The Open Day held to mark the closure of Kiama Hospital not only sparked the idea of a book to celebrate its hey day, but also gave Kiama Rotary the perfect solution to a long held ambition.

“For over twenty years, Kiama Rotary has been supporting initiatives in Madang Province in Papua New Guinea by working with the local Rotary branch there,” says Trevor Phillis.

“Since observing the state of Madang Hospital’s kitchen in 2014, we’ve been keen to find an affordable way to help.

“When some of our members went on a tour of Barroul House at the Open Day, they knew they were onto something.”

Kiama Council agreed to a request to give them the fittings and remaining equipment, instead of sending them off to auction as scrap metal.

The club has carefully dismantled the old kitchen, including a coolroom, commercial dishwasher, large exhaust hood, fridges and stainless steel benches and shelving.

“By Australian standards the equipment is old, but it is working and will be greatly appreciated by the Madang community,” says Mr Phillis.

“At the moment the kitchen is very dilapidated, with wooden benches and little refrigeration or storage.”

Now that an inventory has been taken of the materials and equipment that has been put in storage, a couple of members are going to Madang before Easter to take detailed measurements and work out what can be fitted in where.

“We will do any professional adjustments to benches and the like here before sending it all up in a container in October,” he says.

The plan is then that a group of members from the Kiama, Gerringong and Berry Rotary Clubs will go up to PNG late this year or early next year to help with the installation, travelling at their own expense.

“Over the years we have helped the Madang region in a lot of practical ways, but this is our biggest project yet and will make such a difference in lifting standards at the hospital,” says Mr Phillis.

“Everyone is very motivated to do the work that is needed.”