Rotarians lend Fijian children a helping hand

080714sp1 Rotary volunteers to Fiji. 08 July 2014 Daily Post photograph by Stephen Parker RGP 11Jul14 - 080714SP1 BULA VINAKA: Fiji-bound Rotarians (from left) Sue Gunn, Kay Clark, Rachel Warrend

Rotary Rotorua Sunrise immediate past president A group of Rotorua Rotarians have their bags packed for two weeks in Fiji.

But it will be nail guns, not nail polish, amongst their luggage.

The five Rotary Rotorua Sunrise members - Sue Gunn, Rosie Waller, Rachel Warrender, Lynne Joseph and Kay Clark - are embarking on overseas active voluntary service at Taveuni Island, about a 90-minute flight, north west of Nadi.

There will be little time to work on the tan for the five women who have fundraised nearly $30,000 to help refurbish a girls' dormitory at Niusawa High School.

Instead, the group will be painting and installing 20 furniture units for the dormitory, re-roofing the building and replacing windows and frames, says Rotary Rotorua Sunrise immediate past president Sue Gunn.

"It was a opportunity for five Rotarians to put up their hands up and go - the five of us were the quickest to put our hands up," she says.

The club has a long association with Taveuni Island. In the past six years, they have helped supply linen, furniture and other items donated by Rotorua schools, hotels and Rotorua Hospital, she says.

"We have done a lot of fundraising to make this happen and it's a dream come true to actually get actively involved in an overseas project that helps our Pacific neighbours, especially the children."

The project also fits with some of Rotary International's key focus areas of education and literacy, child health, and economic and community development, she says.

"Our club has been supporting the Rotary Club of Taveuni Island for several years now by sending medical supplies, linen, towels, tools, books, desks and chairs to Fiji."

The group will be hosted by Geoffrey and Joey Amos, of the Rotary Club of Taveuni Island, and meet other Rotarians.