Communities come together to support Bunbury project collecting donations for villages in Timor-Leste

A Bunbury resident and local op-shop have joined forces to donate to those in need in Timor-Leste, as the country struggles to get back on its feet from the aftermath of Cyclone Seroja. Peter Snell has worked as a leader on initiatives in Timor-Leste since 2005, with projects ranging from installing hand pumps in remote areas to shipping medical support donations. Now he has launched the Timor-Leste Village Support Group, collaborating with communities across WA to ship supplies to those in need almost 3000km away. Mr Snell said donations were collected and shipped in sea containers to support educational, medical and disability needs, community projects and orphanages in remote communities. The sea containers will then be repurposed in the community to house projects such as classrooms and women’s sewing centres. “We’ve had disability frames donated from Margaret River to Perth ... they will be a big help for families with a member with a disability in remote areas,” Mr Snell said. “It can make such a big difference in their lives.” Mr Snell said shipping donations to communities in need redirected hundreds of tonnes of good quality items from being sent to landfill. Bonnie’s Op Shop has donated 4kg worth of clothing to the cause to help those less fortunate access good quality supplies. “We’re always looking for somewhere to donate and help because we get so many donations in,” manager Neville Peterkin said. “We need to move what doesn’t sell, but it’s all still good quality clothing so it’s important it goes to people who need it.”