LATEST NEWS + UPDATES
from ISLAND-AID in West Sumatra
BREAKING NEWS
Island Aid volunteer Julie Janson is in Jakarta for the 7th International Women's Playwright's conference.
Her play "Tsunami! Tsunami!" has been selected as the opening work for reading to a theatre full of the worlds leading contemporary playwrights.
Inspired by her long stay aboard Batavia, Julie's work will be performed for the first time in the city that lent so much support to our efforts to load and provision the ship.
Good luck Julie! Photos as soon as we get them.
SYNOPSIS
So this is death’s liquid gate. What are these insects sucking my withering skin ? Am I wearing a corpse costume? What am I waiting for, just let go and slip into the water. I float and hang on to soaked straw, a roof maybe. How long does it take to saturate and sink in the Andaman Sea? What will the water taste like in my mouth? Full of corpse liquid. Banyak infectisi. But I can’t get sick, I am almost dead. I’m laughing. My feet are blue, like Jesus feet, crossed and aquiline. Bloated fish rise to the surface, their bulging eyes stare at me.
I am standing on the destroyed tarmac at Meuloboh. 10,000 people died here. The town is rubble. Washed away. I look blankly around in the humidity, there is an Indonesian army tent, with soldiers lounging, smoking kreteks. I vaguely suspect I might have to sleep in their tent, using my bag as a pillow.
No hotel here. No hot water, no spa. I stand perspiring, holding my three large bags of cosmetics. Lipstick for Aceh. If you had lost everything and you were a woman living in a blue tent, you might like a gold Revlon lipstick. Shades of pink blush, flame red. I also have mata gelas, reading glasses and imitation swiss army knives. Plastic dinosaurs. Combs, sewing kits, silk scarves. All gifts from the Catholic mothers of Sydney.
The other volunteers on my plane have been met and driven away in flash white Toyotas with UN on the side, important German doctors. No One to meet me. What am I doing here? A young soldier strolls up, he flicks his kretek, “mau kemana Bu?” Where do I want to go? “Saya mau pergi ke Lo Kruet”.
He motioned to Mr Ed a lone American directing helicopters, he is Missionary Aviation Fellowship. Christians offering flights in disaster areas. I explain my destination and in five minutes I am in a four seater next to an Achenese woman in bandages. “Saya Guru dari Australia”...... She smiles.
We fly over a hundred atom bomb sites, the whole east coast of Sumatra has sunk into the sea. A tangle of broken Palm trees and grey mud. Roads disappeared under water. Rows of blue tents instead of villages. We fly very low, heart in mouth. Landing on broken roads as airstrips. The Australian pilot handing out sweets to the children for turning the light plane around for take off. Everyone smiling.
The beautiful polite Sumatran people.
I am beginning to worry, how will I find the boat? The pilot points to the Batavia anchored like a picture post card in an azure bay. Lo Kruet. TNI tents and motorbikes. Heavy military presence, without the Indonesian military there would be no refugee camp here. Still they make me nervous with AK 47s slung over shoulders as they ride around on motorbikes.
Suddenly Rick, the head of the Batavia rescue mission is riding towards me in a sparkling white tee shirt, with the Rolls Royce logo. The absurdity of this donor. I am so hot, all around mud, garbage, and clothing sticking out of concrete. Smelling decay. Then from rubber duckie to the icey air conditioning of this Hong Kong disco boat. Mirror balls, plastic flowers. Hired for this rescue by Rick and Jane using their own money. Young American college student volunteers, Indonesian Doctors and nurses, all grinning in rubber boots. I am sleeping on the upper deck di atas on a plastic mattress, I hang up some sarongs for privacy.
JULIE JANSON
Julie Janson began writing plays while living in Arnhemland in Indigenous communities. Her first major play Gunjies was produced at Belvoir St Theatre in 1993 and received an AWGIE nomination. Her play Lotus War was performed as part of the Belvoir St Asian Theatre Festival, at the Adelaide Fringe Festival and on ABC National radio in 1996.
Her trilogy of plays Season to Taste began at the Belvoir St Asian Theatre Festival and had seasons at the Darling Mills Restaurant and on ABC Radio. Her play Black Mary was produced by Company B Belvoir St Theatre for the festival of the Dreaming at the Olympic Arts Festival 1997. Black Mary was also performed at the Phoenix Theatre in Phoenix Arizona in 2000. Kera Putih, a children’s play has toured extensively in ACT and Victoria with Jigsaw Theatre Company.
