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Issue 536. February 2012
C O NT E NTS
05
08
F e a t u res
R e g u l a rs
12 Partnering Up
5 President’s Message/
13 Cover Story
Foundation Chair
The Rotary Foundation and Mercy Ships unite Sun shines bright for emergency services
15 The John Fawcett Foundation A brighter future for cataract blindness
15 A Word on Health
6 Just Between Us 7 News Bulletin
Rotarians – a fine breed of Australians!
10 Mailbox
21 Aspley Poultry Project
31 This Rotary World
21 Driver Awareness
33 Notices
New boarders flock to Solomon Island College Rotary icon rebranded
23 Global Outlook
A Rotarian’s guide to sustainability
13
34 Smiles 35 Rotary Directory
Our Cover The combined Rotary clubs of Illawarra have announced that nominations are now open for the 2012 Pride of the Illawarra Awards, acknowledging and celebrating the achievements of local Emergency Services personnel. Story page 13.
15 www.rotarydownunder.com.au www.rotarydownunder.org
3
Staff
Editor: Mark Wallace Associate Editor: Meagan Jones
Rotary at a glance
ROTARY international zones 7B & 8
KIRIBATI NA URU
PAP UA NEW GUINEA
Executive Director: Bob Aitken Finance Manager: Barry Antees Third Floor, 43 Hunter Street, Parramatta, NSW 2150 Australia PO Box 779, Parramatta, NSW 2124 Australia T: +61 2 9633 4888 | F: +61 2 9891 5984 E: editorial@rotarydownunder.com.au W: www.rotarydownunder.org Subscription/Admin enquiries: +61 2 9633 4888 E: francescampbell@rotarydownunder.com.au Advertising (Australia) | RDU Web Hosting Samantha Ausburn and Gay Kiddle T: +61 2 9633 4888 E: advertising@rotarydownunder.com.au
S OLOMON ISL ANDS TIMOR LESTE
S AMOA VANUATU
9550
FRENCH POLYNESIA
NEW CALEDONIA TONG A
9570 9455
9500 9520
9465 9780 A USTR ALIA ROTAR Y INTERNATIONAL ZONE 8
9670 9700
9640 9650
9820
NORFOLK ISL AND
9910
9680 9690 9750 9710 9790 9800 9810
9920 9930 9940
9830
Speakers Corner | Rotarians Doing Business Gay Kiddle & Samantha Ausburn speakerscorner@rotarydownunder.com.au rotariansdoingbusiness@rotarydownunder.com.au T: 02 9633 4888 RDU Merchandise & Promotions (Rotary and Probus) General Manager: Barry Antees Corporate Sales Manager: Paul Reid Unit 16, 45 Powers Rd, Seven Hills, NSW 2147 Australia PO Box 244, Toongabbie, NSW 2146 Australia PO Box 91772, Auckland Mail Centre, 1142 New Zealand T: +61 2 9674 6855 or 0800 738 695 (From NZ) E: supplies@rotarydownunder.com.au W: www.rotarydownunder.org RDU supplies, travel insurance: T: +61 2 9674 6855 0800 738 695 (From NZ) New Zealand & Pacific Islands Office Editorial & Promotions Manager: Beryl Robinson PO Box 87328, Meadowbank, Auckland, 1742, NZ T: +64 9 273 2061 E: berylrobinson@rotarydownunder.co.nz W: www.rdu.rotarysouthpacific.org Approved by the Board of Directors of Rotary International and prescribed for the members of the Rotary clubs within RI Districts 9455, 9465, 9500, 9520, 9550, 9570, 9600, 9630, 9640, 9650, 9670, 9680, 9690, 9700, 9710, 9750, 9780, 9790, 9800, 9810, 9820, 9830, 9910, 9920, 9930, 9940, 9970 and 9980 and published by the Committee by direction of the Council. Published by: Rotary Down Under Inc Design & Layout: iMedia Corp Printed by: Rotary Offset Press Disclaimer: All expressions of opinion are published on the basis that they are not to be regarded as expressing the official opinion of the publisher unless expressly stated. The publisher accepts no responsibility whatsoever for the accuracy of any of the opinions or information or advertisements contained in this publication and readers should rely on their own enquiries in making decisions concerning their own interests. In particular, no responsibility is accepted for the quality of goods or services supplied by advertisers or for the accuracy of materials submitted for reproduction. To the extent permitted by law, the publishers, their employees, agents and contractors exclude all liability (including liability and negligence) to any person for any loss, damage, cost or expense incurred or arising as a result of material appearing in this publication. The views expressed herein are not necessarily those of Rotary International or The Rotary Foundation.
