Torquay businessman digs deep for marginalised communities

TORQUAY’S Mick O’Malley will donate 200 Empowering Women Empowering Communities (EWEC) Moon Sick Care Bags to women and girls in Papua New Guinea during this month’s Kokoda Youth Program.

Mick, who owns Australian Kokoda Tours, said he became aware of the inaccessibility some women are forced to experience when menstruating while walking the Kokoda Track last year.

He learned that many women and girls who live in PNG fashion old rags or coconut fibre into sanitary pads during their menstrual cycle, a shocking albeit deeply sad revelation.

Mick said the absence of hygiene products continues to be a serious problem in PNG, resulting in female exclusion.

“They (EWEC) engage Aboriginal women to make washable sanitary pads, something that ladies and girls in PNG desperately need,” he said.

“We chose to support this initiative because it’s great to be able to help out the Aboriginal Australian communities who are creating these bags, in turn having a positive impact on women’s health across Australia and the Pacific.”

Each care bag includes two pairs of underwear, four washable sanitary pads, a small material bag for soiled pads, a face washer, a bar of soap, and a laminated palm card so women can anticipate and prepare for the arrival of their monthly cycle.

Mick said EWEC’S program hoped to generate an income for women in Aboriginal communities and across PNG through the making of washable sanitary pads.

“We’ll distribute these 200 bags to the entire village of Kagi on the Kokoda Track. We know it will help to make a difference in many ways.”

Mick and Australian Kokoda Tours guides and trekkers will distribute the 200 Moon Sick Care Bags during the September 19 Kokoda Youth Program trek.