Hi, I am Rae Smart, a past long-term resident of Bougainville Island; however still in touch with and assisting the people of Bougainville and, in particular, the women and their development post Crisis.

She is strong and all those who knew her in Bouainville and beyond, I appeal to you to assist. Please dig deep and see if we can raise more than the target, so her good work can continue thus helping more than only Agnes.

I had the opportunity to work with Agnes during this time, which is from the early 1980s.

Agnes, last month had her foot amputated due to Diabetes at Buka Hospital.

She has asked me to include in her story this quote from her. "When you write my story, this is what you can say. "I may have lost my foot, but I have not lost my mind; my foot only follows my brain".

It was sudden and gave no time for her to prepare for her future needs.

which are significant alterations to the house at Ieta Village on Buka Island, so she can continue working with some degree of independence. The fundraising is for making the alterations needed. The basic needs for the house with wheel chair access.

The needs are identified by Agnes and include - and I quote: "I will need a 9 gallon tank, cement, water pump, overhead tank and stand, toilet bowl, cistern etc." She also asked for some new glasses, as the ones she has are not strong enough. She currently has the highest store bought strenth of 3.5.

I a hoping that we can briong her down to Brisbane for further accesment of post amuptee needs so she can continue her work, if we can raise the needed funding.

All who know her understand know her achievements to improve the lives of Bougainvilleans. She was the Community Affairs officer at BCL. and part of the Bougainville Peace Talks and agreement.

Post Crisis through to her involvement with Women's Advancement and improving the political situation, she is a person who has shown the way for many to follow. Agnes was part of the UN Women Agency on Bougainville and stood for the Bougainville Transitional Government Elections and served as a Minister for Local Level Government. Currently she serves as the Advocacy Coordinator at Nazareth Centre for Rehabilitation.

However, all that strength, comes with a good sence of humour! She doesn't want to be stopped from working and she is not feeling sorry for her self.