EASTER HAMPERS ….It is that time again …

This project gives every member a chance to visit some very isolated and lonely people in our community. Meals on wheels give us a list of Albury people who feel would enjoy both a visit from a club member and a Hamper from us. We ask each member to spend time delivering these Hampers on the Wednesday or Thursday of Easter. An Easter egg and approx. ten small household items are given to each household. We ask you to donate money towards buying these products and to spend some time on the Wednesday of Easter in helping to make them up. Donation can be made to Julie at the meetings and if anyone knows how we can approach Uncle Toby’s for perhaps some donations of breakfast cereal, I would be grateful.

PP Roger Lescun gave a rundown on the final night of midnight basketball for the season. He thanked all those who participated in running the series especially Dennis Martin who was a bus moniter for the season and filled in where needed during the evening. Thanks also to other members who worked on our rostered their day. Roger said there was a noticable improvement in the behaviour of the participants through the workshops and rules that they are asked to follow. Roger was also impressed by the way the team he was coaching the “Awesomes” who were on the bottom of the ladder halfway through the the series, clawed their way back to win the comp on the final night.

Christmas cakes. Over the past 10 years the club has donated a hamper at Easter to a group of people who do not have visitors. On Christmas day we also arrange for the people without family to have a small Christmas cake. As our members are very busy at Christmas, we arrange for them to be delivered with “Meals on Wheels”. We originally started making the cake at the Wodonga Middle school kitchen but over the last 4 year Barbara Haberfield has donated, with the help of Phyllis Hodge, her kitchen and expertise. We then have a night of “cheese and bikkies” to decorate the cakes. We find it is easier on the chefs if we donate money instead of food items.  The ladies are then able to buy the ingredients in bulk. So if you could dig into your pockets and help raise the funds for these cakes.

Down Memory Lane …To our New Members a bit of Club History: Much has been written about the wonderful miracle performed on the two brave girls rescued from certain death and brought to our shores by Australia’s Mother Theresa – Moira Kelly – and after that the separation of the Twins. These two events just a few of the wonderful acts of selfishness and dedication by Moira Kelly to give joy and healing to 3^rd  world country needy children. Rotary 9790 took on as a project to make a place of home for the young children from poor countries to live, receive love from Moira and surgery from leading surgeons to restore their disfigured bodies. Many a week end was spent by our Albury Wodonga Clubs in that project to make it liveable. Mike Egan from the Albury Club a fabulous Rotarian used to hire a bus at his cost and take us down to the farm to put in hard work. On the way back he always seemed to produce an esky  with ‘soft’ drink? Rob Mears a dedicated member of the Albury West Club had an idea that perhaps a popular TV show “Backyard Blitz” hosted by Jamie Drury would do a “make over” garden at The Moira Kelly Farm at Kilmore East like they did for domestic properties. Rob picked on me to prepare a submission thinking I was a better writer than I was a cricketer (he being a star with bat and wicket keeping) – ( we both played for Rotary–Albury).  I did so. However months and years went by until such a vision was accomplished. This was the letter I sent accompanied by a 6 page submission including photos of a barren wilderness.

Station Manager. Channel 9 – Backyard Blitz                                           Dear Sir.

I write to request your consideration of .a make-up at the Moira Kelly Open Door Farm. The farm is the brainchild of Moira Kelly and the project has the support of Rotary District 9790 which embraces 65 Clubs in metropolitan and country Victoria. The land donated by a Rotarian is situated at 170 Saunders Rd, Kilmore East.  The first buildings are nearing completion (voluntary labour) and will be home to Australian foster children, abused mothers and children, young teenage girls as well as recuperation of children visiting from overseas for operations.  Recently Moira was awarded an “O A M” for her service to the community.There are a number of areas that would be suitable for a makeover – swimming pool, play-ground area, entrance, special activity area etc. Rotary volunteers are on sight every Tuesday and week-ends and would give their support under your team’s instructions. I realise that the queue must be ever so long for a make-over and humbly put forward this submission as a very worthwhile project……………………………………………Thanking you in anticipation … yours sincerely …Barry H Young … Hon Sec.

The above request was not adhered to until 2004 after frequent calls from the writer. Finally Channel 9 gave in and a miracle happened. It was the first Commercial undertaking by the Backyard Blitz team and the show was increased from a half hour to an hour. They performed wonders – playgrounds, landscaped gardens, play centers and a swimming pool. The station manager I think his name was a Mr Leckie after some volatile words agreed to ask on the show for donations. A grand total of $150,000 was raised that night. I write this as another wonderful project that Rotary undertakes and is then forgotten, which it should be as we move on always to the next challenge and accomplishment, but at this time ignite it with such publicity and National and International Awards for Moira Kelly(in which we the Rotary Club of Albury Hume played a part)   I believe our many new members should know some of the caring and devotion to the disadvantaged and underprivileged of our past endeavours.

AlburyHume Rotary Club Easter Service Project  Albury Hume Rotary Club identified through the Albury City Council and Meals on Wheels people known as “Shut Ins”. These are unfortunate people who are mostly elderly and are either ill, incapacitated in some way, poor and the sad fact that they hardly ever leave their place of living. Some “Shut Ins” live in accommodation of very poor quality.

Mission. Albury Hume Rotary Club to target 30 needy, lonely and elderly people, known as “Shut Ins” with the purpose of bringing a little joy and friendship at Easter by providing a welcome Easter hamper.Hamper to comprise non-­‐perishable food items, tinned or packaged plus an Easter egg and hot-­‐cross buns. The project is completely member driven.

Target. 30 hamper baskets comprising 10 items each =300 items plus Easter eggs and Hot-­‐cross buns.

The Result The project which is completely self-­‐funded by the members not only brings joy and happiness to the people known as “Shut Ins” but to Club members a feeling of heartfelt service and joy which Rotary is all about – “Service above Self”. In most cases the recipients of the hampers welcomed the knock at the door, the gift of a hamper particularly the hot-­‐cross buns and the Easter eggs and most importantly a welcome chat. The thanks expressed to Rotary, some expressed with tears was great to hear and made members proud to be a Rotarian. Rotary will again “Lead the Way” in our community by enthusiastically embracing this project at Easter 2012.