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Issue 536. February 2012
COOK ISL ANDS
9600 9630
9970
Advertising (New Zealand) Colin Gestro T: +64 9 444 9158 E: colin@affinityads.com Special Advertising Projects Lex Laidlaw | T: +61 2 4329 4203 E: lexlaidlaw@bigpond.com Masako Otaki | T: +61 400 909 611 E: masakootaki@rotarydownunder.com.au
AMERICAN S AMOA
FIJI
NEW ZEAL AND ROTAR Y INTERNATIONAL ZONE 7B
9980
ROTARY AT A GLANCE Rotarians: 1,213,529 in 34,145 clubs in 530 Districts in 210 countries. Rotaractors: 200,169 in 8703 clubs in 171 countries. Down Under there are 32,385 Rotarians in 1143 clubs in 22 Districts in Australia and 9434 Rotarians in 266 clubs in 6 Districts in New Zealand and the Pacific. Aust & NZ Districts include American Samoa, Cook Islands, Fiji, French Polynesia, Kiribati, Nauru, New Caledonia, Norfolk Island, PNG, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Timor-Leste, Tonga and Vanuatu, where there are 816 Rotarians in 44 clubs (figures as at June 30, 2011).
ROTARY INTERNATIONAL WORLD HEADQUARTERS One Rotary Centre, 1560 Sherman Ave, Evanston, Illinois, 60201, US. Telephone; 847 866 3000. Fax; 847 328 8554. General officers of Rotary International 2011-2012 President: Kalyan Banerjee Vapi, Gujarat, India; President-elect: Sakuji Tanaka, Yashio, Japan; Treasurer: Elio Cerini, Milano, Italy; Directors: Noel A. Bajat, Abbeville, USA; Kenneth W. Grabeau, Nashua West, USA; Stuart B. Heal, Cromwell, New Zealand; Masaomi Kondo Senri, Japan; Barry Matheson, Jessheim, Norway; Samuel F. Owori, Kampala, Uganda; John Smarge, Naples, USA; Jose Antonio F. Antiorio, Osasco, Brazil; Kenneth R. Boyd, Kerman, USA; Yash Pas Das, Ambala, India; Elizabeth S. Demaray, Sault Ste Marie, USA; Allan O. Jagger, Elland, England; Paul Knyff, Weesp, The Netherlands; Shekhar Mehta, Calcutta-Mahanagar, India; Juin Park, Suncheon, Korea; Kenneth M. Schuppert Jnr, Decatur, USA; General Secretary: John Hewko, USA. The Rotary Foundation Trustees Chair: William B. Boyd, Auckland, New Zealand; Vicechair: John F. Germ, Tennessee, USA; Trustees: Doh Bae Seoul, Korea; Stephen R. Brown, California, USA; Lynn A. Hammond; Colorado, USA; Dong Kurn Lee, Seoul, Korea; Ashok M. Mahajan, Maharashtra, India; Anne L. Matthews, South Carolina, USA; Samuel A. Okudzeto, Accra, Ghana; Kazuhiko Ozawa, Kanagawa, Japan; Wilfrid J. Wilkinson, Ontario, Canada; John Kenny, Grangemouth, Scotland; Antonio Hallage, CuritibaLeste, Brazil; Jackson San-lien Hsieh, Taipei, Taiwan; Ian Riseley, Sandringham, Vic, Australia; General Secretary: John Hewko (Rotary International), USA. Rotary International Regional Office Level 2, 60 Phillip Street, Parramatta, NSW, 2150 or PO Box 1415, Parramatta, NSW 2124. Telephone; 61 2 8894 9800. Fax 61 2 8894 9899. Office hours; Monday to Friday 8.30am to 5.00pm (Closed public holidays). Regional Head; Frank Pezzimenti (Frank.Pezzimenti@ rotary.org); Administration Coordinator/Literature Clerk; Michelle Fuller (Michelle.Fuller@rotary.org); Reception;
Amanda Kahlon (Amanda.Kahlon@rotary.org); Club and District support Supervisor; Joy Walker Joy. Walker@rotary.org; Correspondent; Mary Jayne Desmond (MaryJayne.Desmond@rotary.org); Regional Financial Controller; Grace Ramirez (Grace.Ramirez@ rotary.org); Coordinator; John Jiang (Aust & NZ) (Xiang. Jiang@rotary.org); Coordinator; Rachel Hernandez (Philippines) (Rachel.Hernandez@rotary.org); Finance Corespondent; Melissa Asanza (Melissa.Asanza@rotary. org)”; The Rotary Foundation, Manager; Bruce Allen (Bruce.Allen@rotary.org); The Rotary Foundation Assistant; Krissy Aure-Canson (Kristenne.AureCanson@ rotary.org). Rotary Down Under – The Council RI Director Stuart Heal, Liz Westoby (D9455), Jodie Sparks (D9465), Eric Russell (D9500), Bruce Richardson (D9520), Graham Koch (D9550), Ian Mylrea (D9570), Carolyn Krueger (D9600), Debbie James (D9630), Graham Jones (D9640), Barry Hacker (D9650), Janette Jackson (D9670), David Rands (D9680), David Cook (D9690), Ian Simpson (D9700), Rob Woolley (D9710), Phil Whyte (D9750), Brian Trenery (D9780), David Anderson (D9790), Keith Ryall (D9800), Juliet Riseley (D9810), Kel Hobby (D9820), Peter Murfett (D9830), Brian Tuck (D9910), Alan Eyes (D9920), Raewyn Kirkman (D9930), Bob Smith (D9940), David Drake (D9970), Joan Kiernan (D9980). Rotary Down Under – The Board of Directors Past District Governor Des Lawson, (chairman), Past District Governor Peter Sandercock (vice-chairman), RI Director Stuart Heal, Past District Governors Don Cox (treasurer), Jennifer Scott, John Kevan, David Watt, Bob Aitken (secretary). The New Zealand Rotary Down Under Promotion Committee Past District Governor Fergus Cumming (chairman, D9930), Rtn Felicity Anderson (D9910), Past Governors Leanne Jaggs (D9920), David Watt (D9940), Rex Morris (D9970), Trish Boyle (D9980).
