Supporting Cambodian orphans

Published: 10 June 2012

The Catholic Leader

By: Robin Williams

Volunteers from Star of the Sea Catholic Primary School, Hervey Bay pack donated items into a shipping container to be sent to Cambodia

DESKS, chairs, books and even pushbikes are just some of the items Star of the Sea Catholic School, Hervey Bay, has shipped to an orphanage in Cambodia.

School pastoral worker Jenny Bills said 15 people spent about two hours on May 25 loading the donations into a shipping container bound for the "Future Light" orphanage.

"We filled a full half of this huge container, from the floor to the roof," Ms Bills said.

She said the donations also included educational materials, clothes, beds, blankets, kitchen utensils, books and much more.

Ms Bills said the effort was a fine example of the school's commitment to social justice.

She said for the past eight years Star of the Sea Year 4 teacher Yvonne Frawley had travelled to Cambodia to volunteer in the orphanage.

"From the very first, a dream of hers has been to fill a shipping container with items that the orphanage would be most grateful to receive," she said.

"A past parent of Star Of the Sea, Mr Rob Lye has made this dream come true in organising and financing a shipping container."

Ms Bills said Mr Lye and eldest son Brendan would travel to Cambodia to unload the container and deliver the items to the orphanage while Mrs Frawley would also revisit the orphanage in coming months.

"Yvonne Frawley will be joined by seven other volunteers to spend the June/July school holidays helping out in the 'Future Light' orphanage," she said.

"I am sure that I am not alone in wishing to be present in Cambodia when the orphanage receives these items.

"I am sure that Yvonne and her fellow helpers will return from their volunteering with many a wonderful story and photo to share."