The Hands of Rescue

The Hands of Rescue The THOR Foundation’s focus is on achieving Safe Motherhood for women in Papua New Guinea.

The Hands Of Rescue Foundation (THOR) is a not for profit organisation in Papua New Guinea. The THOR Foundation’s focus is on achieving Safe Motherhood for women in PNG. Our work involves nine key interventions which are designed to reduce maternal deaths by increasing supervised deliveries. Most women die in child birth from blood loss associated with delivering in a remote village. Some women ma

de it to a health centre after they delivered but they still died. Clearly there was time to intervene in a majority of cases but mothers (and husbands) generally didn’t realize they had a problem until it was too late. Please like our page to help raise awareness and receive updates on this valuable project.

Flying Doctor Update: Medical Evacuation Misima Island Yesterday we received a call up to assist a mother who was pregna...
22/04/2026

Flying Doctor Update: Medical Evacuation Misima Island

Yesterday we received a call up to assist a mother who was pregnant with her fourth child. Her journey began a week ago from the far side of Sudest Island. With the seas still heaving in the aftermath of Cyclone Maila, the family had planned to have their baby at Nimoa Health Centre – a 20nm dingy ride from their village. With the labour not progressing well, they were taken to Misima Island – a 6 hour journey in big seas and we then received that call to help with emergency obstetric care and evacuation. We quickly packed our plane and took off in driving rain from Alotau, picked up our patient and her carer, then flew back. Gurney airstrip was a welcome sight after a four hour round trip.

The hospital ambulance and crew did an amazing job of making the family from Sudest Island feel comfortable, safe and welcomed. We then gifted the family with our Baby Bundle, a food parcel, a blanket, quilt and sanitary pack (with thanks to Rorary Boroko, Atherton Ladies Sewing Group, Days for Girls and Time Abel). Every mother, everywhere deserves and safe birth surrounded by compassion and care.

Tropical Cyclone Mailia – Update 8 Shining a spotlight to two local organisations, Rotary Boroko, Brendon Coombs and Dri...
21/04/2026

Tropical Cyclone Mailia – Update 8

Shining a spotlight to two local organisations, Rotary Boroko, Brendon Coombs and Driftwood Resort, for their support of THOR and the Milne Bay community during these difficult times. From food packages to fuel, their donations were received by the most vulnerable communities in their time of need. We are so blessed to live and work in such a wonderful and supportive community. Thank you!

Tropical Cyclone Maila – Update 7 The crew aboard Iceberg continue to work tirelessly to deliver food packages, equipmen...
20/04/2026

Tropical Cyclone Maila – Update 7

The crew aboard Iceberg continue to work tirelessly to deliver food packages, equipment, fuel and supplies to the islands around the Milne Bay Province. From Woodlark to Rossell, Michael, Scott, Kristin and the Iceberg crew have delivered relief and supported local communities over the past fortnight. We are forever grateful for their quick response to the call up for help during this very difficult time. Thank you 🙏🙌

17/04/2026

Tropical Cyclone Maila Update 6 - it takes a village

The work done to support cyclone-stricken communities most in need has been nothing short of amazing. To see individuals, organizations and communities come together to raise money, donate equipment, and assemble food packs has been heartening. Shining a spotlight today on Tim Abel, the Alotau Chamber of Commerce and their supporters who donated 70 food packs with basins and solar lights, 30 x 15 litre water containers and 30 tarpaulins. What an incredible effort in such a short period of time. Your support and donations have already touched the communities most in need. Thank you 🙏

Tropical Cyclone Maila Update 5 - Report from the good ship Iceberg We have taken two expectant mothers and their guardi...
17/04/2026

Tropical Cyclone Maila Update 5 - Report from the good ship Iceberg 

We have taken two expectant mothers and their guardians that are due at the end of April to Gusopa Health Centre  to ensure they have a safe delivery. The are all now comfortable and settled. 

Tropical Cyclone Maila Update 4 - Report from the good ship Iceberg Food packages by THOR and Rotary Boroko have made it...
17/04/2026

Tropical Cyclone Maila Update 4 - Report from the good ship Iceberg

Food packages by THOR and Rotary Boroko have made it directly to those in most need on Budi Budi Island and Budelen Island, with thanks to the incredible crew of Iceberg. We have offloaded 200x 5 kg food which should last for five days, and some medical supplies and clothing.

The team travelled to Budi Budi and Budelun Island which sustained significant damaged through the cyclone and two weeks of treacherous weather. The island lost approximately 50m of the northern edge of the island. Most of the banana trees and gardens were destroyed. Many of smaller coconut trees were destroyed and some livestock did not survive and were washed away. Of the 102 houses on the island, 70% sustained significant damage or were completely destroyed. Two teachers houses were destroyed, the main structure of the school is still standing but it lost some roofing and was flooded.

Thankfully the water tanks are undamaged and collecting water. They lost one water tank, but they have enough fresh water on the island.

