LAURIETON Rotarian Steve Roberts has been honoured with a Paul Harris Fellow award for his outstanding voluntary efforts following the devastating 7.5 magnitude earthquake in Vanuatu on 17 December 2024.
The prestigious recognition was presented at his local Rotary Club’s weekly meeting after being nominated by the Port Vila Rotary Club.
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Upon learning of the earthquake’s impact, Steve consulted with Laurieton Rotary President Noel Hiffernan OAM and Secretary Ian Jackson to determine how they could assist.
With a longstanding connection to Vanuatu, Steve had already planned to be in Port Vila from 13 January, using his plumbing expertise to support the local Rotary Club’s recovery efforts.
Laurieton Rotary raised AU$4,000, which was transferred to the Port Vila Rotary to aid the response.
Over the course of six weeks, Steve played a pivotal role in restoring access to clean drinking water in the severely affected villages of Mele and Lamin.
Mele, a village home to over 7,000 people, suffered catastrophic damage to its water infrastructure when the earthquake destroyed pipes supplying the community from a spring near the famous Cascades waterfalls.
A substantial grant of US$25,000 enabled the drilling of a bore, the installation of a solar pump, and the construction of two water tanks.
More than 750 metres of new piping now delivers fresh water to four key locations within the village, with an additional tank placed at the community’s women’s centre to ensure a reliable supply.
USAID Field Ready engineers from Fiji worked alongside Steve and Port Vila Rotarian Karl Brent for a month to bring this project to completion.
Their combined efforts culminated in a ribbon-cutting ceremony on February 19, exactly two months after the earthquake devastated the village’s water supply.
Further north, in Lamin village – located 60 kilometres from Port Vila – Steve and his team embarked on another critical water project.
The Laurieton Rotary Club funded the initiative through additional fundraising, including a classic vintage surfboard raffle and more donation collections at the January book sale.
The water tank in Lamin had fallen into disrepair, clogged with debris and missing key components.
Landslides had further damaged the existing pipework.
New pipes were installed, and a secondary water outlet was added a kilometre away at the main road, restoring clean water access to the village.
During his stay, Steve was also called upon to assess the water supply issues in a ward at Vanuatu’s main hospital.
He is currently advising on the necessary repairs and securing the required pipework to restore running water.
“Rotary built a ward in Port Vila hospital about 30 years ago, but it’s fallen into a bit of disrepair,” Steve said.
“I am going back at the end of April for one week to get the water running again.”
As he prepares for his return to Vanuatu, Steve remains focused on completing essential work at the hospital, ensuring that clean and reliable water remains accessible to those in need.
“It’s great to be able to help others not as fortunate, and it’s great to be part of an organisation like Rotary International, where like-minded people can come together to make things happen.”
A former member of the Port Vila Rotary Club, Steve has been involved in humanitarian projects in Vanuatu for 25 years, particularly on the island of Tanna.
By Luke HADFIELD