Our trip to Alice Springs
Travelling again after going nowhere for two years was an adventure. The trip centred around delivering donated items to the Alice Springs Hospital, Purple House, Women’s shelter, and visiting an indigenous community.
Imanpa is an indigenous community which is situated 70kms on the Lasseter Highway (on the way to Uluru). We visited the primary school where we were made most welcome. The school has 26 students, 3 teachers including the principal and 2 classrooms. The parents indicated that English, managing time and money were priorities. The children received hygiene bags, drink bottles, shoes, and socks which were a hit!
From the principal “So many people want to thank you, the church and Rotary for your kindness, determination and generosity. The ladies that work at aged care, the shire and sport and recreation all were so happy to receive the items and distribute them. The socks and sport shoes made the kids day, They have been wearing them since we gave them out. They are so proud and filled with excitement. It’s hard to put in words the transformation a pair of socks and shoes can have on these little people.”
Delivering boxes of baby clothing, blankets etc to the maternity ward was very appreciated by the midwives who deliver approximately 800 babies per year. I was given a tour of the ward and also the children’s ward. Very busy hospital who have patients also from W. A. and Queensland.
Visiting Purple House and donating knitted blankets from the Fairview Knitting group (Warragul) was a highlight. The clients can spend up to 5 hours on the dialysis machines and need to keep warm. A purple house with lovely gardens, indigenous paintings on the fences, bbq areas, - a nice place to be when you aren’t well.
Peter also visited the Acacia Hill Specialist school to speak about Dream Cricket - there are 92 students currently at the school.
On the way home we stayed in Broken Hill a heritage city and had a relaxing time, and enjoyed a meeting with Rotary club of Broken Hill members.
