If there is a sight that must fill the orphans of Yappenantin Orphanage in Bali with joy, it is that of St John of God Subiaco Hospital’s Rosalie Nodwell.
The hospital’s Learning and Development Coordinator has been travelling to this extremely poor orphanage for the last four years, engaging in voluntary work and offering orphaned children better living conditions and learning opportunities.
Ms Nodwell has a number of tasks to carry out in her current nursing post at SJG Hospital Subiaco.
These include training approximately 1,500 students each year from local universities and institutes of technology and coordinating their practical education with a team of clinical facilitators. She also aids the Instep program, aimed at giving work experience to students still in school.
However, Ms Nodwell has invested a significant amount of her time and energy towards improving living conditions in some of the world’s poorest areas.
She recently spoke to Archdiocese of Perth Communications and Media Office journalist Marco Ceccarelli about what she believes have been humbling and life-changing experiences.
Ms Nodwell initially became involved with helping remote overseas communities on a trip to the island of Tanna, Vanuatu, with her adult children.
On the island, she shared 39 years of experience as a registered nurse to provide medical care to the inhabitants of three villages.
The trip had such a profound effect on Ms Nodwell that, not long after, she found herself speaking to her children about their trips to Bali, and of their visit to the Yappenantin Orphanage, and making the decision to visit the orphanage herself.
“When I first went there, the conditions of the orphanage were very poor,” Ms Nodwell said.
“None of the children had towels or many toiletry items; they were sharing plates and cutlery,” she said.
“The bathrooms were awash with muddy water and the nearby river was often used for personal washing.
“This orphanage has 150 children – so it is a very big orphanage.
“There were 10 to 15 girls per room – rooms so small they stacked their sleeping mats in the morning and spread them out at night. The room was lit by a single, dangling, precarious light,” Ms Nodwell said.
It did not take long for her to become personally involved in providing essential food and sanitary items, as well as purchasing soft toys for the children.
“Food is very basic at the orphanage: children eat rice and noodles flavoured with stock.
Meat is a rare treat and they receive one egg per child per week.
“On my trips to the local markets, I would buy food items, including fruit, along with cutlery and crockery, washing powders, toothbrushes and toothpaste, cleaning brushes and anti-septic materials,” Ms Nodwell added.
With the help of SJG Hospital Subiaco volunteers, who have raised and donated money towards several projects, Ms Nodwell was also able to make structural improvements to living space.
Bathrooms for the boys were built, along with two new bedrooms for the girls and the renovation of the girls’ bathrooms. New mats and pillows for the boys were also purchased.
“The volunteers from the hospital have stalls throughout the year and raise large amounts of money. I would speak to them, show them photos, and they came on board.”
Ms Nodwell emphasised that helping in the orphanage goes beyond providing food and improving shelter, and must incorporate the dimension of human interaction.
“When I am there I spend time with them because there isn’t a mother figure at the orphanage. The girls love being with you, they literally hang off you. They love interaction. I also do education sessions.”
Her work has had a long-term effect on some of the orphans who have since broken the cycle of poverty, going on to university education, and beginning families of their own.
“Two of the girls have been sponsored by one gentleman who lives in Bali who I keep in touch with and they’ve been given the opportunity to go to university.
“They are now married, and one is expecting her first baby. I’m going back this year to see new bubby. It’s been a beautiful connection with her. Before she got married she asked for my blessing.”
In reference to the familiar picturesque image that Australians have of Bali, Ms Nodwell believes there is a “need to go beyond what we see in Bali,” and encourages Australians to see this as both a beautiful holiday destination and a place in need of international aid.
Ms Nodwell is currently planning further trips to Bali to lend further help to the orphanage.
Meanwhile, she aims to channel her energy here in Perth toward her work with Lifeline WA and her involvement in pastoral care at SJG Hospital Subiaco.