I would like to comment this week on the fellowship element of our rotary experience. After 6 years in the club, I feel I have some very good friends; the kind of friends that would be there if I needed help, which is of course the ultimate measure of a friend. We do have some members who are managing personal or nearby health challenges and I have no doubt that they benefit from the support of their rotary colleagues. It is I feel the strength of a club like rotary that it attracts people who want to give. Just a couple more bulletin updates from me.
We have nearly 70 registrations for the changeover so if you haven’t already, get onboard!
The club's project to provide two gender specific toilet blocks and a supply of fresh water to the Aladura Primary School in Buedu, eastern Sierra Leone, is gathering pace, as the building designs are finalised and quotes are sought from local builders. The Rotary Club Of Glenferrie is partnering with the Rotary Club of Bo, Sierra Leone, and The Rotary Foundation, to deliver safe and hygienic toilets for the children and staff, and a hygiene (WASH) training program for the children.
Your club's committee, led by International Service Director Amelia Anderson, and comprising Isaiah Lahai, Paul Shekleton, Geoffrey Widmer and Richard Blakeman from the Rotary Club of Glenferrie, President Taplima Muana and President-elect Daniel Sama of the Rotary Club of Bo, Sierra Leone, and Tamba Lahai of the Aladura Primary School is close to commissioning work to start. At the last meeting of the Sierra Leone Taskforce, it was agreed that, when completed, the plaque below would be affixed to both buildings. Testimony to the friendship between our two communities.
The toilet blocks to be built at the Aladura Primary School are based on a design used by Beyond Water International in their work in Kenya
The Sierra Leone Project Taskforce agreed the above wording for plaques to be affixed to each toilet block when completed. A Rotary Club of Glenferrie Peacebuilding Project
The Sumba Eye Program (SEP) is an eye care program established in 2007, whose purpose is to provide ophthalmic and optometric eye care to the under resourced East Indonesian Island of Sumba.
In 2024, the project is gaining momentum as the Foresight’s team returned to Sumba in May. The visit had three main goals: 1. Conduct a full week of eye clinic including surgical provision at the Waibakul Hospital in Anakalang, Central Sumba 2. Conduct outreach eye clinics in remote villages and local schools 3. Set up of the new Eye clinic at the hospital in Anakalang and supply the rooms with the necessary equipment to get both the Eye clinic and the optical workshop functional.
To view the Foresight - Sumba Trip Report May 2024, press on this link Trip Report
Chair Teresa introduced fellow Rotarian Lawrie Mann for his “Member Behind the Badge” presentation – “It’s All About Change”.
The “Member Behind the Badge” presentation allows members to hear about the life of their fellow Rotarians beyond Rotary and their diverse and interesting journeys that have led them to a life of “Service above self” in Rotary.
Lawrie was born in Sydney. He studied at the University of NSW after finishing high school at Sydney Grammar School. Lawrie started his career where he worked at the Department of Defence as a Graduate Research Officer and in Joint Intelligence.
Lawrie then moved to Melbourne and gained an MBA at Melbourne University. He worked in the corporate sector, such as Kodak, Ericsson, Kraft Food, etc. but also had stints in family and start-up businesses. After his retirement, he has been occupied in various volunteer roles; being a director of non-profit organisations, such as Water Safety Vietnam, Springvale Service for Children, and the Golf Club Heritage Committee.
Do you, or someone connected with your club, know a young person aged 15 to 18 years that would benefit from facing the life-changing challenges experienced from learning to safely sail a tall ship at sea? And would your club sponsor them at a cost of $1,200?
Dates:
21 - 24 September 2024
4 - 7 January 2025
5 - 8 April 2025
For further information, contact Suzanne Zammit (Rotary Footscray) at: suz.zammit@gmail.com or watch video here
On the morning of Saturday 25 May 2024, a significant landslide levelled a village in the Enga Province of PNG. Rotary will assist in the recovery period with food, water and other items needed, such as clothing, bedding and shelter and work in partnership with local authorities and the PNG Government. District 9620 have established a Rotary Australasia World Community Service (RAWCS) project to manage operations and donations.
The Rotary Club of Glenferrie acknowledges the traditional owners as the custodians of this land, recognising their connection to land, waters and community. We pay our respects to Australia's First Peoples, and to their elders, past, present and future.
The Rotary Club of Glenferrie | PO Box 2134 | Hawthorn Vic 3122
