At least six hospital-style beds from Ashburton are bound for Tonga in an annual programme to support communities in the Pacific Islands.
The Rotary New Zealand World Community Service, in Christchurch sends containers full of goods to help.
Rotary Club of Ashburton member John Driscoll said Ashburton members were always doing community projects for the Pacific, for our neighbours; it’s all part of finding things for them over there.
‘‘The World Community Service is specifically for the Pacific Islands… for our neighbours.’’
Fellow Rotarian Walter van der Kley has been involved with the programme since 2010.
‘‘I’ve done 13 Rotary trips to Samoa over the time.’’
Past years have included books, wheelchairs, school desks, laptops and built 500 bookcases and access ramps, he said.
The beds were given by Rosebank Lifecare in Ashburton, which was currently undergoing renovation work. They had surplus beds – as well as mattresses and commodes – and made contact with Rotary Club of Ashburton members.
It was a ‘‘huge’’ offering, van der Kley said.
‘‘I haven’t been to Tonga, but I’ve been into the hospitals in Samoa and a lot of the stuff is very basic. They just wouldn’t buy this sort of stuff.’’
The movable beds have caster wheels, hydraulic foot pump lift for operators, and can be manually tilted to allow a patient to sit up.
The beds, commodes and mattresses were destined for Christchurch this week and placed in containers bound for Tonga, he said.
‘‘We are not taking anything that is not fully functional.’’
