Sharing bears fruit

By Casey Neil
FIJI’S sporting future is looking brighter following Ferntree Gully resident and Baird Ward councillor Peter Cole’s recent trip to the Pacific island nation.
The Spirit of Sharing founder and project manager, his brother John, friend Karl Houben and new secretary Darren Mayer last month embarked on the ambitious month-long journey.
They visited more than 100 rural schools and for the first time distributed two shipping containers filled with $500,000 worth of sporting and education equipment.
“This year’s project exceeded everyone’s wildest expectations,” Cr Cole said. But the trip proved a ‘logistical nightmare’. Cr Cole said it was hard work to transfer goods to the outer islands.
“They just don’t have the infrastructure of the main islands,” he said.
The group received a three-tonne truck that could barely fit half a container instead of the five-tonne vehicle promised, and a tardy truck driver caused further delays.
The weather soon turned against them. Heavy rains cut off access to several schools.
“And we ended up getting the truck bogged three times during the trip,” Cr Cole said.
“But I cannot describe the children’s faces when Darren and I demonstrated how to play with the Frisbee.”
Cr Cole said the project introduced kids to new sports and enhanced current sporting opportunities.
“I hope that someone in Fiji can harness this opportunity they have been given and produce many Fijian sportsmen on the world stage,” Cr Cole said.
“Most Fijians are sports mad and to have the equipment to play in the village or at school will make a huge difference.”
Cr Cole returned to Don Bosco Primary School, where The Spirit of Sharing began nine years ago.
It was there, he spotted children improvising games with sticks and bottles and felt inspired to help. The school now has a hockey team thanks to The Spirit of Sharing equipment, and last year claimed their local competition.
Their mission also included a visit to Suva’s women’s prison to deliver board games and sporting and educational equipment to the 18 prisoners.
Cr Cole met inmates last year during a fact-finding mission and promised to return.
“It was daunting being admitted as a visitor to this place,” he said.
“Our intention is to help lift their self-esteem, so that when they are released they can return to the community with dignity and good prospects for re-integration.” More information on the project is available from www.spiritofsharing.com.au.