Messages From Headquarters
Make our voices heard Kalyan Banerjee President Rotary International My dear brothers and sisters in Rotary, This November, I had the opportunity to speak at the Rotary Institute in Kolkata, India. The focus of this institute was on peace and the ways in which we in Rotary could work to build peace. When I received the invitation, I began to think about what I might say, knowing that with all Rotarians do in this area, my main challenge would be keeping within the time limit! But just before I arrived in Kolkata, I spoke at a water conference in Tel Aviv. It was a wonderful event at which Rotarians and non-Rotarians from all over the world came together to discuss the many challenges of keeping an ever-growing population supplied with an increasingly scarce resource. Before I could begin to talk about Rotary’s contribution, however, I had to explain what Rotary is and what we do – because even in that very educated audience of scientists and entrepreneurs and executives, there were many people who had simply never heard of Rotary. As I left that event, I began to think again
about what to say in Kolkata, because so much of what we do in Rotary to build peace depends on public awareness of who we are. Why have we been so successful in our work to eradicate polio? Because Rotary is able to go where no government and few other non-governmental organisations can – into homes, into schools and into We build peace by dealing with the problems, whether those problems communities, with the trust are a lack of water, or sanitation, or safe, affordable housing. and confidence of the people we serve. known. We need to not just work through When we work for peace, we don’t do it Rotary, but talk about Rotary – letting the by negotiating treaties or demonstrating world know about the work we are doing, in the streets. Instead, we build peace by the differences we are making, and the example – by working together and putting benchmarks we are setting. Our Rotary others’ needs above our own. We build peace work speaks to our belief that a better, more by dealing with the problems that disrupt peaceful world is possible, and we need to be people’s ability to live normal, peaceful sure that our voices are heard. lives – whether those problems are a lack of water, or sanitation, or safe, affordable housing; whether they stem from a shortage of education or health care, or a need to build productive and positive connections between communities. In everything we do, Kalyan Banerjee we rely on our good name. President, This is why all of us have a responsibility Rotary International ■ to be sure that our good name is indeed
Our Rotary Foundation helps us help others Bill Boyd Chairman, The Rotary Foundation A friend who is an Arch C. Klumph Society member recently sent me an email ending with words that remind us of why we support our Foundation. John began life in humble circumstances and became a successful businessman. Through our Foundation, he has shared that success with people who have no ability to help themselves. He said: “As someone who was born poor on a farm
during the Depression, I can confirm that when you have nothing, a little bit goes a long way to help. I remember like it was yesterday those neighbours and relatives who helped our family of nine and gave us support and encouragement. In essence, this is our Foundation’s mission.” Another quote that impressed me recently came from a Rotarian at a Rotary Institute: “I joined Rotary for business and fellowship. I stayed to change the world.” For many of us, Rotary is our only way to change the world. As individuals, there is little we can do on our own, but when we join with our fellow Rotarians, we do make a difference.
