By MELISSA MEEHAN
A SHORT visit to a remote island has turned a holiday into a fundraising initiative for a Lilydale businessman.
David Moody travelled to Tatau Island, a remote Papua New Guinean island, in July with a group of friends who were simply looking for a more meaningful global and cultural experience.
But he came home with much more than that.
After seeing the lack of resources at the 150 pupil Tatau Island School, Mr Moody and his friends decided to continue their ‘journey’ back in Australia by banding together to raise funds for an urgently-needed school library.
“It will cost approximately $5000 for library to be built – including solar power – which will be distributed appropriately to the community leaders who will use local labour and materials,” Mr Moody said.
Since they returned the friends have been brainstorming fund-raising initiatives and now, the Tatau Island School Library Project is the focus of a two-day Open Garden event which will be held at Mr Moody’s five-acre family property in Chirnside Park this Saturday.
With sponsorship from local businesses, the weekend event will include a range of family-focused activities, games, prizes, food and live music and entry is $15 per family or $5 per adult.
Mr Moody said his trip to the remote PNG destination was inspiring and he has been encouraged by the amount of interest in his fund-raising mission.
“During the two weeks we developed friendships with the locals and experienced their humbleness and gratitude.
“It made me realise that I could help do something that that was enormous in their eyes, but relatively small from my perspective and experience,” he said.
“My goal since returning home has been to organise something that will help achieve the library dream for this community.”
The Tatau Island School Library Project Open Garden Weekend will be held on 23-24 November at 153 Victoria Road, Chirnside Park from 10am to 4pm.
