The Friends of Vellore (FOV) groups have been in existence for more than 80 years. Sydney and Melbourne were the first and the rest followed over the years. Currently there are active groups of FOV in various states of Australia – New South Wales, Victoria, Queensland, and South Australia. The groups in the different states are located in the capital cities and they work throughout the year in various ways to support Christian Medical College and Hospital at Vellore.
All the Fund raising and promotional activities of the FOV are organised at the state level. The Australian Board of the Vellore Christian Medical College and Hospital, the National Body, was established in 1956. Its role is to coordinate the activities of these groups. It has the status of a registered charity and donations made are tax-exempt in Australia. The financial support raised by the activities of the state branches is channelled via the Board to various projects in CMC, particularly those that cater for the poor and marginalised people in India.
Apart from fundraising, we are also involved in:
The CMC was initially started as a medical school for women in 1918 by Dr. Ida Scudder, and upgraded to a college in 1942. After a spectacular expansion in recent years, CMC Vellore is a multi-speciality medical institution of international fame with nearly 3000 beds, spread over various campuses. At present it has an annual intake of 100 students.
Ida Scudder founded The Christian Medical College and believed that it was a calling and a challenge set before her by God to begin a ministry to the health needs of the people of India, particularly women and children. Today the CMC is now one of the leading institutions in India, known all over the world for its excellence in clinical care, medical research and education.
The Australian Board of Vellore Christian College and Hospital was established in 1956 to co-ordinate the activities of the various state branches of Friends of Vellore. For many years the board was based around the Sydney Friends of Vellore. Over the years, the Board has evolved into a truly national organisation with representation from various states of the country.