David Cooper, Chris Durant, Hilary James, Heidi Hindmarsh and Claire Durant in Cambodia.victorharbor
05 February 2008
By AMIE BROKENSHIRE
VICTOR HARBOR - In starting the new year, Victor Harbor locals Hilary James, Chris Durant and Claire Durant, can be satisfied knowing that they have been able to make a difference in the lives of many Cambodian people.
Last November, together with Hilary's son David (also of Victor Harbor) and daughter Heidi (of Woodcroft), the three women spent 16 days doing missionary work in Cambodia.
Hilary has already visited Cambodia twice before and was instrumental in raising $20,000 to build a church and an orphanage there.
But for the others, who had never been to the impoverished country before, it was an eye opening experience.
On their first afternoon, the group was taken to a smelly rubbish dump to initiate them on exactly what it is like in Cambodia and how the people live.
They would carry medical packs with them wherever they went and tend to people who had injuries, cuts, sores and infections.
"Everywhere we went we were cleaning up infections and sores, and we would suss out who needed to go to hospital," Hilary said.
Claire's main task was teaching English to a small class aged between 13 and 21, which she said was challenging but also very rewarding.
She couldn't believe that it only costs $1 a month for them to learn English, which for Australians seems like a drop in the ocean but for them is quite a significant amount.
"It was hot and you just sweat, it's hard trying to teach to them and make them understand and then having to understand them," she said.
David's forte was the medical side of things, he is a volunteer with SA Ambulance at Goolwa, and he was always patching people up, tending to broken bones and assessing horrible infections, hence he was quickly given the name Dr Dave.
Hilary's daughter Heidi just loved looking after the little babies and always had a baby in her arms.
A memorable moment for the group was when they met a little girl who badly needed to go to hospital but had no money.
They were able to use some of the money they had raised to send her to hospital and her life was saved, had she been left for only a couple more days she would have died.
"To think that about $10 saved a life, that really struck us, these things are just so rewarding," Chris said.
"It's so cheap to save a life there," Hilary said.
"And yet it's so expensive for them," Chris added.
The community raised $6000, which the group took over to spend on the people in Cambodia and they said it really did go a long way.
They would like to thank everyone on the Fleurieu Peninsula who donated time, money or items to the cause and are pleased to be able to tell you that your contribution did make a difference.
The three women are now on a mission to continue raising money for Cambodia and the next garage sale will be held on February 9.
Hilary's next project is to raise enough money for 600 cakes of medicated soap for children in a village north of Phnom Penh who have scabies.
She also plans to start up her own foundation so donations can be tax deductible, for more information contact Hilary on 8552 5532.
05 February 2008
By AMIE BROKENSHIRE
VICTOR HARBOR - In starting the new year, Victor Harbor locals Hilary James, Chris Durant and Claire Durant, can be satisfied knowing that they have been able to make a difference in the lives of many Cambodian people.
Last November, together with Hilary's son David (also of Victor Harbor) and daughter Heidi (of Woodcroft), the three women spent 16 days doing missionary work in Cambodia.
Hilary has already visited Cambodia twice before and was instrumental in raising $20,000 to build a church and an orphanage there.
But for the others, who had never been to the impoverished country before, it was an eye opening experience.
On their first afternoon, the group was taken to a smelly rubbish dump to initiate them on exactly what it is like in Cambodia and how the people live.
They would carry medical packs with them wherever they went and tend to people who had injuries, cuts, sores and infections.
"Everywhere we went we were cleaning up infections and sores, and we would suss out who needed to go to hospital," Hilary said.
Claire's main task was teaching English to a small class aged between 13 and 21, which she said was challenging but also very rewarding.
She couldn't believe that it only costs $1 a month for them to learn English, which for Australians seems like a drop in the ocean but for them is quite a significant amount.
"It was hot and you just sweat, it's hard trying to teach to them and make them understand and then having to understand them," she said.
David's forte was the medical side of things, he is a volunteer with SA Ambulance at Goolwa, and he was always patching people up, tending to broken bones and assessing horrible infections, hence he was quickly given the name Dr Dave.
Hilary's daughter Heidi just loved looking after the little babies and always had a baby in her arms.
A memorable moment for the group was when they met a little girl who badly needed to go to hospital but had no money.
They were able to use some of the money they had raised to send her to hospital and her life was saved, had she been left for only a couple more days she would have died.
"To think that about $10 saved a life, that really struck us, these things are just so rewarding," Chris said.
"It's so cheap to save a life there," Hilary said.
"And yet it's so expensive for them," Chris added.
The community raised $6000, which the group took over to spend on the people in Cambodia and they said it really did go a long way.
They would like to thank everyone on the Fleurieu Peninsula who donated time, money or items to the cause and are pleased to be able to tell you that your contribution did make a difference.
The three women are now on a mission to continue raising money for Cambodia and the next garage sale will be held on February 9.
Hilary's next project is to raise enough money for 600 cakes of medicated soap for children in a village north of Phnom Penh who have scabies.
She also plans to start up her own foundation so donations can be tax deductible, for more information contact Hilary on 8552 5532.
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