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Five monks, four school girls, three blokes from Pattaya, plus casual volunteers build a school in three days!

Schools devastated, Children need your help now

Masonic CKD building project fills a need in the South

Jameson’s Irish Pub throws open the doors - officially!

Report from the South

Dusit Resort Pattaya donates to the Camillian Centre

Five monks, four school girls, three blokes from Pattaya, plus casual volunteers build a school in three days!

The project to design and build the CKD buildings and the cooperation between the local Masonic Lodge Pattaya West Winds (LPWW 1803 S.C.) and other service organisations, swung behind an idea that stemmed from Kevin Fisher after the destruction caused by the Tsunami. This became an official LPWW 1803 S.C. project and the members voted in favour of acting as a focal point for donations from the Masonic community to finance the buildings for use as schools. The word soon spread through out the Masonic and private sectors for funds to help the children.

Middy and Kevin give the thumbs up for the work to begin.

The Grand Lodge of Western Australia pledged funds for the first school building. The Rotary Club of Jomtien-Pattaya collected and donated to the cause, and other donations came from private individuals.

After construction of the ‘meccano set’ building at the Ultimate Technology and Services factory in Maptaput, the structure was completely knocked down (CKD), loaded on a truck and taken to Phuket.

The building and supervisory team led by Kevin Fisher and Richard ‘Middy’ Campbell arrived at the disaster site on Friday afternoon, but the team of volunteer workers from the technical school who had volunteered to assist in assembling the building had gone home for the weekend. However, the five Buddhist Monks who survived the tsunami (another four are among the missing) from the Kamala Beach Temple helped to unload the materials and supplies from the truck.

Monks, volunteers and children lend a helping hand in erecting and painting the frames of the shelter.

David Lee a volunteer worker, living in Phuket, in contact with Dave Doll during the early phases of the project helped co-coordinating the operations on the local level, though both he and the monks could not imagine how these piles of steel, plywood, tarps, and other supplies could actually be assembled into a 20 meter long building.

On Saturday morning, the LPWW team under the technical directions provided by Dave Doll started to assemble the building frames. Master Elect Middy Campbell soon had the Temple monks laughing and helping lay out the steel. Kevin Fisher and his crew of two monks collected foundation bricks from the demolished buildings.

The technical school volunteers were greatly missed, but work continued with the monks and three musketeers from Pattaya. Before noon the frames were going into place and being erected. The excitement was growing and passersby were stopping to ask questions and take photos of the progress. No one had ever seen a structure go up so fast.

The afternoon on Saturday was spent levelling the building and placing bricks under the floor sections. Once it was squared, the nuts and bolts were securely tightened. By the end of the first day, the steel frame was up.

On a Sunday in Kamala Beach no one works. However, the monks and the tired, sun burnt, but happy trio from Pattaya did not stop and rest. At noon, four young school girls arrived and asked how they could help. Middy soon put them to work. Foundation bricks were dug from the rubble and reused under the floor sections by the young school girls.

Paint was flying onto plywood, paint was flying onto steel, the monks were putting blue paint on everything, including themselves. Why Blue Paint? Because blue is Her Majesty the Queen’s favourite colour that she likes to see used in charitable projects. Even the tarps are blue.

Some carpentry work commenced on Sunday afternoon. Cutting framing timber was organized. Middy and Kevin started to install the doors in the end of the building bay sections.

Once the floor beams were securely shored up with bricks, the school girls carried plywood for the flooring. A monk and a volunteer worker started laying the floor sections. A team of military and local volunteers from Nakon Si Thamarat arrived around noon.

Some of the new arrivals were shown how to install the chicken wire over the roof trusses. David Lee supervised the installation of the chicken wire and ensured that it was securely tied down to the steel frame.

Dave, Kevin and Middy with their new-found friends pose in front of the completed framework.

Some of the new volunteers started drilling and screwing the floor into place. Kevin ran from shop to shop in Kamala getting the owners to open up and sell him more drill bits trying to keep up to the pace the military volunteers were setting in breaking them. Finally, one of the monks took the drill and started drilling properly and the trips to the hardware store ceased.

