ORO Province PNG Water Tanks Project - Combined project with our District 9750 and Rotary Club of Goroka - PNG

Phase 1 & 2 of the ORO Water Tanks Project - Safe Water Saves Lives Project

The need for urgent assistance in providing a long term benefits of clean water for drinking and cooking was recognised and tasked, we are still continuing to the Phase three completion.

In 2008, the District RAWCS Committee set up a matching grant to commence the Oro Water Tanks project to provide some 60 water tanks over three phases. With  donations from the Rotary Clubs of  Camden , Corrimal, Engadine, Fairy Meadow , Kiama , Kings Cross, Minnamurra  and Sutherland and DDF ( Share ) from  the District Grants Committee, the RAWCS Oro Water Tanks Committee secured a matching grant from The Rotary Foundation ( MG69855 ).

This gave the committee  sufficient funds to provide 18 tanks to 14 villages. Our host club in the project is the Rotary Club of Goroka whilst supervision of the project in the Oro province, this was undertaken by Surrogan Bishop Denys Ririka of the Anglican Church, (there being no Rotary Club in Oro province).

Bishop Ririka had initially surveyed the damage immediately after the Cyclone and provided extensive reports on what was required.

This disaster missed the headlines in November 2007 but Cyclone Guba didn’t miss the Oro Province in PNG —it wrecked considerable damage on the population, infrastructure, native gardens and water supplies.



Some 200 people were lost in the flooding and tidal surges. Schools and community buildings have been destroyed; as a consequence schooling stopped in many areas as a result of no interest structure remains.

The tanks were transported by coaster from Lae to Oro Bay where they were uncrated and distributed by a team of Village Volunteers.

The villagers were required to set up the new bases and arrange guttering and downpipes.

This imposed a level of responsibility and ownership on the Villagers.  

In Phase two it is planned to provide another 14 to 18 tanks 

Every donation helps no matter how small — by lending a hand you can greatly benefit these people by providing clean safe water that we take for granted, we are ensuring a brighter and healthier future by improved strategies.

Below are some photos from the recently completed Phase I.    

Phase 2 - Delivery of Water Tanks

This is the installation of  water tanks undertaken in Phase two for the Oro province PNG water tanks project organised  by the District 9750 RAWCS  Committee in association with the Rotary Club of Goroka.
It was funded through a Rotary Foundation Matching grant No 72302 utilising  District Designated Funds and contributions from the Rotary Clubs of Camden, Campsie, Corrimal, Engadine, Fairy Meadow, Kiama ,Kings Cross  & Minnamurra

The RAWCS committee , the Rotary Club of Goroka and the recipients of the tanks thanks those contributing clubs for their generous donations  .

A very special thanks to the project supervisor Bishop Denys Ririka without whom this project would not succeed  

This is an example of what Rotary can do by working together to improve the health and well-being of near neighbours – this brings the total tanks to 33 under this project.

But there’s more to be done – we need your continuing support