Rotary Australia World Community Service Limited (RAWCS) was established in 1987 as a public company limited by guarantee. Operated under its own constitution and authorised by Rotary International as a Multi-District Activity, RAWCS helps facilitate life-changing community service projects both locally and internationally.
Walkerston Rotary’s latest RAWCS project focuses on supporting communities in the Western Province of the Solomon Islands. The initiative aims to supply educational and teaching aids, medical supplies, and improve water and sanitation infrastructure in various villages. The long-term goal is to enhance health and education outcomes for island residents.
Over the past several months, Walkerston Rotary has received generous donations of books, school desks and chairs, school and sports uniforms, musical instruments, bikes, scooters, medical supplies and equipment, Days for Girls menstrual hygiene kits, wheelchairs, walking frames, crutches, and a wide range of items to assist people in developing regions.
Other Rotary clubs, businesses, and individuals have also pitched in to help fund the purchase of equipment and cover shipping costs.
Led by project manager Col Baldock, the club is currently planning to refurbish the water supply tanks at Helena Goldie Hospital in the Solomon Islands. Later this year, they will investigate how to assist in upgrading the hospital’s Children’s Ward.
To raise additional funds, the club is collecting old car and truck batteries and other recyclable materials.
They will also be hosting a ‘Scrubby Rotary’ Book Sale at North Mackay Rotary’s next Troppo Markets, featuring books not suitable as educational material for the Solomon Islands communities.
Currently, the club’s Solomon Islands storage facility has more school desks than chairs. Donations of school chairs in various sizes are most welcome and would be greatly appreciated.
Due to unreliable or non-existent power in many villages, schools and medical centres are always in need of laptop computers and generators.
The Nurses’ Training College has requested donations of medical mannequins — including open chest busts, individual organs, full skeletons, and resuscitation dummies. The club is currently investigating where these might be sourced affordably or ideally at no cost.
During a previous visit to Munda, Solomon Islands, Rotarians learned from the medical superintendent that the hospital had gone six weeks without any pain relief medication. With the help of a local pharmacy, Walkerston Rotary arranged for a large supply to be delivered on the next visit — the first the hospital had received in nearly four months.
Walkerston Rotary also partners with the local Days for Girls group to distribute menstrual hygiene kits throughout the region.
With previous work in the Solomon Islands now completed, Mackay North Rotary and Mooloolaba Rotary Clubs have joined forces to support Walkerston Rotary’s ongoing projects in the area.
If you have items to donate or would like to support the initiative, please contact Walkerston Rotary’s Project Manager – all donations are tax-deductible.
Contributed by Col Baldock
Walkerston Rotary, through its RAWCS initiative, is delivering vital educational, medical, and infrastructure support to the Western Province of the Solomon Islands, with the help of generous community donations, local partnerships, and a shared commitment to improving health and education outcomes. Photos supplied
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