We are thrilled that momentum has grown since last year, confirmed by the success and fruitful outcome of the second edition of the annual awareness and fundraising Sunrise by the Sea Breakfast.
On Friday, August 30th, about 200 people from Newcastle and the Hunter Region gathered to celebrate the growing partnership between YWAM Ships Newcastle and the Milne Bay Province of Papua New Guinea (PNG).
We hosted Mr. Ashan Numa, newly appointed Provincial Administrator for the Province of Milne Bay, and alumni of the University of Newcastle, as main speaker of the morning.
“The partnership with YWAM has been invaluable and has definitely made so much impact on our rural people and we would like to further strengthen and sustain this relationship” said Mr. Numa, prior to the event.
Guests were directly invited by Mr. Numa and inspired by fellow Novocastrians to get all hands on deck and join the common efforts being made to see PNG succeed in reaching out to rural and isolated island communities with health care and training.
“We are being the community of Newcastle, and that’s very special. What we are being determines what we do. […] This is something that the community of Newcastle can do to bless our very near neighbors” encouraged Dr. Peter Davies, from Newcastle Eyes Hospital, as a fundraising target of $200,000 over the next 12 months was presented to the audience.
Pathways to further develop the existing relationship between our region and the Milne Bay Province of PNG were also explored during the 3-days visit of Mr. Numa to Newcastle, and meetings with several key stakeholders in the business, government and international development fields.
As the Ruach is back to Milne Bay and ready to start medical outreaches in the coming weeks, the breakfast launched a promising fundraising campaign with $92,789 already raised toward the work of YWAM Ships Newcastle and the cause of Milne Bay.
We are very proud of and thankful for the work that the community of Newcastle, and the community of YWAM Ships Newcastle from around the world, is achieving in Milne Bay. And we know that our engagement means a great deal to our friends, particularly those living in isolated parts of Milne Bay.
To donate toward the “All hands on Deck” fundraising campaign: click here.