"A life-saving effort," is how the donation of a new medical evacuation and rescue boat to East Timor by Carlton & United Breweries (CUB) is described by Special Representative of the Secretary General of the UN, Mr Sergio Vieira de Mello.
Valued at $104,000, the boat (named `VB 2000') is donated by CUB to assist the reconstruction effort in East Timor - specifically the 8,000 people on Atauro Island in the Dili district.
On Saturday 2 December 2000, the vessel arrived in Darwin. Mr John Murphy, VP National Sales CUB said,: "The Australian Armed Services in East Timor have been very helpful to CUB in assisting us to identify areas of the greatest need in East Timor for the allocation of these funds. We appreciate this support."
"We are pleased to display this new boat to the Armed Services in Darwin, many of whom served in East Timor. We do this as a token of thanks for their contribution and to show the tangible result of our joint efforts to assist the reconstruction of the island," he said.
Mr Murphy also thanked UN personnel for their assistance in this regard.
This presentation by CUB to the Armed Services will take place adjacent to the Hamilton Club, Robertson Barracks, Palmerston NT at 3:00PM.
Lieutenant General Peter Cosgrove AC, MC, local dignitaries and executives from CUB will be in attendance.
The boat will soon be transported to East Timor where, in mid-December, it will be officially transferred to its final owners - the Dili District Administration (being made over in trust for the Sub District of Atauro Island - see note on island following).
Used primarily to move medical teams around the island, the boat will also assist in medical evacuations, immunization programs, distribution of medical supplies and transport to the only hospital on the island.
The boat is a 7.5 metre, open-sea vessel built to carry 10 people. It is powered by an inline, six cylinder diesel Mercruiser d4.21 D-tronic 225 engine with bravo stern drive.
Mr Murphy added, "We have been very keen to ensure that funds raised were directed at the areas of greatest need. Atauro Island's 8,000 residents have suffered because of a basic lack of access to medical services."
"This was a clear case of great need and CUB is very pleased to assist," he said.
Funding for the vessel comes from a grant of $196,500 provided by CUB. This was raised by contributions from sales throughout Australia of special VB cans featuring the International Force East Timor (INTERFET) logo. Australian armed services played the leading role in the operation of INTERFET. *
In addition to the boat, CUB has donated $32,000 for the roof on an orphanage in Dili and anticipates funding the provision of computers (estimated at $12,000) for the central laboratory in Dili to assist in conducting blood tests and water purity checks. The remaining funds are yet to be allocated.
CUB agreed to donate 30 cents per carton in a limited edition run of 655,000 cartons to a fund to be used in the reconstruction of East Timor.
Sales of the special VB cans, which commenced on Anzac Day this year, were sold out within a few weeks.
Further Information
David Park
Public Affairs Manager
Carlton and United Breweries
Tel: +613 9633 2259
Mob: 0418 159 231
Email: david.park@cub.com.au
