Thursday 31 October 2013

Louisiades Rally - Nimoa

 
This was the sheer size of the jungle as we entered the river.
 
The first full day we were at Nimoa we went on a trip down the Fieori River.  To get there we had to ride in banana boats for a long long way .. to the large neighbouring island of Sudest.    The ride in the B-boats was gruelling!  Over 45 minutes of bone jarring slamming into the waves.  For some reason I thought the river we were going to was only around the bend - so to speak - but it turned out to be way way way down open water before we even looked like turning into an opening in the jungle.


Sometimes the impenetrable jungle opened out to stunning beauty.
 
Sudest is largely unexplored and it was easy to see why when we entered the river from the surrounding sea.  The jungle on all sides seemed to be completely wild and uninhabitable - BUT, as we motored around bends in the river there were people there on the banks to wave at us as we passed.  How do they live there?  I wondered.

The vistas changed around every bend in the river. 
It was so beautiful and wild it looked like something from the set of a film!
Our trip on the river ended with a small waterfall.  All the dim-dims climbed out of their boats and waded in the water and before we knew it we were surrounded by the people from the village upstream.  We visited with them, shared photos and had a terrific day out.

We were looking forward to the Island of Nimoa.  It was to be our last stop on the rally before heading home but it was also the base for the Nimoa clinic and Father Tony's parish.  We felt like we knew a lot about the island because Kevin and Francis Dunn - also members of the RPAYC & they have a boat just like ours - had a special relationship with the people of Nimoa. 

When we first decided to go on the rally - late last year - Kevin and Francis invited us on board their boat and shared all their stories, photos and memories with us of their trip to the Louisiades.  I remember Francis telling me, "our trip there changed our lives".  Now that we have experienced the people there and the work that so many of the local people are doing for their communities I can certainly understand the way our lives can, and will change.

Kevin didn't just talk about helping .. he did something for the people of the Nimoa and surrounding areas.  He repaired, shipped and presented the clinic with the RPAYC's former committee boat so it could be used as transport for the expectant mother's, children and sick of the surrounding islands.

On board 'Southern Belle' along with the rally freight and our trading/sharing freight we also had several bags of groceries and sundry items that Kevin had asked us to purchase on his behalf and take to Father Tony.  One of the items was a pair of shoes for Tony's housekeeper!  Unfortunately Tony was away on the mainland while we were there so we didn't get a chance to meet him.  But Genevieve gave us a wonderful welcome.

Genevieve and the skipper - she's got her new shoes on!  And she loved them. 
Our second day on Nimoa included a visit to the school, Clinic, presentation of the medical goods taken by the rally boats and meeting Sister Sara the head nurse and miracle worker for the local communities.  Guy did the presentation and told stories about the way Sister Sara with the help of the rally and others has been able to stop/slow down the incidences of mother and child death amongst the locals.  I was in tears listening to Guy talk.

The school house with all the dim-dims in their rally shirts - there for the presentation of school gear to the school .. and the students gave us a special greeting on the beach when we arrived.

The clinic and presentation of bags and bags of medical supplies.

The skipper - George - was looking forward to the scheduled football game with the locals!  He wore his special Scotland t-shirt to play and it was looking good for awhile....he scored the first goal!  However - and you've heard this before - by the time for the second goal he had ruptured his Achilles tendon and that was the end of the game for him.  It was a terrific game but the yachties lost because there were way too many of them on the field at any one time!  Following the soccer game the women and girls had a chance to play netball - that game was a tie.

Presentation of prizes to the winning local team.
The netball players.

Next - the way home.






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