The last piece in the frame is fitted into place by a monk at high noon.

All other work stopped as the tarps were unpacked, laid out and pulled across the steel frame. Once squared, the tarp was securely fastened.

The effect was immediate and spontaneous, “Doc” the blue painted monk stood grinning from ear to ear, just rotating in a circle and shaking his head “YES!” The abbot from the Wat came and had tears in his eyes. David Lee, Kevin, Middy and people all stopped and stared at the blue building standing on the demolished site of the old school.

In two days five monks, four school girls, three blokes from Pattaya, plus David Lee, and other casual volunteers had assembled the frame, covered it, and had started the interior work. Smiles abounded and the work now continued in the cool shade on a clean wooden floor.

Schoolgirls carry plywood for the flooring.

On Monday, painting plywood continued by the monks, while Middy and Kevin succeeded in fitting the first door. A teacher from the technical school and 10 of his students arrived before noon and were very surprised to see a building sitting on what was an empty lot when they left on Friday afternoon. Dave Doll showed them what to do and how to do it and away they went. Cutting, notching, drilling, and screwing the wooden frames for the side walls into place.

The shelters take shape as the tarp is draped over the structure and floorboards are placed. (above & below)

On Tuesday, the technical school teacher and children returned and completed the side walls. Middy and Kevin installed the second door. The building ends were covered, and the end canopies were set. The monks did a bit of touch up painting here and there.

A sign giving credit to the financial contributions made by the Grand Lodge of West Australia, the Rotary Club of Jomtien-Pattaya, and Mr. Webb (a private donor) was erected at the site.

This monk was an expert at using an electric drill.

At 2 p.m. on Wednesday 26 January, Phuket administrators accepted the handing over of the record breaking building, that can now be used as a school for the needy local children.

Victims of Tsunami need your help now!

Middy Campbell made an inspection trip to Phangnga District to see first hand of what was left of a school. The work continues... Please turn to page 30 to read of how you can help.

Thanks to five monks, four schoolgirls, three blokes from Pattaya, and casual volunteers, the kids at Kamala Beach now have a school.


Schools devastated, Children need your help now

By Richard ‘Middy’ Campbell

We made a trip to Phangnga District and looked at, what was, a children’s school. Regrettably it was totally decimated.

Middy inspects the devastation of the school in Phangnga District, depriving children of their place of learning.

Talking to the school principal Archan Surin, he informed us that he was desperate for assistance to get the children back to their lessons.  We agreed that this was the best therapy for the children after such a devastating disaster. 

We agreed to do our utmost to provide two (20 meter long) shelters to be divided into 4 classrooms.  We informed them that the site that was selected during our inspection, would be adequate for our shelters.  Another area was ear marked for a new permanent school building to be built in due course.

The future for these poor children is in schooling and as such, we left with hope and expectation that his request would be put to our Lodge Committee for their approval.

Pattaya Mail readers, These children need your help Now!!!!! 

Please help us to help them....

Contact David Garred Tel. +66 4 755 3100, e-mail: [email protected] or David Doll at [email protected] - Middy Campbell at [email protected].

Donations will be gratefully accepted


Masonic CKD building project fills a need in the South

In these post-tsunami days, with the immediate needs of water, food and clothing being met, the call is now for urgently needed shelter. Tent ghettos are not the answer, and the experience of some local expats has been put into operation to solve the problem.

Dr. Iain Corness interviews the good Samaritans for Pattaya Mail on TV. (l-r) Kevin Fisher, Middy Campbell, Dave Doll and John Richardson. At right is John Morgan, master of Lodge Pattaya West Winds.

In a cooperation between different members of the local Masonic Lodge Pattaya West Winds and the Grand Lodges in Western Australia, plus additional help from the Rotary Club of Jomtien-Pattaya, has seen prefab school buildings, built on the Eastern Seaboard, being assembled in the South to be used as classrooms for orphaned children.

The design of the modular CKD buildings has been a collaborative effort, with Kevin Fisher, Dave Doll (Sea and Oilfield Services) and John Richardson, the director of Ultimate Technology Services (UTS) producing the first of a number of these easily transportable buildings.

