Just imagine. You have always lived in Fiji. You have just committed to work in Australia on a 3-year Visa to work as a labourer for the Pacific Australia Labour Mobility Scheme (PALM) ...

Article by Rtn Pam Wood, co-founder of the Provisional Rotary Club of International Positive Peace (IPP). 

... You are part of a group and you will be working in abattoirs somewhere in Victoria. You arrive at the end of Autumn. You have no concept of winter in Victoria, and are shocked that you are completely unprepared in so many different ways.

This scenario was recently presented to an information/recruiting meeting for IPP by a potential member Sylvia Coombe, the President of the Fijian Community Association of Victoria (FCAV) for the Provisional Rotary Club of International Positive Peace (IPP).

The two newly arrived groups of Fijians workers had arrived in Moe and Nunawading, and they were under-resourced and were freezing.

The PALM appointed support services were not organised and a temporary solution was desperately needed to be championed.

IPP’s co-founder Pam Wood, with member support, decided to use this situation as a pilot project. Her first email was to DGE 9790 David McPherson (D9790) describing the situation. She requested Rotary contacts in the Districts that groups had arrived in, to see if they could help. David swiftly responded (as always) and a chain of emails was established. Pam emailed Paul Mee DGE 9820 and President David McInnes (Morwell) and President Di Harrison (Moe) were contacted. Sylvia was amazed to receive a call on Easter Monday from David McInnes asking how he could help.

Within days, thanks to DGE Paul Mee (D9820) the 20 Fijians in Moe were contacted within days by Rotarians from both Morwell and Moe. As part of this collaborative network, the BawBaw Ministry of St Vincent’s de Paul provided all arrivals with new warm clothing and adequate blankets. Different Rotarians made a point to drop around and introduce themselves to the two Fijian households in the first couple of weeks.

A Rotary Morwell/Moe welcome BBQ lunch was organised a week later. . Representatives of “Vinnies”, ” and IPP members Pam Wood and Lisa Dourley were also invited and we all enjoyed a wonderful lunch together. The Fijians were so thankful for all of the support, they held a traditional Kava ceremony to thank and honour their new “family.” This was a ritual and moving ceremony. Their voices and their sincerity warmed all of our hearts – or maybe that was the Kava. There are other activities that and visits have occurred and are planned to create more community engagement opportunities. for this new community and there will be great competition for their voices at local church services. After they settle, they also want to be part of community projects to give-back where they can.

The other group, 47 Fijians were housed in temporary accommodation in Nunawading. DGE Ken Miller (District 9810) contacted Rotary Nunawading and Shia and Duncan Smart sprang into action. Thanks to their donations, Huge thanks to both Shia and Duncan Smart who coordinated the collection and distribution of warm clothing and blankets. Combined with the donations from Pam’s network, (thanks to Heidelberg Good Karma Network) the lounge of a motel room was virtually filled with items to be distributed.

We knew this was an unsustainable approach. A more resilient and transparent support system needed to be established for sustainable solutions. After these “teething problems”, a meeting was organised with key stakeholders including PALM representatives. Attendees were from PALM appointed support services, FCAV, Dandenong Social Support Services, and included representation of five different Rotary Clubs, all with the intention of creating Connected Communities. From this meeting a working group is now will be established to ensure better systems and supports are will be in place for future arrivals. They will , to assist with integration into their communities and creating mutually beneficial relationships. Rotarians from three districts will stay involved as part of the solution. Recently 70 Fijian workers arrived in Clayton and they will greatly benefit from the lessons learned.

Prior to attending our IPP meeting, Sylvia (and most of her Fijian community) had never heard of Rotary. They were amazed at how supportive and dynamic the Rotary network could be. for their fellow countrymen and women in dire need.

This is a wonderful example of how Rotary networks can work as “One”, how Rotarians really are “People of Action” and how inspiring it is to be part of a huge volunteer network that truly cares for others. Also, It was a great pilot project for Rotary IPP (Provisional) to be involved in.