Julie has been the Writer in Residence for Asialink in Indonesia and also Writer in Residence in Tasmania and Canberra. Julie also writes film scripts and has made two successful short films and has written feature film scripts funded by NSW Film and TV Office.
In 2005 Julie was a volunteer on a tsunami rescue boat in Aceh and Sumatra, she set up ten tent schools in devastated villages.
As the 2nd aniversary of the Great Tsunami approaches, one of South Africas most inovative Surf E-Zines has run a full length feature story on Island Aid's work. The artistic effort that went into the feature story is extraordinary.... thanks guys!
The rest of the facts could easily be mistaken for a modern day Hollywood blockbuster. This was the second largest earthquake recorded on a seismograph ever. I’m sure I don’t have to paint any sort of picture but turn your thoughts to the people of Indonesia, particularly those in Sumatra who were in the direct path of the tsunami. The media made sure the news was received worldwide.
I’m trying to say that it’s two years later and the story is all but forgotten. As easy as it’s been for the rest of us to move on with our lives, there are those individuals who have found it as easy to dedicate their lives to helping the people of Indonesia put the pieces of their lives back together"...... more at http://www.swellguys.co.za/vol01/issue06/articles/island-aid.html
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HeliDoc is a new and unique non-profit humanitarian initiative aimed at disaster preparedness, health support and environmental monitoring for isolated communities along the west coast of Sumatra.
The project initiators are:
- Troppodoc, a non-profit NGO based in New Zealand headed by Dr Derek Allen, MBChB Dip Obstetrics Dip Public Health MRNZCGP. Dr Allen has spent 20 years working in remote areas of the developing world partnering with local communities to increase the capacity of medical services in a sustainable manner. He has been operating in Nias and Tellos since the 2004 tsunami.
- Island Aid, a non-profit NGO based in USA headed by Rick Cameron, Dip Arch. The volunteer driven organization formed in the days after the 2004 Tsunami and has continued emergency aid to Aceh and Nias since. The founders have over 12 years of hands-on experience operating boats in West coast Sumatran waters.
Helicopter Flying Doctor Service – A Proven Concept:
In Vanuatu, Dr Allen (licensed pilot) introduced a flying doctor service using his own 2 seat helicopter dramatically extending the reach of medical emergency response and clinic work to areas otherwise un-serviced.
Island Aid and Troppodoc have identified remote areas in Nias, the Telos and Mentawai Islands that can only be serviced by establishing a similar flying doctor operation. Dr Derek has imported his Robinson R22 helicopter to provide dedicated medical emergency & clinic support to the area.
Island Aid will support HeliDoc operations and logistics from their Padang and Mentawai bases and assist Dr Allen to secure funding, appropriate clearances, and other documentation required for the day to day operation of the flying doctor service.
Social Benefits:
The most populated island in the Mentawais is Siberut. Almost 20% of the population live along the remote West coast and in the mountainous interior. The only means of transport is by trekking through dense jungle or by small dugouts along rivers. There are no roads and no safe anchorages. Many other areas have similar difficulties.
HeliDoc will focus on:
Health:
Malaria and other diseases cause great suffering and some of the highest infant mortality rates in Indonesia. Health services are difficult and expensive to support and rough seas and strong winds make travel by boat dangerous and too expensive for most of the community and even for Government Agencies. Emergency medical aid is simply not available and often outbreaks of disease or serious injuries run unchecked for many days or even weeks while medical teams are mobilized to very remote villages.
A helicopter is the only way to reach remote villages in time to deal with medical emergencies. HeliDoc’s R22 can land on a small clearing or soccer field and bring medical workers to problem areas in hours.
Emergency Response:
The Mentawais and Batu islands were spared serious damage in the Dec 2004 mega tsunami and March 2005 mega quake. Scientists predict that these areas will be impacted within the next 20 years and probably much sooner based on research that indicates a 230 year cycle of major seismic adjustment for this area. One lesson learned from Aceh and Nias is that helicopters are the only way to do rapid assessment after large scale natural disasters and the only way to save the lives of seriously injured in the critical hours & days after infrastructure is destroyed and before ships and boats can reach the impact area.
