aid for vanuatu

For the past year, members of Men’s Shed North Shore have been donating nails, screws and tools for a disaster relief project organized by myself, entitled “Pacific Neighbours”. Many hours of volunteer work have been put into boxing-up the nails etc, and refurbishing the tools: hammers, screwdrivers, saws, pliers, wrenches, files, etc.

This week Kenny and his offsider from “Habitat for Humanity” came and took away over 250kg of building hardware and tools we have put together. These materials will be sent to Vanuatu - where they are sorely needed for the massive rebuild required in the aftermath of Cyclone Pam.

Many thanks to all involved. It was a big effort, and a lot of work.

I have been busy at the Shed refurbishing some old tools, which I will take up to the Pacific Islands next year. The boys at the Shed have been helping with woodturning and sharpening tips, as well as bringing in donations of old tools - many  thanks guys...

www.pacificneighbours.blogspot.co.nz/

www.mensshednorthshore.org.nz

shed members help with aid project

My Pacific neighbours project is going well, with donations coming in every day. The boys at the Shed have been helping me repair and sharpen tools:

dave cleans up an axe..

...which geoff sharpened

eric repairing a cracked shovel

new shed project

 As an environmental artist I see a lot of perfectly good materials being disposed of in landfill. Having lived in Fiji and visited several Pacific islands I am aware that much of our waste would be very welcome to our neighbours - particularly after disasters such as tsunamis and hurricanes. The remoteness and often poverty of these islands makes recovery from disaster extremely difficult and very expensive.
I have previously organised assistance to Bali after the bombing ("Byron Loves Bali" in 2003), and to Niuatoputapu in Tonga after the tsunami (2010). Currently I am continuing to collect tools, knives, nails, and pots and pans for Niua as many of the people have by no means recovered from the damage of the tsunami.

 See details on my new blog: http://www.pacificneighbours.blogspot.co.nz/

I am learning to restore and sharpen tools at the Shed, and members have been most generous in donating tools as well as hardware (nails/screws/etc) - many thanks guys....

this ain't easy!

salvaged from a hardware skip!