Coast group digs in for devastated Indonesia
Here’s how to help the recovery
GOLD Coast locals are throwing their hearts, souls and wallets into repairing a battered Indonesian island after a series of catastrophic earthquakes this year.
Lombok experienced five earthquakes and aftershocks in two months, devastating the small, once picturesque island and killing at least 500 people.
Burleigh Heads woman Tracey Courtney has been fundraising for grassroots organisation Lombok’s Forgotten Children for four years, which was established after one man decided to make a change.
“Lombok island in Indonesia still has very primitive villages and the children need a lot of medical care and don’t get it,” Ms Courtney said.
“Peter Honey, a philanthropist from New Zealand, began the group when he saw a young girl with a tumour in her eye. He approached her and paid for her surgery, which was successful.
“Then he realised there was a need for things to change so that’s how we started.”
The organisation works with locals to identify areas of need and administer help as required.
Since the earthquakes that first hit in July, their attention has turned to helping rebuild communities that are not receiving government help.
Ms Courtney and a crew on the ground that is entirely volunteer have found that with a one-step-at-a–time approach, they are making progress.
“After the earthquakes and aftershocks 400,000 houses have bee destroyed and there are now 80,000 homeless,” Ms Courtney said.
“The tent cities are flooded and in a crisis situation as the rains have arrived.
“It’s important to move the vulnerable children and elderly out of this situation as disease has broken out – malaria and dysentery are rampant.
“What Peter came up with was rather than sitting in tents, we need to get a teams into the villages with building supplies and rebuild each house one at a time.
“They can reuse materials, all we need is the manpower and tools, so we’re making big headway.
“We’re proactive and looking to empower locals to do it for themselves too.”
On October 25 Ms Courtney will hold a fundraiser called Love4Lombok at Hideaway Kitchen and Bar with all proceeds going to the Lombok’s Forgotten Children.
The money will help fund the rebuilding of Lombok as well as helping in Sulawesi, east of Borneo, after an earthquake and tsunami killed at least 800 people there.
The event will be a night of music, fashion, food, drinks, raffles and prizes with tickets available at Hideaway for $100.
“People can search ‘Love4Lombok Fundraiser’ on Facebook to find out more information,” Ms Courtney said.
“These funds are desperately needed so we are really hoping people will come along and dig deep.
“Everyone in Lombok dropped everything to see who we could get to Sulawesi.
“Now we have demand from Sulawesi too, we need help.”
Tickets for Love4Lombok are available from Hideaway Kitchen and Bar, Broadbeach.