From the High Commissioner’s Desk – Rod Hilton

Australia’s Partnership with Western Province

Education: Ms Stephanie Copus Campbell, Australia Ambassador for Gender Equality celebrates with female students at Tabaka RTC during the handover of their new dormitory.

Community Partnerships Program: Secondary Secretary Freya Bliss and First Secretary Tasman Bain handover Cheara Community Water Tank Projects in Marovo, Western Province, 2023.

Health: L-R, Frederick Neqo (Gizo Hospital Pharmacist), SINU Pharmacy Interns and Elise Newton (First Secretary Health – Australian High Commission).

Gender Equality: One of twelve Women's Savings Clubs from across Western Province, at the International Rural Women's Day celebration, hosted by Egholo and Agagana communities.

Congratulations to Western Province, which celebrates its Second Appointed Day on 7 December!

Some Australian High Commission staff tell me ‘West is best’, and while I could not possibly take sides, I have been very fortunate to travel to beautiful Western on many occasions throughout my three years in Solomon Islands. While there, I’ve seen firsthand the benefits our Solomon Islands Australia Partnership is delivering.

Partnering with communities

I’m thrilled that Western secured a further 18 Community Partnerships projects in 2025 – that’s 46 projects to date in Western, with a combined value of over SBD 9.7 million.

*Community Partnerships Program: Minister Counsellor Cameron Darragh at handover ceremony for the Nazareth Community Street Solar Lighting Project in Marovo, July*

Today, projects are underway in every constituency across the province. Working together we have delivered locally-led infrastructure that improves everyday life, including: the Irigila handwash station in north Vella La Vella; solar power for the Iriri Church in Gizo/Kolombangara; fencing for Penjuku Primary School in Marovo; water tanks for the Cheara Community in Marovo; and rainwater harvesting facilities in West New Georgia/Vona Vona.

*Community Partnerships Program: Penjuku Adventist Primary School*
*Fencing Project, completed 2024*

Building the future

Australia continues to deliver life-changing infrastructure projects across Western.Construction of the Australian funded Seghe Market is underway, creating local jobs.

When finished in 2026, it will accommodate up to 120 vendors and feature wheelchair accessible stalls, solar lighting, and 56,000 litres of rainwater storage. The market will complement the Australia and NZ-funded upgrades to Seghe’s runway and terminal, creating new economic and tourism opportunities.

*Infrastructure: The new market at Seghe, together with the completed airfield upgrade, will deliver a large economic boost to Western Province.*

Australia understands the life-changing impact of access to energy and connectivity, so we are delivering a micro hydro system in Vavanga and a solar hybrid system at Goldie College. Alongside the Australian-funded telecoms towers at Kariki, Komaleai and Nila, these initiatives will help keep Western’s communities powered and connected.

Creating jobs, strengthening tourism

Australia has partnered with 13 local tourism operators in Western — co-investing in renovations, equipment, water and sewage systems, and supporting Fatboys Resort with a customised dive boat and jetty.

I want to congratulate Western on the signing of New Forests’ acquisition of Kolombangara Forest Products Ltd (KFPL). This investment from an Australian head quartered business will boost jobs and skills development for the local community and, for the first time, give local landowners a legal and financial stake in the business.

I’m pleased to see that 638 workers from Western have been working in Australia under the PALM scheme, gaining new skills and supporting t their families and communities.

Partnering for health

*Health: Pine community celebrating their new status as No Open Defecation Village*

My team were honoured to join seven communities in Western to celebrate a ‘No Open Defecation’ milestone in October. With Australia’s support, over 1 ,300 household toilets have been built in Western, providing 7,500 people access to safe sanitation. Australia has invested SBD 1.7 million in Western’s health this year, bringing our total support since 2018 to SBD 36.9 million.

Education — the engine of growth

In partnership with Solomon Islands and New Zealand, Australia has supported the construction of a science classroom and girls’ dormitory with ablution facilities at Gizo’s RC Nicholson College, and dormitories and ablution blocks at schools across Western. We’ve also trained 268 teachers, supported a new curriculum, and distributed 12,159 textbooks.

*Education: Official opening of the new Goldie College boy’s dormitory.*

Securing communities

In November, Prime Minister Manele opened two important sovereign security capabilities supported by Australia: the refurbished Noro Police Station and the Noro data centre. I was also proud to hand over a fleet of new ray boats to Customs to support their enforcement efforts in Western.

Our Australian Border Force officers continue to work closely with colleagues in Western, training officers in vessel search, maritime and aviation fundamentals.

Empowering women in Western

*Gender Equality: Executive members of the Munda Market Vendors Association join for training under the UN Women Markets for Change program, funded by Australia.*

With Australia’s support, the UN Women Markets for Change project enabled women from Gizo and Munda Market Vendor Associations to participate in a leadership forum, and 67 vendors completed a workshop gaining practical skills in business development and income diversification.

We also supported the Western Provincial Council of Women to hold its first Annual General Meeting for 20 years, as well as the International Rural Women’s Day celebrations on 1 5 October 2025, hosted by the Egholo and Agagana communities.

Lukim iu neks taem!

That was a long list, but it’s a great example of Australia’s commitment to supporting every community and every province right across Solomon Islands. On behalf of the Australian High Commission, I’d like to wish iufala evriwan blo Western Province: Happy Second Appointed Day!