With the heaviest individual piece only weighing 11 kg, and the sections small enough to go on the back of a standard truck, these buildings, which can be up to 18 meters in length, are easily erected in a few hours, even using unskilled labour. The cost to fabricate each one is around USD 8,000, and being of a size that can hold many children and school equipment, these buildings will ensure that their vital education can continue.

UTS’s John Richardson is also well underway with complete prefab flat-pack stand-alone houses that can be erected in 45 minutes, and just need connecting to an outside electric power source to make for very habitable residences for the homeless.

Those who have been involved in this Masonic project are to be congratulated for not just seeing the need, but being able to fulfil that need as well.

Dave, Middy, Kevin, Stan, Peter and Sid help load the truck with materials needed to build the shelters.


Jameson’s Irish Pub throws open the doors - officially!

Miss Terry Diner

With no pomp, and even less circumstance, Jameson’s the new Irish pub, had its head (and feet) truly wetted last Friday night. With the ribbon cutting done very quickly by co-hosts Rony Fineman and landlord Kim Fletcher, it was into the pub for some serious drinking. And the serious drinkers were there by the score, far too many for me to mention individually.

To say that Pattaya was waiting for this venue would be an understatement. There were so many people at the opening that friends were ringing each other on mobile phones to find which part of the pub they were in. After all, when you’re in the pool section, and your mates are in the library, or propping up the bar, there was no way you could have spotted them in the crowd. A crowd so huge that Rony Fineman was overheard saying, “If it’s like this every night, it’ll be great!” Even with only half the crowd such as there was on opening night, both Kim and Rony should be happy. The car park which was designed for 65 cars had more than 100 at some stages of the evening, but somehow everyone seemed to be able to cope, both outside and inside the pub.

The staff were certainly kept busy with an unending series of bar snacks coming out of the new Jameson’s kitchen, while Molly and the service people somehow fought their way through the throng without spilling the innumerable beers from Bob’s bar that were drunk that night, not to mention the odd Jameson’s Irish whiskey, several score of Guinness and even the odd wine for the odd wine buffs that came to the opening. And with many sporting associations and other diverse groups opting to use Jameson’s as their headquarters, the staff can expect no respite.

With direct access from Pattaya’s Second and Third roads, plus North Road and Central Road, one could be forgiven for saying that all roads lead to Jameson’s!

(l-r) Dr. Iain Corness, Peter Malhotra, Kim Fletcher, Rony Fineman, Mike Franklin and Graham McDonald are ready for the very informal ribbon cutting to ‘officially’ throw open the doors at Jameson’s Irish Pub.

Part of Ed’s best side...

Peter was seen hopping about on the photo trail!

Mistress Susie, Ian and Ray were seen propping up the bar through the night.

Suparp, Clayton and their group had a premier night out!

Who ‘dat?

Mike and the ‘boys’ from Eastern Star checked out the home of ‘JIGS’.

Ray, Graham and Woody ready for action!

Som and Sue guard their refreshments amid the hustle and bustle of opening night.

Smile... you’re on candid camera!

A bevy of beauties grace the pool table area!

8 ball in the corner pocket! Jameson’s has two professional size pool tables for avid players.

Kim and Tim, a likely pair of landlords!

Aum and Moo congratulate their former boss on opening night!

Rony was the center of attention when receiving congratulatory bouquets from friends and associates.

Peter, Amorn and Thanomsak keep a watchful eye on the night’s comings and goings.

Molly graciously accepts more flowers on behalf of the very busy Jameson’s Pattaya.

Nothing like a pint of Guinness with a couple of mates!

Cheers!


Report from the South

Marliese Fritz

My husband Heinz, I and our friend Max went one day early in the morning with his pick-up truck, heading in the direction of Phuket. We were overloaded with clothing, shoes, pillows, dishes and pans, gas-cookers and even a fridge, which were all donated by members of the Rotary Clubs on the Eastern Seaboard and Marina, Sauber Club, Ursula Rothstein of Ursula’s Antiques, Elfi of Pattaya Blatt and many more friends.

Little children in a relief camp.

