In a heartwarming turn of events, P&O Cruises has stepped in to aid a group of stranded Australian Rotary volunteers in Vanuatu.
Mostly teenagers, the students had been volunteering for a project called ‘Paying It Forward’ on the island of Tanna. During their extended stay, which commenced on 5 May, the volunteers diligently contributed to community projects, including health clinics and medical training.
But the young band of Aussies found themselves stranded in the country after the collapse of Air Vanuatu.
Responding swiftly to a plea for help, P&O Cruises however extended a generous hand by offering passage on its vessel, Pacific Adventure, departing Port Vila today (17 May).
The 16 students, accompanied by chaperones, will now embark on a free journey home, with the cruise line covering all costs – including a visit to beautiful Mystery Island.
The young travellers, many of whom hail from Albury in NSW, are due back in Sydney on 23 May.
“P&O Cruises Australia is delighted to help this inspiring group of students get home,” P&O Cruises Australia Senior Vice President Peter Little said.
“We are proud of our Australian heritage that extends back more than 90 years, and answering a call to help young Australians stranded a long way from home, is the right thing to do.
“Vanuatu is a favourite destination for our cruise guests, and we were inspired by the students who volunteered their time to help local communities.”
Kellie Kadaoui, President of Hive Rotary, which organised the project, was grateful for the assistance.
“We were jumping for joy when P&O made their offer, after such a frustrating and stressful few days wondering how we were going to get home,” she remarked.
“This will be an exciting and wonderful way to finish our volunteering trip.”
Air Vanuatu went into voluntary administration last week, with its liquidator saying it expects the carrier to resume normal operations “as soon as possible”.
With the airline’s planes still grounded following its liquidation, Virgin Australia has increased capacity between Australia and Vanuatu.
Earlier this month, after answering a mayday call off New Caledonia, P&O Cruises’ Pacific Encounter also rescued three stranded sailors.