How we do that depends on where we are. If you are in a country with great needs, then you will be involved in identifying the needs of people and developing and implementing projects that will change their lives. If you are one of this generation who has been blessed with success, then you can help by making resources available. Our Rotary Foundation, in a sense, sits in the middle and makes the connection. Our business model works, which is why we will in a few years celebrate 100 years of supporting Rotarians in making the world a better place. We have passed the test of time! ■
www.rotarydownunder.org
5
Editorial Xxxx
Rotary leaders committed to change Mark Wallace Just between us Shortly after returning from my first Rotary Zone Institute, held in Christchurch in 2008, I wrote a piece trying to explain just how rewarding it was for someone who was not a member of the Institute. Membership of the Institute is comprised of District Governors, Past District Governors, Governors Elect and Governors Nominee and their partners. In short, it’s a pretty exclusive club whose annual event usually draws about 500 or so in Australia and a number somewhat shy of that in New Zealand. The Christchurch Institute, like the one we just had in Brisbane in November, was a combined affair, bringing Australians, New Zealanders and other Rotarians from the South-West Pacific, making it much more inclusive. In Brisbane in November, however, there was an innovation that could go a long way to showing Rotarians of all “ranks” just
“The importance and relevance of this gathering of ‘future leaders’ went way beyond what the participants were told.”
how big the world of Rotary really is. The first Future Leaders Seminar brought about 170 Rotarians from 25 of the 28 Australian and New Zealand-based Districts together for a series of workshops and a weekend of Rotary that most will never forget. The y were a d d re ss e d by R ot ar y International President Elect Sakuji Tanaka, Rotary Foundation Trustee Anne L. Matthews, Rotary International Director Stuart Heal, Past RI Treasurer Ian Riseley and other senior Rotarians from around Australia and New Zealand.
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Issue 536. February 2012
The first Future Leaders Seminar in Brisbane, Qld, brought about 170 Rotarians from 25 of the 28 Australian and New Zealand-based Districts together for a weekend of Rotary most will never forget. All of whom pretty much made the point that Rotary is on the cusp of big changes, changes that were necessary, changes that would ensure Rotary’s relevance in coming decades – which was all very well, but not much more than most had heard before. The importance and relevance of this gathering of ‘future leaders’ went way beyond what the participants were told. It was in what they could say and what they could see as they broke up into working groups to discuss ideas on membership retention, recruitment, public relations, club procedures, among other topics. The significance of the event was in the fact that these people were taken seriously by the current Rotary leadership. Most of them stayed in Brisbane to participate in the official Institute program, where they heard the new Rotary International General Secretary John Hewko – the guy who runs Rotary’s HQ in Chicago – confirm the need and his own determination to make Rotary more relevant by changing its systems. They saw President Elect Tanaka commit himself to that change, and they watched as Rotary leader after Rotary leader committed to that necessary change. Suddenly the Rotary Zone Institutes are relevant to so many more people than the members of the Institutes. There
are 170 Rotarians who have seen the camaraderie these events promote. Friends reunited, plans made, outcomes reviewed, possibilities anticipated. Those 170 future leaders went back to their clubs with a message that this was not just another talkfest. They went back with new ideas about how to better run their clubs, how to make their fundraising more ef f icient, how to make their presence felt so that more communityminded people would see the sense in joining a Rotary club. The next Rotary Zone Institutes will be held in Invercargill in New Zealand in October and Adelaide in December. If there are not 300 attendees at the next Future Leaders Seminars, it will be a great shame. For if there are not a good number of Rotarians among them who realised that becoming a District Governor involves so much more than a mere endless series of club visits and box-ticking, then I’m a monkey’s uncle. But even more important than that, is that many of these Rotarians may have just realised that they might just be able to achieve something in Rotary without having to don the gubernatorial chains. The message to take away from the Institute was one of endless possibilities. Bring it on! ■
