A Tractor for Gaua
Gaua Island is a 342 km² island in the Banks Island group, in the Torba province of Northern Vanuatu.
For several years a team of men from the island of Gaua have been coming to New Zealand under the Recognised Seasonal Employer (RSE) scheme. These men work in the vineyards of Marlborough, saving hard to make a difference to the lives of their families and community at home.
A Tractor for Gaua – Project Team
Back home, the roads and steep terrain on the island are challenging, and the island’s one means of transport (an old 4WD truck) was struggling to keep up with the heavy workload – and often breaking down. The people of Gaua needed a tractor for carting the heavy loads around the island, and to load things on and off the ships. So together with their local supporters, the men decided to save and fundraise to purchase a second-hand tractor for the island.
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- The Gaua Tractor project – the roads on Gaua!
A committee made up of men from Gaua worked together with pastoral carers Dianne Howard and Miriam Taylor, and Malcolm Pease, to secure funding and source a reliable secondhand Massey Ferguson tractor. Restoration work was undertaken – and in the course of this the team also brought out Markie Fresley (a mechanic from Gaua) to take part in the restoration) so this would help him be better able to look after the ongoing maintenance once the tractor was back in Gaua.
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- The Gaua Tractor – before restoration
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- The Gaua Tractor – after restoration (with Malcolm Pease (sponsor) and Markie Fresley (mechanic)
The restored tractor was duely loaded onto a truck for Auckland to be shipped to Espiritu Santo in Vanuatu. Marlborough businesses (including SWE, Burkhart Fisheries, Hynds and Wilkes Resource Management) – and a number of individuals – generously sponsored the project, including shipping and additional costs. In June 2014 the tractor was delivered to Gaua. “The Tractor Company” has been set up to look after the tractor and the interests of the island on an ongoing basis.
SWE was delighted to get involved with this project, and contributed towards shipping costs to get the tractor from New Zealand to the island of Gaua. Stephen Leitch (our MD) and his family were honoured to be able to be present at a blessing ceremony in Gaua in July 2014. All in all, it was fantastic to help see the dream of these men fulfilled and benefiting the island of Gaua both now and in the future.
Photos courtesy of Miriam Taylor.
