department where things were familiar to sights in an Australian hospital. Then they moved on to a Chinese traditional medicine hospital. The group became fascinated with the traditional medicine. Some of the group experienced firsthand the traditional methods of using bee stings, cupping and acupuncture.
Nelson Gonzalez getting bee sting ‘treatment’ at the Chinese traditional medicine hospital.
The tour led also to visit the precinct where large parts of the footwear manufacture industry is located. A new translator, who knew the district layout very well, was added to the group. Karney, a lovely Chinese lady, had a good grasp on footwear and the English language translation. Gadean footwear supplied the translator and Kris Nastevski from the Australian company Gadean was the new tour director. The vast multi-suburb district included suppliers of components for the footwear manufacturing industry as well as the ‘shop fronts’ where the worlds retailers come to view and purchase bulk amounts of footwear and components, minimum 1000 pair. It is true to say that the tour group was all a bit speechless at the enormity of the size and immense variety of it all. In Australia there is a term ‘gob-smacked’. It means people are unable to understand or comprehend something. This was one such occasion.
In another area of Guangzhou we visited the factory where Australian company Gadean footwear is located. Howard Smith, PAA member from Perth and recently Certified Pedorthist, and Kris Nastevski led the group on a train trip and walk to and though the Gadean footwear factory of which they are both very proud. It seems a well organised business and involves an impressive amount of travel for them both. This part of the tour was very enjoyable and educational.
Social times
The social times were very limited, particularly for those who arrived in China a little later. Seeing and experiencing a new way of everyday life is always part of any travel destination anywhere in the world. For some, it is the very reason they travel. This group enjoyed every minute together and it would be hard to find ten people that continuously got on so well each day. From train travel to choosing food destinations to setting up and pulling down the exhibit, each person stated that they all worked very well as a team. One major highlight was the Guangzhou Circus. And we also visited a traditional Chinese worship place in the suburbs of Guanzhou – a Pagoda.
Summary
A tour such as this is very beneficial and enjoyable when combined with a symposium. It provides excellent benefits for the members and the organisation of PAA. IVO Paris in March 2015 should be another opportunity for a similar tour.
by Ernie Tye, President PAA
