In our ongoing commitment to ensuring a reliable water supply, we’ve identified the need to not only maintain our existing water pumps but also to enhance our infrastructure with the installation of rainwater tanks. This initiative will allow us to collect and store precious rainwater, making our system more sustainable and efficient.
We are thrilled to announce that we are in the process of purchasing, delivering, and installing two new 10,000-litre rainwater tanks! One tank will be located at the Losuia Health Centre, serving our CFK office and supporting the patients who rely on their services. The second tank will be positioned at the Losuia Secondary School, providing a supplementary water source for students and complementing the pumps already in place.
These installations are a significant step towards improving water access in the Kiriwina community, and we are excited about the positive impact they will have. Stay tuned for updates on our progress as we continue to work toward a more sustainable future for everyone!
On this special International Women’s Day, we want to express our deepest gratitude and admiration for the incredible women of Kiriwina Island. Today, we celebrate all women, including the dedicated midwives, nurses, birth attendants, nurturing mothers, and the precious babies who symbolise hope for the future. Our charity’s mission is based on the belief that empowering girls and women in Kiriwina is essential to strengthening the entire community.
Let us celebrate the strength, wisdom, and boundless contributions of the women of Kiriwina. Together, we can continue to uplift, support, and honour these remarkable individuals who are, indeed, the beating heart of their island community.
As our charity continues to collect data on births to report to the MBPHA, we are constant in our commitment to these fabulous women and babies.
Happy International Women’s Day!
Photo: One of our lead Village Birth Attendants, Dulcie, alongside our VBA coordinator, Bokawau, is handing over Dignity Kits to the Chaplain of Losuia Secondary School for the high school girls to use.
As we reflect on our recent P&O sponsored CFK reporting trip to Kiriwina, we can’t help but acknowledge the profound impact of Cyclone Alfred. Despite our return to dry land, the effects of the cyclone continue to resonate with us.
Cyclone Alfred altered our carefully planned schedule, disrupting meetings that had been arranged months in advance. The situation was particularly heart-wrenching as we watched from the bridge of our boat, donations in hand, while powerful waves lashed the shores of the island. We could see our friends and community members on Kaibola Beach, equally helpless as we were forced to turn away from the island.
Although the circumstances were disappointing, the resilience of the Kiriwina people truly shone through. Our incredible community members seized the opportunity to come together, organising meetings and discussions focusing on the welfare of women and children. The photographs captured during these meetings showcase the strength and determination of these remarkable women, who strive to uplift their community.
Together, we are committed to supporting their efforts as they work tirelessly for the good of their people. A big thank you to P&OCarnival for this wonderful opportunity!
We’re eagerly looking forward to reconnecting with our amazing staff, friends, volunteers and supporters in Kiriwina and Alotau. Can’t wait to see you all soon!
List of Village Birth Attendants we will be meeting on KiriwinaWe will be delivering more donations soon.
This week marks a meaningful moment for our entire team as we reflect on this day in 2012. We are filled with warmth and gratitude when we think back to our experiences on Kiriwina during that pivotal Bible dedication trip. It was an extraordinary event that brought together remarkable individuals, including Margaret and Dr. Reverend Ralph Lawton, their dedicated team of translators, and the entire Lawton family as the Kiriwinan’s esteemed guests of honour. This journey laid the groundwork for what would become Caring For Kiriwina.
Together with Margaret, we spent countless hours listening to and sharing with the Kiriwinan women, gaining invaluable insights into their daily lives and challenges. The conversations we had during that time continue to inspire us today. Looking at the photo from that period, featuring my now-grown children and our family friend Sam Peter, we collectively feel immense gratitude for the charity’s success. We are excited about our upcoming reporting trip to Kiriwina. This trip will be a fantastic opportunity to reconnect with our dedicated staff, volunteers, and friends.
We want to take a moment to express our heartfelt gratitude to everyone who has been part of CFK’s journey. This incredible work truly is a team effort! We are especially thankful for the inspiring Lawton family, our fantastic co-directors, Vanessa Palfreeman, who will accompany me on this trip, and the remarkable Stephen Baxter. Our supportive husbands, Doug Lawton and Andrew Sweeney, our outstanding fundraising manager, Jeff Keating, and our donors who wish to keep their anonymity have also been instrumental.
A special shoutout goes to Toks Bwaina, our dedicated in-country manager, who keeps everything running smoothly, along with our on-island manager, Lepani Ahab. We are also immensely grateful for the unwavering support from our Village Birth Attendant supervisor, Bokawau, head VBA Ruth Boaz, and the entire VBA team.
Toks and Vanessa at our 2019 Village Birth attendant training
Our thanks extend to the Uniting Church, particularly Bishop Rev. Agabu Antonio, the Losuia Health Centre staff, as well as Ridley and midwife Linesse, and the Milne Bay Public Health Authority—especially Dr. Perista Mamadi, Dr. Dale Frank, and their team.
We also want to recognise our committed midwife educators, Shea Caplice and Jacqui Andrews, as well as our wonderful supporters and donors, including Sandy Reid and all the amazing ladies from The Belrose and Willandra Village for their knitted items and our Birthing and Dignity kit packers. Our achievements are truly a collective effort.
As we reflect, we remember those who are no longer with us but whose support has been invaluable. We carry forward the legacy of Margaret and Rev Dr Ralph Lawton on Kiriwina, as well as honouring our dear friends and supporters like Health Care Worker Jansen Toposona, his brother Nelson, David Antonio, Nurse Florence, and Bunu.
