FLASHBACK: Christie Gunn with school students in Timor-Leste-East

PALM Beach Rotarian Kressley Gunn returned from Timor-Leste-East amazed at the impact of Rotary projects.    She told last week’s club meeting that her trip with Kwinana Rotarian Max Bird’s Rotary Projects Timor Leste East (RPTLE)  working party was super interesting.    “I did not know much about Timor-Leste before I went,” she said. “It was wonderful to learn about the country and its culture. “The people were so grateful for the installations — to be able to turn on a tap and get clean water.”    She mentioned installing a filter at one school, which had very little notice that it would get one. Its community scrambled to get the necessary shed and tank stand built. “The filter was installed over wet  concrete,” she reported. A neighbouring community had been promised that filter but had not done the needed preparatory work. She added: “I did not realise how expensive these filters would be.    “They cost $6000 US each, and the total to install them would be between $12,000 and $15,000 US — $19,000 Australian. “I really did not know the costs involved.” Club president Donna McDonald welcomed Kressley back and enthused about the previous week’s meeting. Max Bird was “inspirational” and Rotarians from Kwinana and Rockingham added to a fabulous night, she said.