What an interesting guest speaker Peter Merk organised for last week’s meeting. Zac’s talk on the Hyper Loop was fascinating – the future is here! His talk reminded me of the famous line from Charles Duell, during his tenure as United States Commissioner of Patents (1902), purportedly saying “Everything that can be invented has been invented”. Just imagine being able to get to Melbourne in 20 mins and Sydney in 40 mins. The level of interest in Zac’s talk was evident in the fact that the Q & A after his talk went longer than his talk.

May is Bowel Scan month and no doubt you would have seen the ads appearing on the telly promoting this worthy cause. It is the most common cause of cancer affecting both sexes in Australia. Currently 80 Australians a week die from this disease and there is absolutely no need as 90% of bowel cancers can be cured if detected early. I have no doubt that Julie will have some bowel scan kits available at our meeting so I encourage all members to spend $15 and do a poo for your own wellbeing!!

Albury Hume Cares At Easter “The Shut Ins” Project.

It was way back in the year 1998 that Barry Young saw a need for people who were confined to their home – mostly elderly, ill and many handicapped. These people hardly ever left their homes – there homes mostly in a run down state.

Barry put an idea to the board that the club arranges Easter Hampers to be delivered by members to 10 of these unfortunate people. The Board knocked back the idea so Barry went it alone.

He contacted Meals On Wheels who gave him 10 names and addresses who they considered most in need. Barry raided his cupboard for goods ie – tinned, packaged foods, sweets etc and purchased other goods including Easter Eggs and Hot Cross Buns. Derek Beveridge, Bill Stirling and Mick Beltram assisted Barry in delivering the hampers. Mick in his fire truck.! Such was the feedback from the Meals on Wheels and the recipients that the next year the club eagerly took the project on board.

Barry gave the project a name calling it “Albury-Hume Cares at Easter”. He referred to the recipients as “Shut Ins”. Barry appealed to the members to raid their cupboards for goods and such was the response that 10 hampers became 20 and the hamper baskets were supplied by Bill Stirling a director of Aware Industries.

The following years with cupboards bare Barry was given an allowance to purchase goods which he did searching for bargains mainly at Aldi which had just opened. Ian Harrison and then Peter Merk printed out brochures from Albury Hume Rotary Club which were placed in the hampers saying hello to the recipients.

Thus began a wonderful caring project which was extended to 30 hampers. Not only were the hampers appreciated by the recipients “ Shut Ins” but also the visit and a chat from members delivering such. They loved our visit and sharing our time with them.

Barry relinguished his role of Community Service Director to Julie who initiated a great move of every member be given an address to deliver the hampers. Thus every member was involved not just those who volunteered.

Barry gets great delight seeing the project still being enthusiastically addressed and knowing that there are 30 “Shut Ins” enjoying a bit of happiness in their lives and knowing others care like the Rotary Club of Albury Hume.

Literacy Month – March Combating illiteracy has been a focus of Rotary International since 1986 – and for good reason. UNESCO estimates there are 862 million illiterate adults in the world and about two-thirds of them are women. Millions more are functionally illiterate, without the reading and writing skills necessary for everyday life. The United Nations has identified illiteracy as a major obstacle to economic, political, and social development. How can you be involved? Follow the link below to the RI website section on Literacy and Numeracy Programs. Be a part of the solution for this world wide problem.