
By Kelly Yates
ROTARIANS from Berwick are celebrating building a hospital in Indonesia as part of the service organisation’s international humanitarian projects scheme.
Members from the Rotary Club of Berwick, with the help of Rotary International, raised more than $68,000 towards the 16-bed hospital.
The international project was instigated in 2006 after a request to open a basic clinic was made to the club by Peter and Esther Scarborough, who moved to Halmahera in Indonesia.
The area suffered a lack of professional medical assistance.
Terry Carmichael from Berwick Rotary said the hospital had an overnight ward where patients being treated for diseases such as tuberculosis, polio and malaria could be cared for.
“The facility was in need of support, accommodation and equipment,” he said.
Berwick Rotary also raised an extra $60,000 towards the project.
Mr Carmichael said while thrilled the project was completed, the club would continue to support the project in Indonesia.
“The club is proud as punch with the end result but there’s still a long way to go,” he said.