Woman keeps promise to aid hospital, centre

ANNA Gerard made a promise to her dying mother that she would do something to help the people in her home village of Papua New Guinea.
Gerard who has only returned once to her place of birth since moving to Australia in 1970, will ship 50 pre-used hospital beds and 29 boxes filled with donated clothes and assorted items to the Akusa Health Centre in her village and St Gerard Hospital in Port Moresby.
This is costing up to A$14,000 (K31,000) and the majority of this cost will be borne by Gerard, who now lives in Launceston, Tasmania.
“The money is not there for my people,’’ Gerard said.
“They are suffering from (poor) health and lack of education, and the least I could do is try and look after my little village, and the hospital.’’
Gerard said the hospitals were very rundown, and makeshift beds were often used in the Akusa health centre.
“My people need beds to sleep on when they are sick, I thought I could do something and make them a bit more comfortable.’’
When the container arrives, Gerard’s nephew will be transporting some of the cargo to Akusa on a canoe up a river.
Gerard said paying for the cargo was a big commitment, but that she must honour the promise made to her mother before she died.
A fundraising campaign was set up by the Launceston Multicultural Women’s Support Group, of which Gerard has played a major role since the group’s inception in 2002.
Member Ros Lewis said Gerard was an asset to the community.
“She is the most unselfish person.
“When she sees a need, she works at until it is solved,’’ she said.
– The Examiner