When CMDR Bob Morrison and his ship's company in HMAS Manoora, then off the Solomon Islands on Op Trek duties, heard that a five-year-old girl had died because the local hospital did not have suction equipment with which to clear deadly fluids, they declared, "it won't happen again."

They decided to raise funds to buy equipment for the hospital.

The result was outstanding. In just five hours the 250 sailors and soldiers on the ship had raised $13,000.

Our picture shows CMDR Morrison and LSMED John Blackstone with the equipment which will soon be flown to Honiara.

There are not one, but two suction machines as well as three pulse oximeters, two for adult use and the third for children, in the shipment.

"The death of the five-year-old pulled the strings of all of our hearts," CMDR Morrison said.

During Manoora's deployment off the Solomons, her doctor, LEUT Alan Young and chaplain Andrew Constance, visited the hospital to say "we are here. Is there anything we can help with?"

"They returned to the ship to report that the hospital was desperately short of equipment," CMDR Morrison said.

"Soon afterwards we heard of the death of the child because there was no suction equipment.

"It was then that the fund raising began. We had a telethon.

"Over five hours the ship's company of 250 pledged $13,000.

"When it came to pay up each of them did. I am very proud of them," he said.

The prizes won by the bidders were unusual to say the least.

Dinner with the captain raised $600.

"Another prize was to take a bath in the medical suite," CMDR Morrison explained.

(The bath is used for the treatment of burns patients. The ship's company take showers.)

"A night in the VIP cabin with breakfast in bed served by your superior was another good fundraiser.

"Also popular was immediate leave once the ship arrived in Townsville," he said.

Since returning to Sydney, LS Blackstone has had the task of buying the equipment.

It is now on board and will soon go to where it is needed.