| On Wednesday, Howard will be updating us about our International Project – the Kitende Preschool in Tanzania. There is a detailed report in the Bulletin. We have made great progress with the project to an almost successful commencement. We are very close to turning what was initially an idea from Deborah into reality. Do you remember her presentation to us, and showing the extreme living conditions these little children and their families had to endure, yet all had a lovely smile and a kind of contentment with life despite the hardship they endure? Terry has been canvassing other clubs in our area for support and we expect responses soon. Howard has been seeking persons to become Class Sponsors to the project by making a donation of $310 each year for two years. At present we have 16 sponsorships including 4 from our club members. He also has found a benefactor – who wishes to remain anonymous – who has offered to match on a “dollar for dollar” basis the amount committed by 10 of our club members for the two year period. This is an extremely generous offer which will bring us to success with sufficient offers from another 6 of our members. If you feel you are able to donate $310 each year for two years to this project , please contact Howard. |
Category Archives: President’s Message
President’s Message
| A very timely presentation last week by Greg Pearl of Albury Wodonga Health about the new design concept and facilities that will be in the new cancer complex at the Base Hospital. It certainly looks as though it is going to be a great building with all state of the art equipment. On Friday of last week, Nicole was a judge at the Wilson Transformers Schools’ Solar Car Challenge design competition at Wilsons Transformers Race complex at Wodonga. It was an excellent competition where the schools’ own design solar driven car had to complete as many laps as possible in one hour. The overall winner was Wodonga TAFE, with our Club sponsoring the most Innovative Car design classification which was won by Belvoir Special School in Wodonga. Some of the speeds these vehicles reached was really surprising when the sun was fully out. The Club had a busy weekend doing BBQs at Harvey Norman, and one on Sunday for the inaugural Walk for Type 1 Diabetes at Hovell Tree Park. I’m hopeful we have a reasonable return for the Fight Diabetes Foundation. It was certainly hectic for about half an hour at changeover time, with crowds placing orders for ten, eight or six at a time. I’m sure all our thoughts at this time are with Anne McNaught who had to deal late last week with the shock news of the financial situation at Banksia Securities. Whilst it is in no way Anne’s fault, the very fact that she is such a well known local identity and through her local networking skills would have attracted such a lot of local custom must be affecting her . So Anne if you are reading this, our thoughts are very much with you. You know you have all our thoughts , love and good wishes of the club members. For club members information Anne requested a few weeks ago, and was granted Leave of Absence by the Directors until year end for health, family and business reasons. I understand that her daughters are currently giving her great support at this time, and I will contact her again during the week to make sure she is bearing up etc. I received a lovely phone call last Thursday from RC of Yarrawonga/Mulwala advising that they are going to donate $500 to the John McDonald Medical Scholarship following a presentation to them about six weeks ago. |
Club Meeting 17 October 2012
President’s Message: On Saturday the Club carried out the presentations re River of Stories at the Albury Library. Barry has done some great work over the years – 10 to be exact – regarding the apparently seamlessly run project on the Clubs behalf, and is to be congratulated on such devoted work. The River of Stories started off with 5 Schols from Albury – Wodonga and that has now increased to 14, and also includes a poetry section, which has proved to be highly popular. Barry would be the first to state that he has received great assistance over the ten years from Katrina Clement and Tracey Piltz of Albury Library and the trio have made it the success it now is. Interesting to see that many of the award winners this year came from Wodonga schools. My thanks to all Rotary club members who attended the presentations too, and again to Julie who took many photographs of individual winners. Just as well as the photographer from the Border Mail didn’t materialise as had been arranged. Efforts are now being made to have all the winning stories printed . Councillor Patricia Gould who was in attendance at the presentation has stated it is a project the Albury City Council Junior Council can undertake and I understand that will be followed up. Thankyou again to those club members who were able to attend. I understand all winners’ photographs will be appearing on our own website in the near future. Also thankyou to the BBQ team keeping the Rotary till rolling over at the Applause Festival. All very much appreciated.
