VTVFCF December 2025 Newsletter
Hello to all Members.
Again it has been a busy few months since August. Your Committee decided it was appropriate with the funds that we were holding to commence building another house for an underprivileged family.
This is quite a daunting process. We have the full co-operation of the People’s Committee in identifying the families that are in need, and they came up with seven. We of course have to go out and asses their situation, what they are living in at the moment and the conditions that they live under.Other considerations are the children’s age’s, family income, and that they own or can be given the land.
We had seven situations to assess,and it was extremely difficult to decide on which family to assist. If we could have afforded it we would have built seven houses, as every family was living well below the poverty line, and in pretty dire circumstances.Â
Ater much discussion and pondering we settled on the second last family we met. There are two little children one just over two years and the other 9 months. Mum had a motorbike accident about a year ago and has a semi paralised arm and can not work. Dad is a farm labourer and earns about AUD$ 300.00 a month. They were living in a rice bag shanty on what was her fathers land and he kindly signed it over to her.
Inspecting the family's house.
The houses we build are by no means luxurious. They provide solid shelter from the elements, security and a clean basic modern bathroom, with a modern septic system. The cost of the houses are aproximately AUD$ 7000.00 and take about six weeks to construct. Built of brick with rendered walls inside and out on a concrete slab floor. They have a little front tiled verandah, ceiling insulation, electricity and water. Your support for these projects is very much appreciated by the Fund and of course by the recipients. Although the family has moved in, the official handover, along with some extra household items will be on the 1st of December.
The newly completed house.
Fundraising here takes up the biggest part of our time and effort. We run a Melbourne Cup day at Downunder bar, we have our chocolate wheel at Booster Sports Bar on Thursday nights, and our tours run out of Belly’s Wateringhole, all here in Vung Tau. We also run a Poker Run every couple of months and if you are ever here when we do, please join us for a fun day out. Bus supplied. We ask that anyone coming here to please support these establishments as they support your Fund.
We are looking at a part replacement for the water supply for the orphanage at Phu My. We still have our 107 children there that we help support and their water supply system is in dire need of repair and an upgrade. Costs for this are not available at the moment but by the time we go to publish we may have an update. We know that things are tough in Oz at the moment for everybody but if anyone has the ability to donate, no matter how small, you can do so on the Website now. Payments to us are working. Yay!
Funding for the underprivileged children’s school fees, health and accident insurance has now been taken over by the Government. There has been a new course added to the school curriculum as an extra, “Life Skills.” This is not a free course but is a paid add on. As we no longer have the other fees to pay, it was decided that the Fund would pay for this for the 60 plus children that we were paying for before. Without this they would miss out.
In closing, we wish everyone a Verry Merry Chrismas and a happy and prosperous New Year. Thanks to one and all for your support and anyone venturing this way, please dont forget to call in.
Best Regards,
Chris Blacket.
President, VTV&FCF
