Ampilatwatja provided with Community Laundry

What first started with the Rotaract Clubs of Illawarra and Salisbury City providing 100 Toiletry Kits for the Ampilatwatja School students in 2021, was followed by Rotary Frankston North (Vic), Moruya (NSW) and Rochester (Vic), providing 56 Family-size Toiletry Kits for the Families as First Teachers Centre (FaFT) in 2022. All of the kits were made with love, and our connection has evolved into to so much more.

EndTrachoma connected with the Ampilatwatja FaFT Centre back in October 2022 with the offer to provide Family-size Toiletry Kits. After a couple of contact changes, Rachael Byles, then Family Educator for the FaFT Centre, was extremely appreciative of receiving the kits from the three clubs, even making home visits to hand out each kit and educating each member of the family in how to use each of the items. It was through discussions with Rachael that we identified other needs in the community.

In November 2023, District 9660 Champion, PDG Ian Dyball very kindly took on the task of researching and coordinating the supply and delivery of washing machines and a dryer to be located at the school and to be managed and cared for by the school.

In August 2024, Ian visited Ampilatwatja, on a self-funded trip, to supervise the installation of the laundry and probably more importantly to meet Rachael and the Ampilatwatja community. He also visited Alpurrurulum to personally hand over some of the baby kits that he and Rotary Taree had made for some of the new Mums’ in need.

We are hoping to also provide a significant supply of washing powder as at present the school pay for it out of their limited budget (that also has to pay for food for the students). All being well, we will provide the community with over 1 tonne of washing powder - 232 x 5KG boxes.

District 9800/9815 Champion Sally Dell worked on making some beautiful laundry bags to help the washing to be carried from one end of the community to the school. There was a lot of work that went into these bags. Sally even sent one of the bags to the school so that the design was approved by the people.