FAIM TEAM REPORT TO THE CLUB

Kev Roben, Tim and Colleen Barter, Ray Bagley and Jim and Maureen Doig travelled to Vanuatu from the 14th to the 28th May 2011 to assist with building a womens community health centre at Lenakal Hospital and to repair school buildings damaged by severe storms.

Their itinerary took them from Sydney to Port Vila and then a further flight to the island of Tanna. Their accommodation was far from four star, consisting of bamboo huts with fly screen walls, showers that worked occasionally and very humid conditions.

The locals seemed totally unprepared for the arrival of the Rotarians and team and work had to commence from the very basics which included ordering supplies.

The hospital building was to be constructed from Besser blocks which require mortar. The sand was full of coral and had to be screened through a primitive bed base with chicken wire.

Thanks to the intrepid work of our team the results at the end of the fortnight were outstanding given the conditions and the local TAFE students who assisted gained a great deal including certificates which were like gold to them.

Kev and the team gained more from the interaction with the local people than they did from the building work itself although they were very satisfied with the results of their excellent efforts. They had time to visit a local volcano and to do some fishing.

George Thomas gave a vote of thanks which was thoroughly endorsed by the club.