Gwandalan Lions mission to help remote Fijian community

While 3,187kms separate Gwandalan and Nubuyanitu in Fiji, a remarkable charity drive that saw a shipping container loaded with 6,500kg of pre-loved goods delivered to Nubuyanitu’s school has resulted in ties that are closer than ever before.

Led by Lions Club of Gwandalan Inc, the project was the brainchild of Jade Mifsud and her husband Atu Katonitabua, who spent some of his early life in Nubuyanitu.

Their connections in Fiji had conveyed just how poverty-stricken and in need Bainimarama Vatutoko School and the local area was and how the most basic essentials would be completely transformative.

Based in Gwandalan, Jade and Atu were already connected to the local Lions Club via Jade’s sister Jackie, who is a Lions member.

A casual conversation between the trio with the club’s secretary Michelle Terry was the impetus for Jade, Atu and Atu’s cousin Manoa to join the Lions and with the practical know-how and commitment of the Club, bring the shipping container project to life.

“Our connections in the area, through family and friends, told us that Bainimarama Vatutoko School was in great need of basic supplies,” Jade said.

“As a Lions member, I knew we could come together to achieve something greater than the sum of its parts.”

Lions Club of Gwandalan Inc President Charlie Claxton was thrilled with the level of buy-in and commitment from the Club and community.

“It was definitely a mission, with many challenges and details, but I knew it was something we could achieve, and it fit with our remit to not just look after those around us, but also those in need overseas,” he said.

The project was 15 months from conception to delivery, beset with administrative hurdles, exporting and importing challenges and broken-down vehicles.

The top end of the Central Coast moved fast, and the container was quickly filled with generous donations: clothes, shoes, linen, laptops for the teachers, two TVs, two overhead projectors, medical supplies, ladders, fishing gear, school supplies, whiteboards, a defib machine, an array of footballs, soccer, tennis and basketballs, sports equipment and much, much more.

A ride-on mower to keep the school’s football field trim, and a saddle for the Head of School to ride his horse to school on also made it inside.

Jade, Charlie and Manoa managed the transportation of the container Fiji-side from the port to the village: a nail-biting journey that involved a 24-hour waiting game with Customs in a bid to prevent them from having the arduous, if not impossible, task of completely unpacking the container to be searched, and repacked for the truck to Nubuyanitu.

They got the all clear to go ahead, then the truck to Nubuyanitu broke down.

“That is a whole other story that is just too anxiety-inducing to relive,” Charlie said.

The container arrived on June 7, 2024, to bright sunshine and an audience of elated, excited and joyous students, parents, teachers and locals.

“Even the smallest item, such as a football, or a pair of soccer boots, brought so much joy to these kids,” Jade said.

“They were overwhelmed and so grateful for it.

“We too felt the same joy.”

Over the course of the next few days, the Lions were drowned in thank yous, warm smiles, generosity and kindness for all involved in the project.

The Lions on the ground saw just how lacking the school environment was – the floor of the shower in the girls’ school dorm is collapsing, there’s an urgent need for an incinerator and the village area is heavily flood prone and the school grounds and village would seriously benefit from drainage.

They’re big projects.

For now, the Lions of Gwandalan have retired to their sheds, brainstorming what is possible for the future.

Nicola Riches