SARARI VILLAGE PROJECT 2015

The Chair, Gordon Curran, introduced Tony Austin who has recently returned from a trip to Sariri. Sariri is a village in the Oro Province of PNG which suffered extensive flooding, loss of life and property damage during Cyclone Guba. Tony advised that subsequent to the disaster Elijah Sarigari, a former teacher and one of the community leaders of Oro Province, made contact with his former PNG school Principal, Reverend Donald Johnstone, who was living in Geelong at the time of the disaster, seeking help. Reverend Johnstone in turn contacted Anton Van Doornik of the Rotary Club of Geelong. Both Reverend Johnstone and Anton went to Sariri and it was agreed that assistance in rebuilding could be provided. Since then there have been Rotary teams working at Sariri Village in 2011, 2013 and 2015.

Tony was a member of the 2015 project team which departed Australia on 31 May and returned on 13 June. The team completed a number of scheduled projects as well as unscheduled projects. Tony's report was informative and extensive, a little large for this bulletin. For those who would like to read the report in its entirety, please click on the link below:

 

This project is ongoing and they need more help. Perhaps this could be our International Project. Graeme Ross has started the ball rolling by offering a diesel tractor he no longer needs, but is in good working order. At the moment all the carrying, lifting, and digging is done by the villagers who often have to walk a number of miles to cart wood or to visit a medical clinic. Thank you Graeme.