News Bulletin
Queensland clubs open sluices on flood donations After the disastrous floods in south-east Queensland, the Rotary Club of Cleveland, Qld, suggested a Monster Garage Sale to raise money for flood victims. The club approached the Rotary Clubs of Capalaba, Redlands Bayside, Wellington Point, Redland Sunrise and Redlands Rotaract and together all clubs took up the challenge. From day one it was a busy time with phone calls from the Redlands public who were keen to donate goods for the garage sale. Some donations were delivered and Rotarians who had trucks and trailers, collected from households and the owner of the Botanix garden complex donated use of his empty premises. By day three the clubs had filled a hardware store and within the same week storage sheds further down the property became a dedicated furniture store. By the start of the second week they needed even more space and again the owner of the garden complex offered the largest warehouse in his complex. Free advertisements appeared each week in local Redland’s newspapers. They published several articles and photographs about each stage of the event from the collections through to the sale days. Radio
stations mentioned the event and a major Brisbane daily newspaper also added its support. A radio station in Brisbane city and local businesses joined in with trucks, dump bins and the Redland’s Council allowed the organisers free rubbish disposal. On February 5 the volunteers were mustered at 5.30am and sent to sales areas in all three warehouses. When Botanix opened at 6am, around 1500 people surged through the doors in the first 30 minutes. Rotarians cooked and sold breakfasts and patrons were entertained by a jazz quartet from a local College. The second week began with restocking and ads for more donations were answered by the people of Redlands. A large consignment of toys and prams came from NSW. Survivors were referred by a Rotary club and vouchers were redeemed for household goods. The sponsoring Rotar y club arranged pick-up and delivery. Between 30 and 40 families or individuals were helped in person, with more than $30,000 in goods to help re-establish their homes. At the end of the Garage Sale the clubs made a grand total of $93,000. ■
Zoning Out! News from all over Zones 7B & 8
District 9455: Western Australian Rotarian Rachel Pateron, of the Rotary Club of Nedlands, has won a Rhodes Scholarship for 2012. She will study Infection, Immunology and Translational Medicine at Britain’s Oxford University. Interesting to note that one previous Rhodes Scholar from Western Australia ended up as Australia’s Prime Minister. He also set a new world record for drinking beer, but that’s another story! District 9550: Australia’s oldest Past Governor, Lex Fraser, 91, of Ingham, Qld, is still going strong. A member of the Rotary Club of Herbert River he recently despatched valuable Rotary archives on the extension of Rotary into PNG after WWII. He can be contacted by Rotary friends on 07 4776 2313. District 9680: The Rotary clubs of Terrigal and Gosford, NSW, hosted more than 60 people at a “Q&A-style” Ethics discussion at the Terrigal Rotary Hall in November. Among the participants were Gosford mayor Laurie Maher, Erina Chamber of Commerce boss Tracey Doyle, Brisbane Waters Police Inspector Peter Joice and Past District Governor Harold Sharp. Among the questions tackled was: What ethical obligations does business have in ongoing development? Answers to the editor, please! editorial@rotarydownunder.com.au District 9940: NZ Rotarians Collis Blake and Jack Leslie were inducted into the Kapiti Horowhenua Business Hall of Fame on November 4. Collis was a beef farmer who achieved a national profile for supporting stressed farmers in the era of forced mortgagee farm sales. Jack started Leslie Trading in 1962, manufacturing and supplying uniforms
Representatives of the Queensland Rotary clubs that participated in the Monster Garage Sale with their joint District 9630 Public Relations Excellence Awards.
throughout NZ. He received a Four Avenues of Service citation in 2006. ■
www.rotarydownunder.org
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News Bulletin
Canberra City taps into Timor-Leste Final fitting of solar panels funded in part by the Rotary Club of Canberra City, ACT.