After a 13 hour’s drive we reached Takuapa. At a temple there we met our friend Hans, who lives in Phuket and knows his way around. The air was horrible with the smell of decomposing bodies that were lying at the temple. We thought we will never get rid of this smell.

Marliese Fritz (2nd left) hands over funds and goods.

At the temple they told us to leave the cartons in a corner and the people will pick it all up after they have a house again. Our feeling told us not to do so; we believed that the people needed everything immediately! We were soon on the way again to bring everything directly to the victims of the tsunami.

A woman prepares a meal from donated food.

Near Kao Lak we found a camp of survivors. They were lying on plastic mats under plastic sheets being built like tents. Soldiers were building huts. We saw that the people there had enough water and food and medicine, but everything else was lacking. When we saw them, we knew we were at the right place to help.

Urgently needed goods are distributed to the people.

A village headman tried to make a list of all we had brought and the people gathered around our vehicle, partly full of hope, partly apathetic, and helped to unload the pick-up. After unloading everything, we had to travel 200 kilometers on to Phuket, since it was getting dark and there was no hotel or house where we could sleep.

A temporary camp made out of plastic awning.

The next day we went to all the beaches of Phuket and we were shocked to see how devastated everything still was, even though a lot was cleaned off already. The famous Patong Beach looked worse. Wrecked cars standing around, almost all houses destroyed.

The devastation was shocking.

The next day we went to buy toys for all the poor children who lost everything as well. And they didn’t even have a comforter like a teddy or a doll to fall asleep with at night. On our way back we drove by “our” camp again and delivered the toys, much to the joy of the children.

On the way to Khao Lak, in bright daylight, the devastation was worse to look at. Even though we saw a lot on television already, the reality is much, much worse.

Soon we will be going again to bring some more things to the poor people there and if somebody wants to help with donations they can contact me at Tel: 06-1493010. Again we will deliver everything directly to the people in need.


Dusit Resort Pattaya donates to the Camillian Centre

Through meeting at various Skๅl meetings, Christina & Malcolm from the Charity Club of Pattaya got to talking to Stefan Heintze, resident manager for the Dusit Resort here in Pattaya.

Christina Boden (right) from the Charity Club of Pattaya hands over boxes of bedding donated by the Dusit Resort Pattaya to Georgina Phelan at the Camillian Centre.

During one conversation they mentioned the work they do for the Camillian Centre in Rayong. A few days later Christina received an email from Stefan saying that the Dusit Resort would like to know if they would like some bedding for the Camillian Centre.

The answer was, “Yes, please!”

So, last Sunday Stefan and Toy, Dusit Resort housekeeper, met with Malcolm and Christina and helped to load up the truck.

The Charity Club of Pattaya then took the bedding up to the Camillian Centre where Georgina Phelan and Father Giovanni were waiting.

Father Giovanni said he would take some of the bedding down to the people in the South as the Camillian’s have sent some people to help care for 500 needy people in the worst hit areas that were caught up in the tsunami, so not only did the Dusit Resort help the Camillian Centre, but they also have helped the people in the South.

If any other hotels have any spare bedding, please contact the Charity Club of Pattaya, Christina 095454185 or Malcolm 097441040, or email [email protected]

Georgina, Christina & Father Giovanni

Father Giovanni and Georgina Phelan are grateful for the generous donation.

Malcolm (left), from the Charity Club of Pattaya, says thanks to Toy & Stefan for their generous help.

Stefan Heintze, resident manager of the Dusit Resort in Pattaya, takes time out of his busy schedule to help load the boxes.

Correction

In the Friday December 17 - December 23, 2004 edition of the Pattaya Mail, the article titled, “Personal Directions: How to create your own gold rush” was erroneously attributed to Christina Dodd. The article was not inspired by Todd Natenberg. It was actually authored by Todd Natenberg, president of TBN Sales Solutions, and author of the book, “I just got a job in sales! Now what?” A Playbook for Skyrocketing Your Commissions. Visit Mr. Natenberg’s company at www.IJustGotAJobInSales.com. You also can reach Todd in the United States at (773) 755-1306. The Pattaya Mail regrets the error.