Environment:
Much of the island of Siberut is declared a World Heritage Wildlife Reserve with mixed use buffer zones that permit the harvest of sustainable forest products by the indigenous communities. Access to these sensitive areas is extremely difficult and monitoring of land use almost impossible. A secondary role for the flying doctor service will be to support NGO over-flights who can use GPS linked cameras to verify that all stakeholders respect National Park boundaries and land-use regulations.
HeliDoc’s R22 will be the only helicopter stationed in West Sumatra on a long term basis and manned ready for emergency call-out and other non-commercial support missions. Operations will be based at Island Aid’s mountain top headquarters safe from tsunami or quake impact and backed by radio communications, autonomous power and water supply.
Dr Derek Allen in Vanuatu
HeliDoc Sponsorship Opportunity:
HeliDoc will be the first service of its kind in Indonesia and as such it will attract both national and international media attention. Aside from mainstream media interest, specialized media will be targeted with press releases on a regular basis. Photos, videos and narrative will be provided on a regular weekly basis via a specialized media blog with RSS feed.
The high visibility of the flying doctor service in the field will guarantee exposure to as many as 3,000 foreign surfers on charter boats and in resorts in the Mentawais each year. This is significant potential exposure for airlines and hotels in the region and for medivac insurance companies who compete for these clients.
Local sponsors will be seen to be supporting a unique and highly effective humanitarian operation that targets disadvantaged and isolated communities in an area of great scientific and anthropological interest and bio-diversity. The operation will be maintained Carbon Neutral by supporting tree planting initiatives to offset the modest energy needs of this very fuel efficient helicopter. The minimum sponsorship commitments shown below will raise sufficient funds to support 10 hrs flying time per week year round.
Local sponsoring companies will achieve extensive international exposure at low cost.
Exclusive Sponsors will have naming rights for the flying doctor service
ie “Global Air Helidoc”
Specific Media & Organizations to be targeted for media releases:
- National Geographic
- Time Magazine
- NewsWeek
- Surf Magazines
- UN agencies
- Travel Magazines
- In Flight Magazines (subject to sponsor category)
- Indonesia’s National Media
Logo locations – logos on underside of helicopter are same size as logo on side of body, Exclusive or License Umbrella Sponsor logo on both sides and front of body. Exclusive Sponsor can choose to add sub-sponsor logos or not as required. Exclusive Sponsor can share sponsor costs with sub-sponsors.Exclusive Sponsorship:
$50,000 minimum per year + aircraft license umbrella service (Local Airlines and Air Service companies only)
- Exclusive branding rights ie “Global Bank Helidoc” for all media releases.
- Exclusive logo placement on main body and underside of helicopter
- Exclusive rights to all media exposure for promotion
- Exclusive rights to Dr Allen for promotional work at agreed hourly rate*
- Use of helicopter for two hours per month for joint promotional events*.
*subject to availability
Umbrella Sponsorship:
$5,000 minimum per year + aircraft license umbrella service (Local Airlines and Air Service companies only IF no exclusive sponsor)
- Shared branding rights
- Large logo placement on main body
- Shared rights to all media exposure for promotion
- Shared rights to Dr Allen for promotional work at agreed hourly rate*
- Use of helicopter for two hours per month for joint promotional events*.
*subject to availability
Shared Sponsorship:
$10,000 minimum per year (limit of 6 companies IF no exclusive sponsor)
- Shared branding rights
- Shared logo placement on main body and underside of helicopter
- Shared rights to media exposure for promotion
- Shared rights to Dr Allen for promotional work at agreed hourly rate*
- Use of helicopter for 4 hours per year for joint promotional events*.
*subject to availability
Sponsor Bidding Format:
1. The bidding period will close on the 26th December 2006. (The anniversary of the Great Tsunami)
2. Sponsorship bids will be posted on the www.helidoc.org website showing the total amount offered by each company. (anonymous if required)
3. Companies can place or increase bids by e-mail commitment backed by a post dated cheque.
4. Highest bidder(s) will be notified on completion of bid period. In case of default, next highest bidder will be advised of success.
For all questions and for further information please contact Rick Cameron at +62 751 767888 +62 815 340 59018 or e-mail to info@island-aid.org
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