A team of 15 Rotarians from West Wollongong Rotary Club has just returned from the Cook Islands where they delivered a container load of medical supplies, school and other “goodies” to local organisations through the Rotary Club of Rarotonga.
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Under the lead of Rotarian Robert Armessen, the West Wollongong team spent 11 months collecting medical gear, crutches, school seats, brand new health equipment, lots of sports uniforms, 200 boxes of school books and $3500 worth of paint. Two days were spent loading these items into a container for shipping.
On arrival in the Cook Islands, the Rotarians, with lots of local help, spent their first few days on the island of Rarotonga unloading this container of donated goods and sorting them onto pallets for distribution.
The medical equipment was delivered to the local hospital where the Chief Medical Officer Dr May Aung expressed her appreciation.
“Not only are we in need of medical equipment, but also the other items which we also need, such as the paint will be of good use as we prepare for the Pacific Health Ministers’ meeting (in August),” she said.
Rotarian Bob Armessen said West Wollongong Rotary was happy to assist with the maintaining and upgrading of local health clinics and the various government ministries on Rarotonga.
“If we can supply materials and resources, then that is helpful and I’m sure it will all be put to good use,” he said.
Rarotonga Rotary Club project co-ordinator Greg Amos welcomed the visitors from West Wollongong.
“Each Rotary club has a responsibility to have some sort of overseas input and project,” he said.
“This is a joint project between Rotary Club of West Wollongong, Australia, and the Rotary Club of Rarotonga.”
It is hoped that this collaborative Rotary project will continue in coming years.
In all, the team from West Wollongong Rotary spent 10 days on the main island of Rarotonga and then four days in Aitutaki.
After speaking to a variety of people on the island, club members could see there was a real need for the materials they had brought.
Publicity on their warm welcome has been captured in two articles in the Cook Islands newspaper.
plus a report on CITV: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_HU40-b_on0
For further information about the projects of the local Rotary Clubs, contact Sue Clark, ballyclark@bigpond.com on 0402 818 075.