The Rotary Club of Canberra City, ACT, recently undertook a major water-supply project for a poor rural community in Timor-Leste. The Railaco community is about 40km south-west of Dili, with a population of about 1500 dependent on subsistence agriculture. While the Railaco community has a high school, primary school, health care centre, and Catholic church, the area had no reliable water supply and school was cancelled when there was no water, sparking Sister Eileen Rita Hayes and Father Martin Abad Santos into action. The Canberra City project, driven by
veteran international projects coordinator George McLean, provided a bore and pump, a water tower, storage tanks, and associated piping for the system. The club initiated and coordinated the project, and provided funds for the tanks and part of the solar power unit. The Community of St Mary Star of the Sea College in Wollongong, NSW, the O’Neill Foundation (established by Sue O’Neill, of the Rotary Club of Kenthurst, NSW), The Rotary Foundation and the RSL each provided significant funds. A Dili Company, H2O, organised the bore while Engineers Without Borders and the Bia
Hula Foundation in Timor-Leste organised the tanks, power and water distribution system. The solar power unit was supplied by Dili company Startech. In all, the project cost about $US75,000. Canberra City has now completed several successful projects in Timor-Leste, including a replacement roof for the Library of the Dili Institute of Technology and foetal heart monitors for the National Hospital in Dili. Canberra City’s Patricia McDonell has worked as a health care volunteer near Dili over the past 11 years. In 2009, the club worked with Engineers Without Borders to build a toilet block at a Dili high school. ■
The Thursday Gang Rotary’s largest hands-on International project in Brisbane is Donations in Kind (DIK), which operates out of a warehouse at Durack. Donations In Kind is well known for receiving “cast off ” medical and educational goods and materials from institutions and companies as they upgrade. To date, in this Rotary year 35 containers from the Brisbane store have been sent to PNG and the Solomon Islands with an estimated value of $1.25 million.
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Issue 536. February 2012
Behind the scenes and facilitating the loading and general management of the store is a team of Rotarians who “work” at the venue every Thursday under the leadership of PDG Bill Waterfield. This team receives goods as they arrive from Rotary clubs, ensures the “working order and suitability” of equipment and prepares them for shipping. Smaller items such as
books and medical supplies are packed into boxes. DIK would be lost without these dedicated members, the Thursday Gang. Jenny Horton Rotary Club of Kenmore, Qld ■
News Bulletin
Cocky’s home’s a cracker! Artificial nesting hollows for endangered Carnaby’s cockatoos have been installed north of Badgingarra, WA, in a joint effort between the Department of Environment and Conservation (DEC) and the Rotary Club of Palm Beach, WA. DEC senior wildlife officer Rick Dawson said 30 artificial hollows were installed and 25 existing natural hollows were repaired at Coomallo Creek. “This site has been monitored for the past 43 years and in that time the number of breeding pairs of Carnaby’s cockatoos has declined from 100 down to about 43,” said Mr Dawson. “In 2009, a bushfire destroyed 18 Carnaby’s hollows that have been used for decades and killed three chicks in three nests, placing the local population under even more pressure. Competition for the small number of remaining hollows in the burnt area was intense, with all hollows being used by Carnaby’s cockatoos showing evidence of nesting attempts by galahs.” Mr Dawson said the installation of artificial hollows would make a big difference to the species in the area. “Research has shown that Carnaby’s cockatoos will readily breed in artificial hollows that are installed at breeding sites. “As a result, DEC decided to install hollows at Coomallo Creek and was offered the assistance of eight members of the Palm Beach Rotary Club, who were all registered as DEC volunteers for the activity. “We anticipate only a few will be used this year as the breeding season is already under way, but we are hopeful there will be greater uptake next year.” ■
MERV’s man-size mission Rotarians from District 9670 in western NSW have taken the Mens Educational Rural Van on a giant road trip for the third time in four years. Affectionately known as MERV, the van was towed for three weeks by Past Governor Tony Mackenzie to 11 towns, giving men there the opportunity to have their health checked. The concept of the trip was built around men’s well-known reluctance to have nagging health problems checked. MERV is owned by the Greater Western Area Health Service and is based at Mudgee. The caravan was loaned to Rotary District 9670 Rotarians and PDG Tony then made it possible to provide the check-ups for free. GWAHS staff arranged health professionals in each town to assess the patients’ health and provide advice. Past President Peter English arranged venues with Rotary clubs and Council staff to locate MERV at prominent locations. PDG Greg Bevan’s wife, Lorraine, established a fund for the continuation of MERV as her project during Greg’s year as governor. More than 300 men were seen to in each of the three trips and the most problems identified were high blood pressure, diabetes, hypertension, bowel cancer, mental health, sexual health, obesity, prostate, poor diet and lung disease. Twelve patients were sent to hospital after preliminary tests. MERV has, however, passed its “use by date” and it will be disposed by GWAHS, so District 9670 is working to replace it with a purpose-built caravan specifically for men’s health, in time for the next run out west. Contact Past President Geoff Smith on (02) 6889 5447 if you can help. ■
Wrap with Love DEC senior wildlife officer Rick Dawson (left) and Des Mant from the Rotary Club of Palm Beach, installing the hollows. Photo: Kelvin Robinson.
