The Ballarat Clarendon College PNG Project team is encouraging the city’s residents to purchase a baby bundle for a new mother of the Milne Bay Province in honour of their own mum this Mother’s Day.

Team leader Sandra Sanders said the idea of the baby bundles was to encourage women in the province to give birth in a medical facility. She said many women in the region chose to give birth in their home villages instead of travelling to a specialised facility, for reasons including tradition, poverty and long distances. However, this carried serious and sometimes fatal risks.

“One in 20 PNG women die in childbirth – it’s one in 20,000 in Australia,” she said.

“We fund baby bundles to encourage mums to come into care, because often they’re ashamed to get help and end up dying giving birth in their homes.

“This is ... a real opportunity to give something back and make a difference. 

“Imagine if your mum had to give birth at home with no help.”

In July, 18 of the college’s year 11 students will travel with three local doctors to the Milne Bay  region to hand over the baby bundles.

The bundles – filled with nappies, clothing and other items for a new baby – will be presented to new mothers who have made the journey to the local medical facility. 

Anyone who purchases a baby bundle will be given a special card for their mum acknowledging the gift that has been made on her behalf. 

To purchase a $30 Mother’s Day Baby Bundle, visit www .clarendon.vic.edu.au or call 5330 8200.