Brian and Kirsten Trower, with their children Stephen, Gabrielle and Lily, left Australia for China in 2001 where they live in the province of Guangxi.
Brian has been working for a Chinese businessman there.
Kirsten went out to see if there was anything she could do at the children's home in the area.
This is a large children's home, which was built by Australian aid.
Recognising a need for stimulating craft and teaching activities, especially for children with special needs, Kirsten and the girls started attending one day a week and the whole family visited every second Sunday.
The family very quickly became aware of some of the medical needs the children have.
Resources to rectify cleft palates, heart defects and other operable disorders are almost unobtainable in a third world country.
During the past 12 months about $5000 has been collected from groups and individuals in Australia and the United States that has allowed a number of children to receive much needed treatment.
The children are clean and well cared for in the children's home, but resources are not available for all the medical needs of the kids.
Brian and Kirsten with a group of locals have formed a voluntary charity.
They have the support and co-operation of the government and are now legally registered to be able to collect and receive monies locally and from overseas.
After almost 12 months of negotiating, the Helping Hands Seven Star Charity Association is now official.
During the negotiation period Brian, Kirsten, and others sought the help of friends to provide funds for some of the operations which were neeeded.
These have been done quite successfully, with some of the children having since been adopted.
Since then a greater public awareness has developed for the needs of these children.
With the charity set in place, and the members all being voluntary, it means all donations go totally to the charity.
To support the work this family has strived for and put in motion, the Soroptimists International of Lightning Ridge, and members of the Lightning Ridge Community Church have combined to run a charity appeal, "Operations for Orphans".
We are well aware that this is not the ideal time to be trying to raise money.
However each member has committed to filling a soft drink can with money, whether by adding the small change from our wallets or by having a dinner party, or morning tea and charging the friends they invite along. (Some cans may be filled with five cent coins others $5 notes.), it doesn't matter it all helps.
It was intended a doorknock appeal would be conducted, but rather than cause any embarrassment to people at this time of drought and low opal prices, we will be making soft drink charity collection cans available to anyone who is willing to help.
If you can help change an orphan's life, please call 68291081.
Margaret Mansfield,
for the combined committee
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