Donald and Dee Fleming saw the opportunity to assist the people of Vanuatu with the development of copra dryers for villages and communities. They paid for efficient convection dryers to be designed in Australia and built locally in Vanuatu. Initially these dryers were gifted to the communities. After some time, this method was found to be not as successful as when the village or community bought the dryer, (at cost) as they would work and maintain the equipment. Ownership instilled a sense of pride of ownership in the equipment of their business.


Over 390 dryers were built and distributed to the villages and communities. The repayment of the dryer which was sold at cost was funded through the sale of the copra that had been produced in their own dryer. A small amount of money was deducted from each bag of copra produced, for sale to the Coconut Mill or for export, until the dryer was paid for. The absolute joy of the village or community when they had finalsied the payment of their dryer was worth all the effort.


A copra dryer is the equipment that is used to convert the white coconut flesh into an export commodity known as copra. The drying process reduces the coconut flesh to a moisture content of less than 6%, which is then a cash crop for the villages and the communities to sell.


The villages and communities, then use the funds gained from the sale of the copra for mostly education for their children, health care and food stuffs that are not locally grown, IE rice.


This has proven to be a very successful venture as the villages and communities sell more than 2,000 tons of copra per month, which put the money back to the grass roots, where it is really needed.


The micro-financing model, used for the dryers in Vanuatu, has been used by many other developing countries around the world, where a small loan can allow a budding business person to get their start to develop a business, which under normal circumstances would be an impossibility.


The fact that the loan is repaid, allows the funds to circulate to other budding business people for their business to start up. The very fact that the borrower repays the loan gives them a sense of pride of ownership and achievement rather than just a recipient of charity.


The old quote "You can give a man a fish which will feed him for a day, but if you teach a man to fish he can feed himself for a life time" says it all.

A community/Christian radio station 107.9 started its life in an old building in Connell Street, North Adelaide, South Australia.


The building was to be partly demolished to make way for a new development and the radio station was given notice to move out.


Don and Dee Fleming were associated with The Hendon Property Trust with Don Fleming as Joint Trustee with The Medical Internet Pty Ltd as Joint Trustees of the Trust. Don Fleming arranged for the Trust to build a purpose built "State of the Art" radio broadcasting facility. Including modern offices and boardroom at the property owned by The Trust at 3 Butler Drive, Lumiere Lane Hendon Common 5014 SA.


The studios and offices were built at a cost of approximately $450,000. Don and Dee Fleming also donated the office furniture, boardroom furniture, paintings, TV and DVD for the Station.


Donald and Dee Fleming also arranged with Elan Trading Corporation Pty Ltd, which Don was the sole director of, to make a donation to Life FM of $120,000 towards future rental. The CEO, David Turrell, during that time, confirmed the above.

Don was contacted by the leadership of Paradise Community Church, who were looking to plant a new church in the Western Suburbs of Adelaide. Don Fleming was one of two Trustees of the Hendon Property Trust that owned a large warehouse, 3 Butler Drive, Lumiere Lane Hendon Common 5014 SA.


Donald and Dee Fleming organised for another associated company Elan Trading Corporation Pty Ltd, to convert the warehouse to a facility suitable to operate a church.


An entrance foyer, auditorium that could seat up to 500 people, baby room, administration offices, kitchen and toilet amenities were built at a cost of approximately $400,000. The church commenced services there in 2004.

The congregation had given around $20,000 to the building fund.


Donald Brownlie Fleming was able to locate a Uniting Church building at Brooklyn Park that was being offered for sale.


Don successfully negotiated for the church to buy the property, a company associated with Don and Dee donated the balance of the money needed to purchase the property, and guaranteed a loan from the NAB to facilitate the settlement. Three years later it was decided to sell the church building as most of the members were coming from the Southern Suburbs. The funds raised from the sale of the building in Brooklyn Park, Christian City Church purchased 3,500sm of land in Sheidow Park, which was totally unencumbered. The current value of the land is approximately $800,000.


In speaking with the new Pastor of the church, Tim Philip (Mike's Son) he has praised the efforts and financial help the church has received from Don over the years. This is what he emailed me:


"As a church we would not be in the financially strong position we are in, if it were not for the massive generosity of Don and Dee Fleming. We have found Don to be honest and true to his word. We look forward to working with Don in the future."