Australian officer donates K3000 to centre

 An Australian police officer with the help of family and colleagues has donated more than K3000 to Life PNG Care (LPNGC).

Detective Sergeant Michelle Harris, who is part of the Papua New Guinea-Australia Policing Partnership, went to LPNGC centre at Gerehu last Friday and made the presentation.

The money came purposely to assist the centre in its fundraising drive to buy a bus for the 22 children going to school.

Harris was motivated to make the donation because her grandfather Keith Wilson, who recently passed away in Australia, was an orphan.

Her grandfather was pleased when he heard that she has been in contact with some disadvantaged children, who were in the care of LPNGC.

Instead of taking flowers to the Wilson’s funeral, the family decided to take money so they could donate it to a nominated charity.

“Now the families say ‘please don’t bring flowers and if you want to do something, you donate some money.

“We ask them not to bring flowers but money to give to you (children at LPNGC) so the friends and families, and some colleagues here helped me to donate the money towards the efforts in buying a bus,” a delighted Harris said.

LPNGC director and founder Collin Pake, said: “We really thank Michelle for this, this is a great gift she has offered.

“We want to continue to build that relationship.”

Life PNG Care will be having its inaugural fundraising dinner on July 17 in Port Moresby.

The funraraising is to raise funds to buy a bus for the children.