Making a difference in the Pacific (From Dorset Echo)

Making a difference in the Pacific

9:28pm Thursday 1st October 2009 in Latest News

HERE in the South Pacific most people’s attention has been focused lately on the devastation caused by the tsunami in Samoa and Tonga.

There is a very strong bond between the many island nations in this area and disasters like this just serve to highlight how vulnerable the islanders are.

Some of the outlying islands of Fiji were affected, but on the whole we were let off very lightly here on this occasion.

We were on the island of Ovalau when the tsunami warning was issued. The children were sent home from school, but taken along the coastal track to their villages along the coast, which is where the majority of settlements are situated here. It does not bear to think what would have happened if a tsunami had struck.

It is hoped that the effects experienced in Samoa will at least result in the authorities here taking warnings more seriously in future and taking steps to make the public aware of the severity of the risk.

Our charity work continues to go well. In a couple of days we are travelling by boat to attend the official opening of our third kindergarten in Narikoso. The journey takes about 21 hours, almost as long as it took us to fly from the UK to Fiji!

The following week we have more sea journeys to visit our sanitation project on Vanua Levu and to check out a new project at one of the nursing stations on Taveuni.

• CATTISTOCK WI is hosting a coffee morning in aid of Hearing Dogs for the Deaf in the Savill Hall, Cattistock on Saturday, October 10, starting at 10.30am.

Entry costs 50p. There will be homemade cakes, produce, bric-a-brac, books, crafts, bring and buy and a raffle.

• STRATTON and Bradford Peverell WI has organised a whist evening at the Dower House on Tuesday, October 20.

• JACQUI Allen, Community Support Officer, will be in the Oak Room at the Fox and Hounds, Cattistock, between noon and 1pm on Tuesday, October 20.

If you have any issues you would like to raise with her or topics you wish to discuss, do go along and talk to her over a cup of coffee.

• MEMBERS of the Maiden Newton Art Group are asked to bring wool and something to copy (ie pictures of trees, flowers and underwater scenes) to the ‘textures’ workshop with Angela Frost on Wednesday, October 28.

The workshop runs from 10.30am to 4pm.

• THE MELBURY Men’s Breakfast Cub will be holding a skittles evening with a curry buffet meal at the Fox and Hounds in Cattistock on Friday, October 23.

More details including cost can be obtained from Paul Wilcock. In fact, if you would like to attend any of the meetings, please let Paul know no later than the Thursday before each date.

Telephone 01300 321112 or email p.wilcock@virgin.net