Guest Speaker: Ian Thomas from the Rotary Club of Eltham gave us an interesting presentation on the successes and challenges of the Aquabox programme and provided details of setting up and continuing this worthwhile venture. Aquabox provides emergency relief to people affected by disaster by sending essential provisions to devastated areas around the world. These boxes provide people in need with the basic humanitarian aid and, most importantly, clean, drinking water. Aquabox Beginnings: Aquabox was founded by the Rotary Club of Wirksworth UK, which was involved in providing assistance to disaster areas by dispatching plywood boxes filled with emergency supplies. In 1990, the club identified an opportunity to extend the use of the relief boxes by constructing them out of stronger materials. In addition to its original packaging purpose, the new, plastic box could be also used by disaster‐affected communities for storage, furniture, etc. and, with the addition of a tap and purification system, it could be used to create drinking water from polluted supplies. The Aquabox was finally launched in October 1992 and now operates in UK, Australia and Canada to provide emergency relief around the world. Since then, tens of thousands of boxes have been despatched to areas affected by natural disasters, such as earthquakes, hurricanes and floods etc., as well as war‐torn countries. Aquabox Australia: In 1999, on a visit to the UK, an Australian Rotary member learnt of the Aquabox project and was inspired to establish a similar charity in Australia. The Rotary Club of Eltham took up the cause and established Aquabox Australia. Initially, Aquabox Australia used the boxes designed by the Rotary Club of Wirksworth but have since developed, in conjunction with AusAID, an Aquabox more suited to our region. Aquabox (Australia) is a project of the Rotary Club of Eltham and exists with the generous support of Rotary Clubs, individuals, private and public organisations and groups. Only through much‐needed donations has Aquabox (Australia) has been able to expand its efforts and help more people around the world. However, the need for emergency aid continues to grow and demand is outstripping current resources. You can help, sponsor Aquabox and extend a helping hand to those in need. For more information visit www.aquabox.com.au
Club Meeting 10 October 2012
President’s Message: Well an enjoyable evening had by all on Wednesday evening when about 20 of us went to see the film “Mental”, which had been arranged by Julie and her team. This was the second Club event Julie has arranged, the first being the wine tasting of Stanton and Killeen, and both have been excellent evenings. It was also lovely that Margaret McDonald was able to join us for the evening. Just a reminder that next week’s meeting is HAT Day which is our part of activities re Mental Health Week. So if hats of previous years are anything to go by, the varieties will be as good as any at Albury Gold Cup or Oaks Day. I understand that there will be a variety of prizes on offer on the day. Also the Speaker at this week’s meet should be of particular interest talking about the Rotary ‘Aquabox’ program, and thanks to Terry for arranging this presentation.
Guest Speaker: As CEO of Hume Medicare Local, David Dart gave us an insight into the operation since its commencement earlier this year. Covering a wide area on both sides of the border this organisation provides the opportunity for GP 
networking and extensive support services to a varied cross-section of our community. Medicare Locals are an integral part of national health reform. They are being established across Australia to better address local health needs, improve access to services and make the system easier for people to navigate. The Hume Medicare Local opened on 1 July 2012. So, we’re now part of a network of 62 Medicare Locals being established across Australia to better connect primary health care. As a primary (non-hospital) health care organisation, the Hume Medicare Local will partner with GPs, community health organisations, primary care partnerships, allied health providers, state and local governments to: identify and address local health care needs and service gaps; drive improvements in primary health care and ensure that services are better tailored to meet the needs of local communities; build on work previously undertaken by the Albury Wodonga Regional GP Network and North East Victorian Division of General Practice. The Hume Medicare Local was formed by the merger of these GP Divisions. In its first 12 months of operation, our key priorities are likely to include: establishing links with partners and stakeholders; mapping current primary (non-hospital)… health care services and identifying gaps; population health planning; and organisational accreditation.
Club Meeting 26 September 2012
President’s Message: I trust you enjoyed the information provided last week by Howard re our International attempt to progress our efforts to obtain Grant Monies re the re-opening of the Kitende Preschool. Further work on the project was done by both Howard and Terry in his position of Assistant DG, and we are now awaiting further advice and information from District. Also the information from Dan in regard to the Board agreeing to progress Dan’s suggestion re proving a form of collection of recently used magazines etc, and then distributing them after sorting, to various retirement homes, doctors surgeries etc so that persons who may be unable to afford them in newsagents can then read before they become outdated and then be ready for recycling. Personally I think this is an excellent Community exercise, and well worth further study to bring it to reality.
International Service: Howard Hinde gave an update on the proposed reopening of the former Pre School for Maasai children in Kitende, Northern Tanzania. The Rotary Club of Usa River has been contacted and are willing to work as a partner although they are some distance from the school. A plan and budget have been prepared which covers the start up and operation of the pre school for the first two years. Supervision of the project would be through the Future Warriors Foundation. Total cost of the project would be $12300, which includes renovation of the school catering for 40 students with 6 full time staff. Sponsors would be sought for students costing $312 per year.