When writer Peter Fitzsimons put out a call in his weekly Sydney Morning Herald colmun (published by Fairfax, owner of this paper) for funding to allow the fifth annual OzGreen Games to continue, Nelson Bay Rotary members answered the call, organising to donate the money on the same day. The Nelson Bay branch of Rotary has a long standing association with East Timor, having donated approximately $45,000 to educational programs in the country in 2008.

Rotary members Geoffrey Basser and Darcy Geale said the club "moved quickly" when it heard about the funding shortfall.

"We had been looking to do something in East Timor and when this came up it was just perfect," Mr Geale said.

The OzGreen Games is an annual youth sporting event held in the highly disadvantaged region of Oecusse, part of East Timor.

The event aims to promote unity amongst the youth in the region.

Fitzsimons' gave a mention to the Nelson Bay rotarians in his Saturday column, saying "bravo" to the "wonderful folk of this fine club."