New fence the answer to Fiji school’s prayers

Mainfreight Owens International’s Melbourne sales manager Andrew Dickie saw a need and was quick to act on a visit to Fiji in 2006. Andrew tells the story: “While in Fiji representing Mainfreight Owens International, I had the fortunate experience of visiting the Lautoka School for the Disabled. This school provides education and accommodation for physically-disabled children aged from five to 18. It receives very little funding and is reliant on people’s good nature. “Sister Marlene, who runs the school, had some issues regarding the security of the children and her, as the school borders a public park which at night is a gathering place for ‘undesirables’ that tend to wander around the school grounds and outside the dormitories. “To construct a security fence on the school’s budget was unrealistic as the quote they had obtained was F$4,500. “The Mainfreight Melbourne team embraced the project. Individuals from Mainfreight International and Mainfreight Distribution donated personally and our clients donated products, which were raffled. “We raised the money in two weeks and set up a trust account for the fence construction. “Peter Drysdale from our partners in the Pacific (Williams and Gosling, Fiji) also assisted with the project and the team at the Williams and Gosling social club agreed to volunteer their time to assist in the construction of the fence. “When Sister Marlene was informed we had raised the money and the project had commenced, she smiled and told me her prayers had been answered.”