OUR COMMUNITY & SUPPORTERS
While we depend on many in Australia and PNG, a few deserve special mention.
They are our family, our wantoks.
Turramurra Hamamas Meris
Sue Spencer & Pam Pritchard lead the Hamamas Meri support team of the Rotary Club of Turramurra, backing up our PNG team and providing community outreach. Engaging a team of approximately 30 women from the Club and Sydney community they source and prepare materials for PNG women’s groups to sew and sell kits.
Initial training from Ryde Days For Girls Team Leader, Janelle Dodd, got us on the way.
Meeting each month for four hours at a time this group – known as the Turramurra Hamamas Meris – takes on preparatory tasks too difficult in village settings where just finding a suitable working space, tables and chairs can be challenging.
Their preparatory work supports their PNG sisters to focus on kit sewing and maximising kit sales and connects the two groups through friendship.
The group’s monthly working bees are valued at over $68,000 however their impact is far greater: they are the backbone of the Hamamas Meri programme which today touches thousands of PNG lives through its health awareness sessions, sewing skills training and pathways to income.
Long before the ‘Pacific Step Up’ and the ‘Pacific Pivot’ became familiar terms, the Turramurra Hamamas Meris were already walking the talk.
Hamamas Meri….Because PNG women & girls shouldn’t be held back.
MARIA MOLNAR BIBLE TRAINING SCHOOL
Management, students and friends of the Maria Molnar Bible Training School in Lugos provide invaluable support to several Wantaim PNG programmes.
THE PROJECT
During the recent completion of the Lap’lang Facility MMBTS students volunteered to source local sago and weave the sago walls.
In support of COVID-Soap, management approved Wantaim PNG’s use of a secure storage and packing space so that 133,000+ bars of soap could be labelled, packed and readied for handover to local level government representatives.
This major undertaking was run three times at two monthly intervals with follow up visits to ensure fair distribution, and drew in support from management, students and their families alike.
In no small way their collective actions are contributing directly to keeping a province safe.
ROTARY INTERNATIONAL
With their dedication to “causes that build international relationships, improve lives, and create a better world”, it was inevitable that the paths of Rotary and Wantaim PNG would cross.
Through our two core programmes – Hamamas Meri and Gudpela Sindaun – Wantaim PNG is directly targeting four of the seven Rotary key areas of focus
- Promoting Peace
- Fighting Disease through prevention and treatment
- Providing clean water, sanitation and hygiene
- Saving mothers and children
- Supporting education
- Growing local economies
- Protecting the environment
Eleven Rotary Clubs across NSW, QLD and PNG back our programmes and – with an internationally mobile team and zoom! – we’re open to meeting more. So, no matter which part of the world you call home, if our work sounds of interest reach out today and let’s start a conversation.
VOLUNTEERS & COLLABORATORS
We enjoy the support of many experienced professional volunteers without whom Wantaim PNG could not operate.
Henry & Des. Restored many tools 
RAWCS load goods for Lap’lang women’s facility 
Mark Plumb. Mr Fix it. 
Susie Morgan, Rotary Manly President & champion for PNG 
PNG born Sue the driving force behind the Turramurra HMs 
Linda Nathan packing tools 
Jo Nott – our superstar video editor 
Rotaract, International Toilet Day awareness 
Pam Pritchard – an upstoppable force & Rotary champion
Sponsors
