PMC Members Assist Typhoon Victims
 

The 5th annual PMC conference was held in Hoi An, Vietnam. During the conference, Vietnam was hit by Typhoon Ketsana, one of the worst disasters to hit the country in recent years. Ketsana brought flooding and winds of up to 144 km/h. Almost 200,000 residents had to leave their homes and the central provinces remain affected by severe flooding.

Out of harm’s way the PMC members attending the conference wanted to assist with the relief effort and joined with Club Cares to raise $15,000 to purchase 1500 food packs for the poorer communities in and around Hoi An. The food packs provided basic supplies and contained 10 kg rice, msg, oyster sauce, instant noodles and soap powder. The supplies were delivered to the PMC conference room and PMC members packed and loaded 150 packs into eight taxis.

The Investors Club in conjunction with Club Cares was the first and only group that quickly responded to the immediate needs of local typhoon victims.

Working with the Vietnamese government, PMC members and their families were able to distribute food parcels to three local communities. Amounts as small as A$10 made a big difference for the families. We are especially proud of our six PMC children who participated in helping other children who were trapped by both poverty and natural disaster.

PMC members Luc Delhaize and Truc Cao have remained in Vietnam and will be working with the parish priest Father Thang to ensure the funds are distributed fairly and to assist with further deliveries of food packs. A big thank you to all the PMC members who were at the conference who have made a huge difference to the lives of many people. It was a very moving experience.

One of the PMC members, Rob Wilbow, said ‘Once we heard of the devastation in the surrounding areas it seemed only natural to get in and assist the local people. When we visited the area and witnessed first-hand what they had gone through, it was very humbling handing out the food parcels to the local people’. ‘People were digging knee-deep mud from their homes and made us realise how lucky we were. We were pleased to be able to help the local people who were in desperate need of food.’