Solomons' santa

Dean with some of the goods he collected. Photo: Ross Giblin the Dominion post

Constable Dean Gifford is a man with a mission. That mission is to use his abundant powers of persuasion to encourage people and business owners to donate their skills, services and products to brighten the lives of children living in the Solomon Islands.

Recently Dean’s exploits were highlighted in the Dominion Post newspaper when he had collected an incredible three tonnes of goods for distribution.

It all began when Dean, touched by hardship stories about Solomon Islands children started a whip-round at work.

Not satisfied with this, Dean rang around local book stores. Encouraged by the response he then tried some larger manufacturers and was thrilled to be offered pallets of items such as toothpaste and deodorant.

Next Dean gave some local sports outlets a call – for his trouble he was offered 100 soccer balls and clothing. A local fishing shop also came to the party handing over returned fishing rods. Dean and some colleagues spent quite a few hours untangling them and getting them back into full working order.

Proud owner of a new football. Photo: Detective Constable Caroline Cooper

Unclaimed bikes from lost property were Dean’s next target. With the on-going support of Lower Hutt OC, Inspector Richard Chambers, Dean and skilled bike mechanic Constable Bruce Cook and Mark Humphries turned 15 wrecked bikes into 13 good bikes.

A local supplier agreed to give them the additional spare parts they needed. This process involved two long nights spent at Lower Hutt police station.

Having gathered three tonnes of goods, the next problem was to get them to the Solomons. Support from a local transport company enabled the goods to reach Auckland. Contacts there meant Dean managed to get the goods on a Hercules bound for Honiara.

Officers based in the Solmons are now winning friends as they distribute the goods to locals. When asked what he intends to do next Dean responds, “I am going to start all over again”.