Rob and Glenda have welcomed Sheila into their Millgrove home.
By Mara Pattison-Sowden
THE villagers of a remote island in Fiji want to thank the people of the Yarra Valley.
With the help of Millgrove couple Rob and Glenda Towan, many valley people have been contributing to donations of supplies or buying items from a monthly stall at the Yarra Junction market.
After a year of fighting for a tourist visa, islander Sheila Virisila Vosawale will spend a month in the Yarra Valley to thank those who have given, and take home stories about life in Australia.
She has already enjoyed her first hot shower, rather than washing in the fresh water lagoon at home, and has noticed the isolation between neighbours.
“In the village, we’re very close, there are no fences or gates, and constant mixing,” she said.
“When I wake up in the morning (in Australia) it’s all money – a light switch, the toaster, but at home whether we have money or not, we still survive.”
Rob and Glenda have been visiting the island of Buliya for almost six years now, after a chance meeting with Sheila’s father while on the mainland.
Sheila is looking forward to explaining about the island’s subsistence lifestyle and how the projects have impacted her small community through the fund-raising efforts.
She will speak at a special fund-raiser for Buliya Island, which will be held at 7.30pm on Friday 24 February at the Warburton Sports Club at the recreation reserve. Entry is by donation and all proceeds go towards the village.
