Susan Hinkley (past volunteer) – Legal Adviser, Nazareth Centre for Rehabilitation in Bougainville
“Prior to coming here my husband Tony was a little anxious about how he would fill his time but he has been very busy from the start doing a wide variety of odd jobs. He has also taken over running our household and enjoys his daily bike rides into the market to buy fresh fruit and vegetables, sometimes supplementing our diet by going fishing with local male friends. Being an unassigned partner works well for those who are able to make friends with local people and cope with their own company when that is all there is.”
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Susan began her assignment in January 2009. Before she left New Zealand she was working as a lawyer in Nelson. She was accompanied by her husband Tony.
What Susan did in Bougainville
Susan worked for the Nazareth Centre for Rehabilitation (NCR) in Buka, which helps women and children who have been the victims of domestic and sexual violence. She worked closely with the head of the centre, Sister Lorraine Garasu, focusing on ways to improve women’s access to justice, and how best to assist them through the court process.
Making a positive impact
Susan says the work with NCR was all about helping women survivors of domestic violence get access to justice. Susan’s assignment was initially to train para-legals but she ended up also training police prosecutors and staff at the Public Solicitor’s Office on how to go into court and get protection orders for the women. Susan also helped NCR set up two new safe houses for women and children. Husband Tony, who accompanied Susan on assignment, contributed his labour in making the safe houses habitable.
Susan puts the success of the Nazareth Rehabilitation Centre in helping the women of Bougainville firmly down to Centre Director and good friend Sister Lorraine Garasu. “Without Sister Lorraine”, says Susan, “very little would be achieved – without her vision and energy the Access to Justice project would collapse.”
Towards the end of her assignment Susan was invited to spend two weeks with the Coalition for Change, a highly influential group of women academics and lawyers based in Port Moresby. This was a great opportunity to advise on the need to introduce specific domestic violence legislation in PNG.
Susan’s highlights
“As well as friendships with Bougainvilleans (who are the friendliest people we have ever encountered) we forged strong friendships with our fellow volunteers who, without exception, were generous, supportive, and entertaining.”
What Bougainville has taught Susan
“My time in Bougainville made me aware that we do not need very much to make us content. We lived very simply but wanted for little – though I did tend to get rather excited when we found carrots or cheese had become available in one of the trade stores.”
“I learned to cope with the climate by slowing down and not trying to achieve too much too quickly.”
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