Organisers of the annual Wrap With Love knitting for the needy extravaganza is looking for more Rotary clubs to help again in 2012, providing transport from drop-off points to the warehouse in Sydney. If your club can help, contact Meg Gervay of the Rotary Club of Sydney Cove, NSW, by email on meg.gervay@ austartlink.com.au or by phone on 0412 910 045. ■
www.rotarydownunder.org
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Editor’s mailbox
Salute to Sergeants I read the letter from Dr Bob Stewart regarding Sergeants in the November issue of Rotary Down Under (Issue 534) with a certain degree of sadness. For me, the Sergeant’s Session is an integral part of Rotary life and, as far as my club is concerned, a part of the meeting that is eagerly anticipated each week. A little background first – Tauranga Sunrise has 80+ members and we meet at 6.45am each Friday. In common with the vast majority of breakfast clubs, all is over by 8am and each meeting runs to a tried and tested timetable, leaving something between five and 10 minutes at the end of the meeting for the aforementioned session. We have no less than six (yes six!) Sergeants who alternate on a regular basis so we all get six or seven sessions throughout the Rotary year. There are, of course, very differing styles of presentation and this adds to the fun of it all. I would like to offer my personal views on the points Bob raised:
1. Why should the sergeant have more focus on positive achievements? The session has many different parts, from recognising mentions in the local paper to ‘misdemeanours’ both inside and outside club activities and the injected joke or two. These have NEVER been intended as malicious. 2. The Sergeant should know his or her boundaries. Any crossing of those can be dealt with by a quiet word, but in all honesty, I can’t recall any instance of this being necessary (I joined Rotary in 1986). 3. Ag re e d – t here is no place for embarrassing our fellow Rotarians. 4. Agreed again. Shouldn’t we all be ourselves? 5. I really don’t understand the angle from which this point is coming. ‘It is not a valid argument to say that because one person is not offended, that everyone else should be the same’.
Sergeants unique to Oz and NZ?
10
I reply to the letter on Sergeants from Dr
in every State of Australia, both Islands
Bob Stewart in the November issue of RDU
of New Zealand, and on every continent
and agree with him on most points.
except South America. From my limited
I have experienced all of the situations on
observations it seems to me that the use of
which he comments and I would add a
the sergeant to fine members is unique to
couple more.
Australia and New Zealand. I don’t know if
There is the Sergeant who considers it is
others have also observed this. Certainly in
his opportunity to achieve his frustrated
the United States I have seen fines levied in
ambition to be a stand-up comedian – and
some clubs, but usually in the form of cross
proves to most people that he is not.
fines, not by one person, a Sergeant. I can’t
There is the Sergeant who believes that
recall fines being levied at meetings in any
he must give a long winded explanation of
other country.
every fine he makes and goes on forever.
I am not advocating the abolition of
I think that a golden rule for Sergeants is
the Sergeants’ Session at a normal club
that if you don’t strike oil in five minutes –
meeting. If handled as Dr Bob Stewart
stop boring.
suggests, they can be an entertaining
I have served as Sergeant on several
interlude, while at the same time perhaps
occasions and I agree that it can be
helping to maintain a standard of good
a demanding responsibility to present
behaviour among members. I agree they
something different and imaginative every
can be confusing to non-Rotarian visitors
week, and I admit to falling back at times on
and if such visitors are present then a brief
old faithfuls such as fining for not wearing a
explanation of the job of the Sergeant may
Rotary pin, or arriving late for the meeting.
be wise before letting him loose!
