Sister Lorraine Garasu, centre, with Ray and Maxeine Pescud.
BOUGAINVILLE may have been torn apart by war but with the help of exceptional people like Sister Lorraine Garasu the country is starting to heal.
Honoured in 2009 as the Papua New Guinea winner of the US State Department’s international women of courage award, Sr Garasu was in Woolgoolga to visit locals who were supporting her peace efforts.
Sr Garasu is the director of the Nazarene Rehabilitation Centre which is responsible for refugee program for women and children who are victims of sexual abuse and trauma, inter-denominational peace programs and drug and alcohol abuse programs.
While the civil war has been over for 10 years on the small island between the Papua New Guinean mainland and the Solomon Islands it has left a resounding impact on the local community.
Sr Lorraine said that during the 10-year war, 20,000 people died in the conflict but that only represented a small number of victims. The Woolgoolga Uniting Church is supporting the work of Sr Lorraine and will be holding a garage sale on May 8 from 8am to 2pm.
All money raised will go towards providing clean water and medicines for the Chabai Village in Bougainville.
source: http://www.coffscoastadvocate.com.au/story/2010/04/26/sister-is-doing-it-for-bougainville/