The Water Tanks.

With your generous donations, our work on Buliya Island is progressing very well. We now have eight water tanks on the island, and a group of very appreciative islanders.

We arrived at Buliya on Christmas Eve ’09 and were shocked at the devastation caused by the cyclone that had ravaged Fiji the week prior to our arrival. But in true Fijian style we were warmly greeted by the islanders who said “it’s OK’. These people are amazingly resilient. The cyclone had destroyed ALL of their fruit trees and ALL of their vegetable crops. Food was very scarce. The Fijian Government sent out some emergency supplies that consisted of flour, sugar and rice. Even the fish were hard to find after the cyclone!! Never mind we thought, if they have to put up with hard times, so do we. I was very proud of Glenda. Never once did she complain about the conditions.

The island was a total mess. The world media reported the cyclone in Fiji, but isolated islands like Buliya, which actually copped the full force of the winds, did not even rate a mention.

Even though the Fijian culture relaxes and celebrates Christmas and the New Year for two weeks, we were keen to start work installing the guttering and connecting the water tanks. No rest we thought, we’re here to work, let alone cleaning up all the damage from the devastating cyclone as well. By the time we departed, five tanks were installed, huts rebuilt, fallen trees cut up and removed and generally cleaning up the devastation. It never ceases to amaze me as to how these people manage to carry out tasks with a lack of correct tools for the job. We used large cane cutting knives, much like a machete to cut large tree limbs. Some trees taking two days to cut through!! And again, all they do is smile and say ”it’s OK”.

As a part of what we are doing on the island, I formed a group of capable men to be in charge of installing the guttering on the huts as the materials arrive at the island. They were very quick to learn as I went through the installation step by step. It was then decided that this group will be in charge of general maintenance for the village. If anything is too difficult they will do a temporary fix till I return, when I’ll then show them how to fix it properly.

Our commitment to Buliya Island is as strong as ever. Your generous donation has helped with the supply and installation of water tanks for the people of Buliya Island providing them with clean fresh drinking water. Fiji is also in the grip of a drought and the outer islands suffer more than anyone as they don’t have reservoirs. They can only trap water in large plastic drums when it rains. Thanks to you this is now changing. Fresh clean water is a basic right for all humans. Without water the human race would not survive.

As of Nov 2010 - 10 tanks
As of April 2011 - 29 tanks, plus 1 x 500 litre tank for the medical centre that we are setting up thanks to a very generous donation from The Steel Club of Victoria

Rob with Jone (John) in front of the first tank installed