First thoughts for friends in Vanuatu

Scott Lyford helps son Malakai Lyford stack boxes in the Port Ahuriri School hall, with other school mates' donations for storm-damaged Vanuatu. Other students pictured are Jed Potbury (left), Zephyr Lyford, Baylee Apperley and Sophie Price. Photo / Warren Buckland

When Cyclone Pam hammered into Vanuatu a fortnight ago Napier woman Joylene Whibley's first thoughts were with the people she had spent so much time with during her six years there and she immediately embraced two words - "help them".

She joined a major charitable appeal for urgently needed items like clothing, bedding and items to create shelter, and the results had left her, and the others in the team of volunteers, overwhelmed and grateful.

With her children attending Port Ahuriri School there was no doubt where one of the collection, storage and packing points would be - the school hall.

That was never in doubt for another reason.

"Two former teachers from the school are teaching over there now."

Ms Whibley said the Monday after the cyclone had struck had created emotional scenes at the school as teachers, parents and students, many in tears, feared for the safety of the pair, Rhonda Smith and Erin Cosford.

"There was little communication - when we found out they were alright it was a wonderful relief."

However, the fears for the population of the islands remained.

She said, as the cyclone bore down, she received a text from the woman who had been her neighbour and good friend and who lived in one of the more solid houses in Vanuatu.

"She said the roof had collapsed down on them and they were under it all - and didn't know whether they were going to survive."

Ms Whibley eventually heard back from her friend, although realised that if the most solid house had been wrecked the rest of the more basic homes would have been blasted apart.

Since returning from her medical mission to Vanuatu she has worked with partner Scott Lyford running container and storage company Tranzstore, in Ahuriri, and they are providing all the logistical support to get the collected items to Vanuatu.

From across the wider region about 15 packed containers will be dispatched - five of them from Hawke's Bay.

"People have been so generous dropping things off," she said, adding that the Port Ahuriri School children had also been organising fundraising activities.

Taradale High School, the Hastings Baptist Church and Gemco Trades and Construction in Havelock North had also worked as collection points.

Ms Whibley said the people of Vanuatu faced a long and arduous road ahead but that road would be made smoother by the generosity of businesses and individuals in the Bay.

Donations to the Port Ahuriri School collection point will close tomorrow, while the other venues would continue to receive until early next week - so that the large scale packing could then be carried out.

Anyone wanting to help in the packing at Port Ahuriri School can call in between 9am and 3pm.

Ms Whibley said she was pleased that the setting up of the nurse training programmes had already borne positive benefits, with about 90 nurses, who had been drawn in to train from the badly affected outer islands, now "out in the field" applying their nursing skills.