Repurposing Macs and Improving Lives in 2007 and Beyond

Edited by Robert Pritchett and submitted to macCompanion by

David Phillips – President, Apple-MAQ Lions Club

Brisbane Australia corsica46 at optusnet dot com dot au

In being part of the Macintosh environment, those of us who use Macs can touch the hearts and minds of people around the world for good. David Phillips asked us to let you know what the Apple MAC Lions Club http://applemaqau.lionwap.org/ in Brisbane Queensland, Australia, has been doing to help repurpose Macs around the world. Here is one that has been nominated for the Lions International Award http://www.lionsclubs.org/EN/index.shtml as the first Macintosh User Group to become a Lions Club.

David Phillips wrote:

I realise that the direction our club took was a major change of direction from what most MUGS do. And it started innocently enough by doing up an older Mac and giving to a person in need. From that origin, it has just grown. We have been loaned a large area by the state government. It has a 800m2 shed and offices and workshops on a 2 hectare block of land. We have just packed two containers for Boganville and a third is waiting to be packed. We are sending 54 hospital beds and 100 Mac computers as well as teaching material, books, school desks and Chairs.

Our minimum spec of computer that we send is now 7200/120 64mg Ram and 2 gig HD 9.2.1 We do try and send 128 and some 4 gigs to use as servers. We refurbish ImageWriters and Laser Printers as dot matrix is a problem. In the countries we send to you cannot just go to the local corner store for a cartridge. Getting replacements for Ink Jets is a major problem and moisture causes the ink to run.

Dot matrix for cheap runs and laser for good quality (more expensive) when Quality is required. In East Timor, the unemployment is 70% It cost $20 aus. to unpack our container. $5 per day per man.

We do need ADB mice. We have 600 of them, but 1,100 computers that need those mice. With 100 computers going to Boganville and 200 to Samoa, that leaves us with 300 which will not last long. We have promised 150 computers to Uganda educations Department and Rabaul wants 100 also.

We have Macs from II's to iMacs 500 ... 512's, Plus's IICI's VX's and so on.

Apple-MAQ Lions Club Mrs. DESLEY SCOTT (Woodridge--ALP) (12.28 pm): A visit to Mission Australia in Logan Central to observe a Work for the Dole program put me in touch with an amazing group of people. Mr. David Phillips has been a member of the Apple-MAQ Computer Club for some 20 years. In recent years he has become a self-funded retiree and looked about for a challenge. He has certainly found one. David and his small band of helpers are now involved in a project to gather computers, school and medical equipment and ship them to countries where they will perform an invaluable service to people who have little hope of ever having anywhere near adequate facilities to support their education and health services. Shipping containers have been dispatched to several countries, including Western Samoa, Solomon Islands, East Timor, Uganda, Sri Lanka and West Papua. They contain computers, desks, chairs, whiteboards, chalk, books, clothing and other more specialised equipment to specific areas--such as a Lucas saw, refrigerators and another generator to West Papua.

In one communication, Dr Greg Poulgrain of the General Douglas MacArthur Foundation outlined the celebration in West Papua as the goods were unpacked and distributed. He wrote-- 3,000 came to the celebration, including the chief of police, the local media and representatives of seven tribes in the region for a larger than usual pig feast. Dr Poulgrain, who is in charge of the West Papuan aid section, is looking to expand the work there. A demountable building is being shipped to become a medical clinic with volunteer doctors flown up on a regular basis. Two workers from Brisbane will also be trained to dispense spectacles in West Papua from the Lions spectacles recycling depot at Redcliffe. Papua has the highest infant mortality rate in the world, so these measures will go some way to assist these needy people.

To support the shipment of computers to Samoa a technician was sent to help with set-up and support in the early stages. While in Samoa Phil Denton, the technician, was able to identify other equipment which would greatly assist the people there, such as at the vocational school, where the boys require an upholstery sewing machine, the girls require an overlocker and there is a need for tools for the automotive class, especially a computer for engine analysis, just for a start. We can see that this is a growing project. The West Samoan government paid for half of the shipping expenses, with the other half paid by Apple-MAQ Lions Club.

Since the tragic tsunami on Boxing Day, six shipping containers have gone to Sri Lanka with aid. (3x20’s and 3x40’s) On a local level, many computers are made available to the Smith Family for their invaluable work with our students. They supply a computer and printer to students for a $50 a year contribution. This is becoming an extraordinary partnership as more and more people and organisations learn of this great work. Queensland Rail has assisted with transport, Simon George and Sons offered storage space out at the Brisbane Markets for a time and more recently Q-Build has signed an agreement to allow use of a decommissioned section of Wacol hospital. I understand that Mr. Ermanno Nobilio was most helpful in facilitating this.

BoysTown has also assisted with transporting goods in its truck; Education Queensland has given older equipment for refurbishment and All Hallows gave 400 desks. Further education equipment has been donated by St Catherine's at Mansfield, St Anthony's at Cleveland, St Mary's at Ipswich, state schools at East Brisbane, Buranda, Balmoral, MacGregor High and Sienna College in Buderim. Others have given as they have learned of the need. Golden Circle has donated fruit juice and baby foods. Many items came from the Uniting Church at Moorooka. Financial help has come from Sunland Construction. The people of Norfolk Island sent over 2.5 tonnes of various items.

Following a promotion by 612 ABC Radio, 200 tents were donated. More recently 140 bikes are being donated by the police in Darwin and coordinated by Darwin Lions Club. These are being trucked down and will be done up before being shipped out to Sri Lanka. When there is a superb project such as this one, people are always willing to assist as they are able.

This project is one of three which have been nominated for a Lions International award, with the winner being announced at the Lions International Convention in Hong Kong in June. Mission Australia has also recommended them for a special Prime Minister's award. This innovative Apple-MAQ Lions Club has created an income stream through its supervision of Work for the Dole computer projects through Mission Australia, Civic Solutions and Challenge Employment and thus this money is poured into this fantastic work.

Would you like to participate? Make a real difference in the lives of others in 2007!

Md 201
District Q1
Apple-MAQ Lions Club of QLD

P.O. Box 7438 East Brisbane QLD 4169

Club Tele: 61 7 3895 8103

applemaqlion@yahoo.com.au

http://applemaqau.lionwap.org

http://www.lionsclubs.org/EN/content/lnn/index.html