The appeal, conducted during 2007, exceeded its target of $22,000 by raising $23,624.87.

The appeal captured the imagination of the Armidale community which provided support in the most generous of ways.

People attended functions such as a fund raising dinner and film night, giving generously at these functions.

Local service clubs, especially the Armidale Zonta Club and Armidale Central Rotary, made significant donations and individual members also generously supported the cause.

Donations of large sums were also made by businesses and several private individuals, some of whom joined the 100 club scheme which raised the last few thousand dollars.

Local schools, especially Armidale City Public, the New England Girls’ School and PLC, provided considerable support.

Local teachers and principals from many schools also donated significantly to the project.

Co-chairpersons of the appeal, Helen and David Gee, thanked the Armidale community for their generosity.

“This generosity and commitment means that a school residence for a female teacher will be built in a remote part of Bhutan,” they said.

“This will provide schooling for many Bhutanese children previously unable to access education.”

Mr and Mrs Gee also thanked the hard working committee for their devotion to the task of making each activity successful.

Committee secretary, Reverend Judy Redman thanked the Phoenix Foundry, Uralla, for their generosity in constructing and donating a bronze plaque which will be displayed on the completed building.

UNICEF will now take over the management of the project which will see a school residence built in a remote part of Bhutan for female teachers.

Much of Bhutan is extremely remote and only accessible by foot and pack ponies, and the provision of housing for a teacher in such an area means that highly-valued education becomes possible to the children of the village.

The appointment of a female teacher will encourage girls to become educated, and this has a flow-on effect in succeeding generations in terms of education and nutrition. This project therefore addresses targets to achieve universal primary education, promote gender equality and empower women.