Dannevirke: Vanuatu ties spur bid to help

Dannevirke mum Trish Robinson, left with her son Zackariah, 6, who she adopted from the Vanuatu island of Tanna, with some of the supplies donated by St Joseph's School and Rahiri rest home which were being packed into a container last Friday.

As Cyclone Pam slammed into the Vanuatu island of Tanna, Dannevirke's Trish Robinson was on the phone to the birth mother of her adopted son who was pleading for help.

"It was horrific. The noise was terrible," Trish said. "With Tanna flattened and devastated and things critical, people there facing the threat of dysentery, so I've been so lucky our caring community has rallied to help."

Trish was at the birth of her adopted son Zackariah, now 6, and has a special affinity for the island of his birth where the pair have been made honorary villagers. Zackariah is a pupil at Dannevirke's St Joseph's School, which Trish said has been a nurturing place for her son, who has had health problems.

"When I asked for help from our school community and those associated with Rahiri rest home where I work, I was overwhelmed," she said.

"All the goods donated here are going directly to Zackariah's birth family, who have been left with nothing. Tanna has been flattened and the family home absolutely destroyed."

Last Friday Trish and her helpers were busy boxing up the vast array of goods, which were being packed into a container for Vanuatu.

"The support here in such a short time has been amazing," she said. "It's so heart-warming."

With items such as clothing, bedding, kitchen utensils, shoes and toys ready to go, Trish and her friend, Dannevirke-born Joylene Whibley, are hoping for a big response to a Facebook page appeal as well.

"Joylene has lived in Vanuatu where she opened a private hospital and now co-owns a storage and warehouse business at the Port of Napier," Trish explained. "The Ahuriri business community has helped out as well, donating mattresses, ropes and tarpaulins and Joylene has been busy organising the logistics of sending the containers"

Cyclone Pam killed at least six people on Tanna and seriously injured many more. At least 80 per cent of people suffered damaged or destroyed homes. Most have been sleeping rough on concrete foundation slabs.

"It's heartbreaking," Trish said. "We want to get a second container away as soon as possible and it's already filling with desks, chairs, library books, school journals and pencils, but we need so much more."

-Donated goods can be left at The Hub in Dannevirke on Allardice St. To see what's needed go to Help Vanuatu on Facebook.