Bulletin of the Rotary Club of Moreland
EDITION 15|16 FEBRUARY 2022
THE MORELANDER
OPERATION CLEFT
Bringing a smile
to young children in Bangaladesh
Award of Excellence for Club Bulletin 2018-2019
Pages 3-4
Moreland Rotary acknowledges the Wurundjeri people of the eastern Kulin Nations on whose unceded lands we conduct our business. Moreland Rotary respectfully acknowledges their Ancestors and Elders, past, present and emerging. Moreland Rotary also acknowledges the Traditional Custodians and their Ancestors of the lands and waters across Australia where we conduct our business.
Cover: Mother and child in Bangladesh (supplied by Bruce McEwen)
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Operation Cleft - Gift a smile for life
It’s all about simply changing lives; BRINGING A SMILE to a child's face – and more! The Rotary Club of Moreland recently hosted an update of the wonderful work of Operation Cleft by its Chairman Bruce McEwen who was introduced by club member Trevor Moyle who has the Operation Cleft programme management role for District 9790.
Cleft lip and cleft palate are facial and oral malformations that occur in very early pregnancy.
One in 700 babies are born with a cleft issue
Bruce started his presentation by emphasising that Rotary in Australia have every reason to be proud of this project, where now more than 16,000 free surgeries have occurred for the underprivileged disadvantaged Children of Bangladesh. Cleft is not pretty, he said, leaving a unsightly disfigurement as well as creating lingering range of health issues for the families of cleft patients to deal with. This has been particularly the case in Bangladesh, where Operation Cleft has chosen to dedicate its energies. Cleft Births occur around 1 in 700 across the globe, in Australia, Europe, Africa and also of course in Bangladesh. Despite the amount of research, there is no clear understanding of why Cleft births happens. The Cleft issue happens around the 1st 6 -8 weeks of pregnancy, where the lip, upper mouth, nose tissues do not join together normally. A cleft lip is a physical split or separation of the two sides of the upper lip, can be a mono (single sided malformation or a bilateral, double cleft.). One in 700 babies are born with a Cleft issue, which is the fourth most common birth defect all over the world. In fact it is estimated that a child somewhere in the world is born with a cleft every 3 minutes. 12% of the children born with cleft die under age of 5 if the Cleft is left untreated, and secondary health issues include eating difficulties, hearing loss, dental problems and speech difficulties. Al l of these can lead to the serious outcome of malnutrition, especially in a poor country like Bangladesh. In addition to the health issues, children from marginalised areas of Bangladesh often face community social rejection from the stigma of the condition, leading to deprivation of education, employment and marriage.
TEXT: OPERATION CLEFT (ADAPTED BY TREVOR MOYLE) | IMAGES: OPERATION CLEFT
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Operation Cleft - Gift a smile for life
The etiology or origins in Bangladesh for the causes of Cleft is often seen to be blame or punishment for the mother/parent, or failure. Causes are often associated with supernatural forces, evil spirits or ancestral spirits, exposure to an eclipse, black magic, or a contagion. Bruce was very proud of his Rotary Club of Box Hill Central, Victoria adopting this international humanitarian project which has been supported to date by 400+ Rotary Clubs around Australia. Operation Cleft Australia’s mission is to provide free, cleft repair surgeries for the underprivileged children of Bangladesh– providing hope and an opportunity to live normal and meaningful lives. Bruce explained that Bangladesh was chosen because its low income, poor access to health services and one of the highest incidence of malnutrition in the world. With a population of 170 million, Some 8,800 children born every day in Bangladesh, 13 of which with a Cleft issue. If these cleft conditions are left untreated, Bruce reiterated that the children will suffer both physically and emotionally, and they face a life of torment, poor health, isolation, and illiteracy. In summary Operation Cleft’s Goal to bring a smile to the face of a child affected by cleft in Bangladesh. The Operation Cleft journey started back in 2005, which will continue to grow with support of German partner DCKH. Operation Cleft has performed more than 16,000 surgeries since 2005 together with Partner DCKH! Without Rotary Clubs, Bruce reminded us that without individual donors there is no future and no hope for these affected children; and that $350.00 will provide free Surgery and all that goes with it for an individual child. Finally Bruce spoke with justifiable confidence that Rotarians across Australia can “make a difference – Serve to Change lives” by continuing the support for the wonderful work undertaken by Operation Cleft.