Lastly, we’re eternally grateful to P&O/Carnival Cruises for their incredible support in helping get our donations and us to Kiriwina. This assistance is vital in allowing us in our work and to hire more midwives to support mothers and babies in real-time.
We look forward to seeing all of you soon and continuing this important journey together! Thank you for being part of our community.
Shea and Jacqui discussing the training while waiting for the VBAs arrival, VBA training 2019
We’re thrilled to announce that there are only 11 days left until we embark on our P&O Cruise to Alotau and Kiriwina! This journey is not just about exploration; it’s also an opportunity to give back to the communities we visit.
Kiriwina is currently facing a major challenge—no medications are being sent to the area. Although our available supplies are modest and primarily consist of over-the-counter products, they serve as a vital lifeline for many in need. Along with these essential medicines, we are also providing pencils for local schools to help support the children’s education. A heartfelt thank you goes out to Edwina and the management team at Pharmacy Select Balgowlahfor their generous assistance.
Featured Photos:
– In the spirit of celebration, we share the heartwarming news of the first baby born in Kavataria Village in 2025, delivered by our dedicated CFK Kavataria VBAs.
– A special shoutout to our incredible postie, Andy, whose assistance has been invaluable in making this initiative possible!
Stay tuned for more updates as we approach our departure. Together, we can make a difference!
We are thrilled to share that our projects are gaining recognition in yesterday’s PNG Post Courier newspaper! A special thank you to journalist Eunice Wanjumoe for highlighting our efforts. We are also incredibly grateful for the fantastic support from P&O Australia Cruises, which has played a vital role in promoting our initiatives.
We are sailing on February 19 on the Pacific Encounter from Brisbane, with a big day of meetings planned at Alotau with our Milne Bay Health Authority partners, and an even bigger day the next day on Kiriwina meeting with our VBA partners and Island leaders. We will also have plenty of birth kits and other donations to drop off on Kiriwina when we arrive.
Stay tuned for more updates as we continue to make a positive impact!
We’re thrilled to announce that our incredible birthing kits will be setting sail with us on the P&O cruise to Kiriwina this February!
A heartfelt thank you to our amazing volunteers who dedicated their Saturday afternoon to this vital mission. Meet the inspiring team behind the effort: from left to right in our first header image, we have our great CFK friend, Mary Jonmundsson and the best supervisor ever, Tara Lindsay. And below, say hello to the power couple, Andrew Sweeney and CFK co-director Vanessa Palfreeman, who are watering and feeding the masses. Pictured next to Vanessa are Belinda Smith, Vanessa’s sister Geri, her friends Barbara Frost and her husband Keith; Nessie’s other sisters, Annabel and Ann Bottrell, are not in the photo.
Together, this brilliant and efficient group is making a real difference. Your commitment fuels our passion—thank you for supporting this vital cause! Let’s continue to work together and spread our impact far and wide!
We are thrilled to announce that P&O Australia Cruises is generously supporting Caring for Kiriwina. As well as assisting in the delivery of life-saving birthing kits to Kiriwina, they have kindly covered the cost of the journey in February 2025 for two of our charity directors on the upcoming cruise to Papua New Guinea, set to depart in mid-February.
Pacific Encounter (sailing as Carnival Encounter in the Carnival Cruise Line fleet from March) sails from Brisbane all year round.
This has been made possible thanks to the P&O Cruises Australia Pacific Partnership program, which is a guest-funded program helping South Pacific countries, and the destinations Carnival visits.
This trip will allow us to hold face-to-face meetings with the Milne Bay Health Authority, located in Alotau, and with our Caring for Kiriwina team on the island of Kiriwina. Excitement is high on the island for the visit, and arrangements are being made for CFK Staff and Village Birth Attendants to meet us in Kiabola, where the ship arrives.
Since 2019, we have struggled to meet in person as often as we would like due to COVID-19 and the subsequent closure of the airport on Kiriwina. Traveling through alternative means is quite dangerous, making this support for our charity especially significant.
We thank P&O Cruises Australia Pacific Partnership program for their incredible generosity.
Interested passengers on this cruise can contribute by donating goods. If you would like to help out, please reach out to us at info@caringforkiriwina.org.au, and we will gladly assist with information regarding the type and amount of appropriate donations. Our representatives will be on the shore, and are able to distribute any donations fairly through our VBA program.
This is the condolence message from Caring for Kiriwina to the widow Lady Katherine Lepani, Children and Bau Clan,
“Baisa youku nakakau Katherine Lepani, lutumwa deli mina Bau komwaidona.
Caring for Kiriwina ma bigasi Nokapisi baisa yokomi semayasi paila sodasi Late Charles Lepani bogwa esilavaidasi kidamwa bibani la vaiwasi metoya Keriso Yesu ola mitakwai.
Late Charles Lepani lakalubaila deli la mitakwai baisa Lotoni family metoya Canberra deli Sydney, bikanuvagasi oninamaisi.
Kanigadasi baisa da Guyausi Yesu Keriso bimitukwayaimi deli bivisimolaimi wa tuta baisa kubodaisi ninamwau.
2 Timothy 4:6-8 la biga taloi bikatupeolaidasi oda dubumaisi baisa Yaubada tuta komwaidona.