The people on the island are good spirits, with no reported casualties. They received flour from Woodlark Island yesterday which was distributed to each household.

One baby was born the day the cyclone hit and is healthy.

The weather looks set to improve from the 18th to the 20th April which will help with runs to Goodlark Island and we have left petrol for their dinghys.

Tropical Cyclone Maila Update 3Woodlark Island – Medical Evacuation Following our attempted landing at Budi Budi island,...
16/04/2026

Tropical Cyclone Maila Update 3
Woodlark Island – Medical Evacuation

Following our attempted landing at Budi Budi island, we flew back to Woodlark Island where we retrieved a mother from the health clinic who was 41 weeks pregnant with an antepartum haemorrhage, stabilizing her and evacuating her to the mainland for treatment and delivery. We supplied her and her husband with our Baby Bundle and a handmade patchwork quilt made by and incredible group of volunteers in Atherton, Queensland. Thank you to all our donors who support the Baby Bundle program, and to the incredible volunteers who make and donate goods to support mothers and babies in PNG. Your donations go directly to support these families.

16/04/2026

Tropical Cyclone Maila Update 2
Woodlark Island – Communications

Communications between islands and the mainland has ranged from extremely challenging to non-existent in the aftermath of Tropical Cyclone Maila. This is the HF radio areal twisted at the Woodlark Island Health Clinic. The roof also suffered significant damage in the cyclone.

Tropical Cyclone Maila Update 1 In the aftermath of Tropical Cyclone Maila, which caused significant devastation to some...
15/04/2026

Tropical Cyclone Maila Update 1

In the aftermath of Tropical Cyclone Maila, which caused significant devastation to some of the most remote islands in the Milne Bay Province of PNG, we have been helping with the delivery of critical supplies, medical evacuations and reporting updates back to the mainland rescue and response teams.

Our immediate focus was to get to the island of Woodlark where we were to land, unload fuel and supplies, speak to community members, then travel on to the very isolated Budi Budi Island, which we had heard was hit hardest. No-one has been able to access the island since the cyclone hit as the weather has been too bad. We made several attempts to land our sea plane at Budi Budi to assess if anyone needed emergency medical evacuation, but after three attempts in huge swells, we had to abort the landing and fly back to Woodlark. We did manage to get some photos and videos of the damage to report back to the mainland emergency units who are coordinating their response.

We have also coordinated our own disaster response group to get supplies of food, water and equipment to Budi Budi island by boat today. Rotary Boroko has delivered boxes of food to THOR HQ and we are loading it today on to a large 100-foot private boat who has donated their services to help. Thank you to Brendan from Driftwood, Tim Abel, Craig Dewitt and the crew of boat, and Rotary Boroko for your support of this mission. The THOR team are committed to continuing to assist those who have lost loved ones, their homes, their gardens and their livelihoods as a result of Cyclone Maila.

This Easter Sunday we have taken time to reflect on the death and ressurrection of Jesus, along with the blessings in ou...
05/04/2026

This Easter Sunday we have taken time to reflect on the death and ressurrection of Jesus, along with the blessings in our life. It has been a wild and challenging ride the get our beautiful old aircraft, the P2-HOR, DeHavilland Beaver, back to PNG after servicing in Australia. We will share more of our journey over the next couple of weeks, but today I wanted to share this incredible image and video with you. I took this images inflight on the 26th of March, 2026 from Horn Island to Port Moresby - just before we encountered the cyclonic weather. We feel incredibly blessed to have survived the journey and grateful to be back in PNG in our community again now. Happy Easter to you all.

The Beaver is nearly ready to fly again.Over the past few weeks our aircraft has been on the ground undergoing an import...
12/02/2026

The Beaver is nearly ready to fly again.

Over the past few weeks our aircraft has been on the ground undergoing an important overhaul. It’s not the exciting part of the work, but it’s one of the most important. In the places we work, the aircraft isn’t just transport, it’s often the only way a mother can reach help in time.

If all goes to plan, we expect to be back in the air next week.

For many of the communities we serve, distance is the biggest danger. Mothers walk for hours, sometimes days, to reach a clinic. When complications come, things can change very quickly. Being able to get there to bring oxygen, to move a patient, to support local health workers is often what makes the difference.

We’ve been incredibly encouraged by the support we’ve received while the Beaver has been off the line. Many of you have helped us through this maintenance period, and that support will carry us safely through the next 100 hours of flying. In real terms, that means villages reached, emergencies answered, and lives saved.
I’ve always said I’m just a rural doctor trying to help where I can.

The real heroes are the local nurses and health workers who look after their communities every day. Our job is simply to help them get the tools and support they need.

As we prepare to return to the air, if you’re able to help, we would be very grateful. Every donation helps keep the aircraft flying and allows us to keep reaching people who otherwise have no access to care.

You can support the work here:

https://www.thehandsofrescue.org.au/donation/

Thank you for standing with us.

Dr Barry Kirby
Hands of Rescue

Address

PO Box 599
Alotau

Telephone

+61735128888

Website

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