Big hearted South Coast businesses, individuals and high schools have combined their efforts to bring resources to a remote school in Papua New Guinea.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Six south coast mates had no idea what was to follow their surf trip to Kavieng Provence of PNG. What was a trip to celebrate their 50th birthdays, turned into a community led gathering of resources for a high school without running water, electricity or adequate amenities.
While enjoying the waves of the tropical paradise, Matt Philpott, Marty Richardson, Pete Ryan, Paul Berry, Andrew Munro and Dave Ball visited Namatanai Secondary School to give the students some stationery and footballs they had taken over. What they saw blew them away.
The 700 students – 500 of whom board at the school – were living in sub-standard conditions while attempting to complete their equivalent of the Higher School Certificate.
With a non-functional library it was obvious the dedicated students needed some help.
Upon their return the men spoke of their experience and were overwhelmed with the community’s response.
Bennett Environmental’s donation of a 5000 litre rainwater tank opened a flood gate of generosity. Total Eden at Bomaderry contributed another tank, Outdoors and Beyond gave a food cooler and Bell’s Sewing gave several sewing machines. Nowra Salvo Store and local schools continued to fill the three storage units, kindly donated by Green Cube Storage. Reece Plumbing topped it off with hundreds of dollars of plumbing supplies.
The ‘wish list’ from the school grew smaller and smaller as people purchased generators, chainsaws, class sets of hammers and saws, musical instruments and science equipment.
High schools between Shellharbour and Vincentia filled more than 200 boxes with textbooks – enough to fill the empty Namatanai school library.
The school was amazed to hear of the effort from the South Coast locals and sent their thanks to all involved.