A major fundraising enterprise initiated by the PNGAA will today hand over a cheque for more than $8,700 to the Oro Community Development Project. The raffle was drawn at the Association’s annual Christmas lunch on Sunday and won by Len Bailey, a PNGAA member since 1984 who lives in the Sydney northern beaches suburb of Dee Why.

Oro Project organisers were delighted by the outcome. Project spokesman, John Kleinig, thanked the Association for what he called “this extremely worthwhile initiative”.

“The Hon Duncan Kerr MP [on Sunday] enunciated the need for closer contact between both the governments and the peoples of PNG and Australia,” says John. “Such a statement of intent is important and it reaffirms what we all believe should be the status quo.

“The Oro Community Development Project provides us with a remarkable opportunity to assist children in the province. The education and health systems struggled well before the impact of Cyclone Guba.

“We believe our decision to concentrate on helping teachers to teach, empowering mothers to be the basic health providers and encouraging children to take a much greater interest in the village garden and agriculture in particular, will make a difference.

“Without the wonderful support of PNGAA members, the idea would clearly have faltered. On behalf of all those directly associated with OCDP, we sincerely thank you for what you achieved.”