Rotary District Governor visits Tonga [1]
Thursday, March 9, 2023 - 14:48
Mr Allan Smith, District Governor of Rotary visited Tonga from 1-6 March, to hold dialogues with partners and visit locations affected by the volcanic eruption and tsunamis.
He was accompanied by his wife Sue, the New Zealand Operations Manager for Rotary Oceania Medical Aid for Children (ROMAC), which provides surgical treatment for children who cannot be treated in their own country. ROMAC has benefitted children from Tonga over the years.
Mr Smith discussed opportunities that will be offered from the upcoming reform program aimed at making Rotary a more dynamic organisation supporting the communities it operates in.
They visited locations affected by the January 2022 Hunga-Tonga Hunga-Ha’apai volcanic eruption and tsunamis, held dialogues with Rotary partners and organisations who have been recipients of Rotary aid.
The couple also visited the new Dental Units and sick bays at Queen Salote College and Apifo’ou College that were delivered by Dr Goldsmith and his team from the Rotary Club of Ballarat West and Rotary Australia World Community.
They also met with Dr. ‘Ana ‘Akau’ola, Superintendent of Vaiola Hospital, a regular recipient of Rotary support of ambulances and other medical equipment. There are upcoming hospital projects such as the Hearing Aid Project led by the Rotary Club of Hampton in Australia.
They also visited MORDI Tonga, a key Rotary partner, who have been pivotal in distributing Rotary Emergency Response Kits (ERKs) following the tsunami, with each kit valued at NZD$800 with almost 600 ERKs distributed in 2022. They also went to the Mango Tree, Alonga Centre and Women & Children Crisis Centre, who Rotary regularly supports.
Mr. Smith presented donation of $20,000 pa’anga to the ‘Ko e Paletu’a Project’ to assist with the relocation and rehabilitation of the Mango Island Community to the island of ‘Eua.
This project is managed under the Queen Nanasipau'u Charity, which is looking to rebuild homes for the displaced communities of Mango Island and Kanokupolu.
The couple were hosted and supported by members of the Rotary Club of Nuku’alofa (RCN) headed by President Marcellina Wolfgramm Ha’apai.