VSIAF Shipping Medical & Educational Equipment & Supplies From Australia To Fiji

$15,000
Fund Raising Goal

Mr Gus Raddock was a founding Director of FijiLIFE Foundation. He retired as a Director of FjiLIFE in November 2022. Gus personally arranged the shipment of 22 containers from Adelaide to Suva from 3rd June, 1999 to 10th May, 2015 through his former organisation, the Fiji Association of South Australia (FASA). FijiLIFE Directors will liaise with Rotary Australia Repurposing Equipment Northern Region, Rotary Australia World Community Service. The container will be consigned to Mrs Rokula McGoon, Secretary, VSIAF, who will distribute the equipment to their own members and to charities who have provided us with their ‘Wishlist’. This will be FijiLIFE’s first shipment, but will be Container #23, following the legacy established by Gus Raddock from Adelaide, South Australia, and Paul McGoon, former President of VSIAF, now deceased.

Over the next months we will work to get the container ready to ship to Suva and enlist the help of volunteers to help load it. However, we are challenged by an extraordinary rise in freight costs for containers shipped to Fiji, from the previous pre-covid fee of A$3,800 per container to now some $15,000. We look forward to your financial support

SHIPPING COSTS GO THROUGH THE ROOF

A shortage of shipping containers, delays at ports, and a reduced number of ships stopping in Australia are causing problems for exporters.

The Australian Retailers Association’s chief executive, Paul Zahra, told the ABC the high cost of shipping products added to the challenges faced by retailers.

“Shipping costs have quadrupled in the last year, during the course of the pandemic, and most Australian retailers who are doing their best not to pass these costs on to consumers in the short term are seeing their margins heavily squeezed,” Mr Zahra said.

We expect that these shipping costs will fall over 2024. In view of these current high shipping costs, FLF has decided to postpone the shipment of our first container to Suva until we can raise the AUD $15,000 cost of shipping.

So, we are proceeding with fundraising for the shipment and ask for your gifts to help us bring these supplies to VSIAF in Suva.

In Memoriam

Vale Mr Paul McGoon
President Viti Spinal Injuries Association of Fiji
3/6/1964 – 22/4/2020

Paul McGoon – Memorial

Thank you Paul for your services and the commitment of your VSIAF Charity foundation benefitting persons with disabilities and those with unmet medical aids and needs in Fiji.

VSIAF has assisted with providing wheelchairs, electrically operated hospital beds/mattresses, walking frames, commodes, continence equipment and many other amenities and services to hundreds of persons in Fiji.

I am deeply honoured and proud to have embarked with you partly on your life’s journey and developing a long bonding friendship with you and your family.

We share a common bond my friend in turning our DISABILITY into an ABILITY.

My sincere condolences to Kula, Simon, your extended family and the dedicated VSIAF team in Fiji.

YOUR LEGACY AND DEDICATION TOWARDS THE SERIOUS UNDERFUNDING OF ONGOING MEDICAL CARE AID NEEDS IN FIJI MUST CONTINUE

RIP PAUL

Gus Raddock
FijiLIFE Foundation
Adelaide
South Australia

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