Fiji fundraiser

By Casey Neill
FERNTREE Gully fundraiser Peter Cole is making another trip to Fiji this week as part of his project to provide sporting equipment to the children of the strife torn nation.
The 24-year-old collects new and used sporting equipment to distribute to under-resourced schools across Fiji.
The two-week logistics trip will include a visit to the Australian High Commissioner in Suva as well as meetings with several local organisations and schools.
“We will be visiting Fiji’s second biggest island, Vanua Levu, to catch up with school principals who will be briefing me on their main needs and the best ways of distributing the sports goods in the region,” he said.
Mr Cole will also speak at several Rotary clubs during the visit.
His mother, Teresa, will travel to Fiji for the first time to see just what her son’s hard work has accomplished.
In February this year Mr Cole became a member of the Rotary Club of Knox.
He now heads up a club sub committee dedicated to the project.
The four-man committee is in the process of applying for a number of Rotary International and Rotary Foundation grants to expand the work in the region.
Knox Rotary Club and Rotary Club of North Suva have become sister clubs,
Rotary Australia World Community Service has accepted the project, dubbed The Spirit of Sharing, making donations of $2 or more tax deductable.
Mr Cole recently met Fijian Acting High Commissioner Evisake at Fiji’s embassy in Canberra, who has established communications with a number of Fiji Government departments and ministers.
“She expressed strong support for the mission,” Mr Cole said.
He has urged local schools to donate sports equipment they no longer use, and is grateful for any financial donations.
A trivia night at the Wantirna Club on Friday 9 May from 7.30pm will raise funds for the project.
Run in conjunction with the Victims of Crime Association, the event will feature Fijian music and entertainment.
Mr Cole has made an annual pilgrimage to the South Pacific nation since his first visit in 2002 to help establish a Salesian order.
In September 2007, Mr Cole’s third delivery of equipment almost fell victim to government red tape.
Fijian officials demanded he pay $37,000 tax on the container stocked with $300,000 worth of sporting equipment.
After two weeks of political lobbying, the tax was reduced to $1000, which was donated by the Rotary Club of North Suva.
To book a table of 10 for the trivia night or for more information on the project, call Mr Cole on 9758 7994 or email petercole20@hotmail.com.