austraLasia #1806

Touching Easter experience - DB Henderson ship first to bring succour to Simbo Island
(first hand account by relief party member; follow up to Archbishop Adrian Smith's comment on this venture reported in #1804)

HONIARA: 9th April 2007 -- 26 students and 12 staff from Don Bosco Technical College joined minds, hearts and hands in planning immediate relief action in favor of Simbo island in the western Solomons (35 km SW of Gizo) badly hit by the Tsunami last Monday in Holy Week, April 1. The reaction was triggered by a staff member hailing from Simbo Island whose family and village was deeply affected and directly hit by the earthquake and the Tsunami. The SOS came in by two way radio last Tuesday April 3.

    On the following day April 4, Wednesday, last day of class, after the washing each other’s feet, staff and students felt they should do more for each other and together for the people of Simbo Island in support of their staff member Mrs. Doris. They met as a council and decided to get involved in the immediate relief operations. Failing to see clear and immediate directions for immediate action at a national level, they decided to act quickly and by themselves.

    On April 4 at 11:00 am they sent an SOS to Europe's Don Bosco Organizations (DBN) asking for immediate support for a relief charter trip to Simbo. In 24 hours the amount had been pledged for charting a ship and bringing the needed goods.  The school was ready to leave on Thursday April 5 but unfortunately no ship was available until Friday morning. Caritas organization joined in with a good amount of relief items. They left on Friday at 12 noon and reached Simbo at 9:30 am next day.

    As they approached the island they could see where the tsunami had struck from the western side. In the village of Riguru the houses on high ground were saved, however those on lower ground were totally swept away. As they turned around the island they could see many people on top of the hills greeting them with fire and smoke and waving at them. As they reached the end of the island they caught sight of what used to be the Tapurai village; the Village where the Uniting Church bishop and others lost their lives and their homes. The church alone on high ground was spared. As they continued towards the eastern side of the Island they sighted the majestic ­­Ove volcanic crater. Entering Lengana Bay they saw the remains of what had been the village of Masuru, totally swept away

    The welcome party at Lengana Wharf included the chairman of the relief committee of Simbo Island, Rev. Gideon Tuke, and the Lengana Chief ,Samson Gui, with leaders and representatives from all the island's villages. The welcoming encounter involved and exchange of greetings, words of support and encouragement and prayerful songs. Not a few tears were shed too, some of sorrow and solidarity and some of joy. The welcome was warm and heartening both to the residents and the visitors.

    It took a good four long hours under the heat of the sun to unload the whole shipment of supplies by the hard working Bosconians and the people of the Island. The Wharf, underwater because of an excessively high tide, re-emerged after a couple of hours of work, facilitating the unloading operations. The work was interrupted briefly by the coming of the Governor General by helicopter to show his solidarity for the Simbo people. More than 50 people came over to the ship to be transported to Gizo or back to Honiara for treatment or to join their loved ones. 

     The party left Simbo at 2:00 pm and went on to Gizo where they reached at 4:00 and unloaded other relief goods for the Gizo and Ranonga people. At 6:00 pm they sailed back to Honiara.

    Interestingly enough this was the first relief ship to reach Simbo Island, motivated by the urgent need to respond immediately to the tragedy of one of the teachers and her family. 

    The experienced deeply touched all Bosconians and staff members who are more than eager to join in any rehabilitation effort as soon as plans will be in place. 40 carpenter students and welders are available with their tools to cooperate in the reconstruction work.  The main feeling shared by those who had these two days and two nights working, exhausting experience was unanimous: they all feel happy for what they did; this Easter Experience has been a truly meaningful one.
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