YWAM Ships

Under overcast skies, the wind whipped dozens of 
international flags, carried by heaps of onlookers all along 
the Breakwater jetty to celebrate a long awaited event: the 
YWAM Medical Ship arriving to Townsville.

Since February, the Pacific Link has traveled along 
the east coast of Australia, telling young people about 
the opportunities to help our neighbours in Papua New 
Guinea. And though the journey has been successful, 
there is no place like home. 

YWAM Managing Director and Townsville Citizen of the 
Year in 2008, Ken Mulligan, “The Port visits have raised 
valuable financial and volunteer assistance for the ship 
tour, as well as awareness of the desperate need for 
health support in remote areas of PNG.” 

“There are only 32 dentists in the entire PNG nation, while 
up to 1 in 7 rural women will die during childbirth. YWAM’s 
volunteer medical teams will make a real difference in PNG. 
 

“The Ship Tour also provides an opportunity for young 
Australians to volunteer and make a practical difference.”  
comments Mr. Mulligan who also mentioned that “Support 
from the Townsville community for the Ship Tour has been outstanding."

 The vessel’s arrival is strongly supported by a broad 
community base including the Townsville City Council’s 
Sister City Program, the Port of Townsville, the RSL, 
Lions Club, the Cowboys, church groups, local schools 
and a multitude of local businesses such as Honeycombs 
Property Group and 1300 SMILES. 

Mayor Les Tyrell said the Council strongly supported 
YWAM’s Medical Ship initiative and encouraged local
business and community groups to get behind the Ship Tour. 
“This is a Townsville organisation supporting a
Townsville Ship that will travel to our Sister City of Port
Moresby and beyond to assist people in desperate need. 
Townsville has deep historical and business connections in 
PNG, and the Ship Tour is a wonderful way of highlighting 
and building upon those close ties.” 

The YWAM Medical Ship will depart late July, stopping 
in Cairns and Thursday Island on its way to Papua New Guinea.