To make a donation of the amount of your choice to Operation Cleft and help gift a smile, click here THE MORELANDER
TEXT: OPERATION CLEFT (ADAPTED BY TREVOR MOYLE) | IMAGES: OPERATION CLEFT AND DAVID REDFEARN
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About Rotary
District Governor's Newsletter
"Our District, Our Voice" is the monthly newsletter of District Governor Anne Reid in 2021-22. There is a lot of information about the many Rotary projects and events across our District. Simply click here to read the latest edition Members of Rotary are part of a diverse group of community and professional leaders working to address community and international service needs and to promote peace and understanding throughout the world.
Rotary districts are a way of grouping a number of clubs in a particular geographic area. The area covered quite often crosses state and even international boundaries.
Rotary District 9790 encompasses the northern Rotary clubs receive a charter suburbs of Melbourne and from the worldwide organisation - stretches north and north east of Rotary International. Victoria to the Murray River and up into parts of NSW. A Rotarian belongs to a particular Rotary Club often near his/her For more information about home or work or sometimes Rotary District 9790, click here because of the club meeting time. THE MORELANDER
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Rotary Leadership 2021-22 Rotary International: President: Shekha Mehta(Susanne) , Rotary Club of District Governor: Anne Reid , Rotary Club of Alexandra Assistant Governor Group 2: Emma Davis, Rotary Club of Moreland Rotary Club of Moreland President: Emma Davis Club Service Roles 2021-22
President President Elect Secretary Treasurer Community Service Vocational Services Membership, International Service and Assistant Bulletin Editor Rotary Foundation Youth and Assistant Secretary Club Administration and Governance Environment and Bulletin Editor Australian Rotary Health Public Relations Club History Valued members Honorary Members
Emma Davis TBA Rosemary Freeman John Hoffmann Rosemary Freeman Brian Bennett Trevor Moyle Rosemary Freeman Silvana De Pretto Nino Galgano and Lee Garwood David Redfearn OAM Rosemary Freeman Russell Stuckey and Brian Bennett Nino Galgano Elly Gardner, Jo Connellan The Hon. Kelvin Thomson, Helen Bailey, John Awler, Richard McCarthy
District 9790 /Multi District Roles 2021-22
Assistant Governor, Group 2 and Director, 2023 Convention Host Organising Committee District Community Service Chair and Australian Rotary Health District Legal Officer District Bulletin Editor and Peter Toomey Community Police Award Shine On Awards
Emma Davis Rosemary Freeman Nino Galgano David Redfearn OAM Brian Bennett
WHEN AND WHERE WE MEET:
Moreland Rotary Club meets most Wednesdays at 7.30 for a 7.40 am start. We meet at the Sorrento Bar, 801 Sydney Road, Brunswick, 3056 HOW TO GET A COPY OF THE MORELANDER:
If you would like to receive our bulletin via email each week, email our editor at: dredfearn@vtown.com.au WHERE TO SEND FORMAL CORRESPONDENCE:
Attention: The Secretary, Moreland Rotary Club, PO Box 219, Coburg, Victoria, 3058
Chartered 14 August 1996 - Sponsor Club Coburg Rotary Club | Incorporated 13 August 2019 Designed using Canva - www.canva.com
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Images by David Redfearn and logos from rotary.org unless otherwise specified.
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Upcoming events and meetings A standing invitation exists for all readers of The Morelander to attend Moreland Rotary Club meetings and some of our other events. Please let us know if you intend to join us by ringing David Redfearn on 0448 852 747 or emailing on dredfearn@vtown.com.au (click on email address). Upcoming speakers/events
16 February: Monthly Board Meeting (Chair: President Emma Davis 23 February: Alex Marchione, Pitcher Partners. - Business disruption during the COVID period 2 March: TBA 9 March: Monthly Board Meeting (Chair: President Emma Davis
Our Guest Speakers
Moreland Rotary Club invites speakers to our club both from our local community and further afield. They come from a wide range of backgrounds and are invited because they hopefully inform and stimulate our members and guests. We feel that this is of value in fostering a deeper understanding of our diverse community and even providing guidance as to the types of activites and projects our club may engage in. However the opinions expressed by our speakers do not necessarily reflect any official viewpoint of Moreland Rotary nor those of individual club members. Irrespective of this we always offer a warm Rotary welcome to all of our speakers.
click here @RotaryMoreland
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During the pandemic we met via Zoom on Wednesday mornings from 7.30-8.30 am but we NOW MEET in person at our usual venue (listed on page 7). You should contact us beforehand in case restrictions are in force but you can still join us on Zoom at any time and the link is below.
We always aim to have great guest speakers whether meeting in person or virtually! Why not join us one morning? Simply ring David on 0448 852 747 the day before to RSVP or go to: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/3068589175 just before the meeting to join in.