That’s the sharing spirit

By Casey Neill
FERNTREE Gully charity founder Peter Cole has been bringing smiles to the faces of Fiji’s underprivileged kids for almost 10 years.
The Knox councillor was yesterday one of 313 Australians to receive Medals of the Order of Australia (OAM) in the General Division in this year’s Queen’s Birthday Honours List.
The award recognised his “service to the international community through the Spirit of Sharing mission”.
“I am very humbled to receive such recognition for my charity work,” Cr Cole said.
The 27-year-old founded Spirit of Sharing in 2001. Since then he has delivered more than $1 million in sporting, educational and medical supplies to children in Fiji.
“The inspiration for the Spirit of Sharing started during my school years,” he said.
“I was a student at St Joseph’s College, Ferntree Gully, operated by the Salesians of Don Bosco, where social justice was a central theme of the school’s teachings.”
Cr Cole said the Salesian brothers and priests led the way, “running various projects for the needy around the world”.
“The school’s support program for communities in Samoa and Kiribati helped me realise individuals can make difference in the world,” he said.
But it was during a trip to Fiji in 2001 that the Spirit of Sharing was born.
“The children were kicking empty bottles around as soccer balls and improvising games with sticks and stones,” Cr Cole said.
“This to me was just not good enough, so I decided to do something about it.”
The project has now reached more than 300 schools on eight islands.
“I cannot take all the credit, because many people have been involved in the project over the years,” Cr Cole said.
“This award is dedicated to all the people I have mentioned by name, and everyone else who has contributed to The Spirit of Sharing, helping to turn an idea into a reality,” Cr Cole said.
This year Spirit of Sharing will build a 40-bed dormitory at Buca Levu Secondary School on Taveuni.
“The dormitory is urgently required to allow parents from remote parts of the island to send their children to school,” he said.
Cr Cole said the foundations had been poured and a team will complete the final touches in October.
Another $10,000 is needed to complete the project. Donations are tax deductible. Readers can call Peter Cole on 0439 997 583 to help.