In my almost 40 years in Rotary I have
Geoff Schahinger
been fortunate enough to visit Rotary clubs
PDG D9500 ■
Issue 536. February 2012
6. In jokes? Yes, of course there have always been and will always be ‘in jokes’, but to suggest scrapping the Sergeants’ sessions when (many) visitors are present is, to my mind, ludicrous. As far as Tauranga Sunrise is concerned, we would never have another session as we have visitors every week of the year. I transferred from the UK in April of 2011 and, after visiting several clubs in my locality, I decided that Sunrise was the one for me. There is a vibrancy within the membership which, I believe, bucks the trend both nationally and internationally. Finally, in her wisdom, our current President asked me to be one of the Sergeants this year – it’s a great way to get to know people’s names – and I have thoroughly enjoyed my tenure of office. Long may the tradition of Sergeants’ sessions continue! Dave Woodhouse Rotary Club of Tauranga Sunrise, NZ ■
Amen to the
editors I just wanted to thank the editors for printing the article seeking volunteers for “Earth Angels” to assist with the Angel Flight organisation in the December/January edition of RDU. As a consequence I have received a number of inquiries, not only from Sydney, but also Melbourne, from prospective “Angels”. I have no doubt there will also be many others who register direct on the Angel Flight website, so the article was certainly successful. Thanks once again and compliments of the season to yourselves and your staff. John Gillett Rotary Club of Moruya, NSW ■
Editor’s mailbox
help needed for the people of the Torres We, the members of the Rotar y Club of Thursday Island, wish to bring to your attention the dilemma facing our region when the State and Commonwealth withdraw funding for tuberculosis (TB) medications for the Papuan patients who come to Queensland from the Western Province of Papua New Guinea, via Saibai Island in the Torres Strait. For those of you unfamiliar with our region, the coast of Papua New Guinea lies less than five kilometres to the north of the islands of Boigu and Saibai and people have freely crossed from the PNG mainland to the Queensland islands to trade and to visit family for cultural visits, celebrations and trading since time began. The communities of the Western Province of PNG, namely those located along the South Fly, Middle Fly and North Fly River are located in mountainous terrain and this is very difficult to negotiate except through the river system. There are no roads. The Ok Tedi mine site and the town of Tabubil lie adjacent to the North Fly and the hospital at Tabubil provides medical care to the communities that surround the mine. The hospital is owned by the mining company and is run by local medical and nursing staff and supported by medical staff and nurses employed by International SOS, a company who supply staff and resources to many mining communities throughout the world. The only other hospital is located
near the coastal villages at Daru, and according to the media and the health workers who visit our region, is run down and has very little in the way of resources. Buildings have been taken over by vandals and patients are sent away without treatment. Sadly, despite all of the foreign aid given to PNG by our country, the topography and the politics have left the Western Province very poorly resourced and chronic diseases have taken their toll on the people who reside there. Cholera outbreaks, dengue, gastroenteritis, malaria, leprosy, TB, AIDS, hepatitis and other infectious diseases are difficult to manage. Without the interventions that the Queensland and Commonwealth Governments have provided, there is a real and recognised risk that these diseases will island hop to the mainland where spread will be inevitable. AusAID is endeavouring to fill the immense gaps in the Western Province, but they are far from ready and the State has chosen to no longer resource the TB Control Team this year. The purpose of our letter to the magazine is to encourage Rotarians to be aware, to carry out due diligence, to research, ask questions, write letters and to support our club in our efforts to support the people of the Torres and those unfortunate folk of the PNG riverbank and coastal communities. The Membership of the Rotary Club of Thursday Island ■
Support for our scholars How sad that ambassadorial scholar Robbie Francis has spent a year in Israel and remains so uninformed that she still talks of terrorism in a war situation that spans 70 years. Worse, no indication from her that her host country has in that time perpetrated genocide on an appalling scale while dispossessing Palestinians of over 90 per cent of their land and creating an apartheid state on the fraction left. I place no blame on our scholar, who comes across as a kind and concerned person anxious to ameliorate the situation. Rather it is we in Rotary who must take responsibility for sending one of our own to be so egregiously indoctrinated. We should take greater care in our selection of host countries, regardless of the largesse they offer. My hope is that as our scholar broadens her outlook she will eventually see beyond the “terrorism” smear and begin to understand its causes. Bob Molloy Rotary Club of Waipapa, NZ ■
Objective achieved I loved your article on Rotary bling (RDU November). You started my day with a smile. I have no doubt you will spark outrage, but hey, you achieved your (mischievous) objective. Good job (and I’ll start reading your articles regularly). Greg Cooper Rotary Club of Box Hill, Vic ■
Got something to say? Send your letters to the Editor’s Mailbox: Email: editorial@rotarydownunder.com.au Letters of 200 to 250 words are preferred.
www.rotarydownunder.org
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International Service
YOUR GREATEST
GIFT
A BEQUEST TO AUSTRALIAN ROTARY HEALTH If you would welcome the opportunity to make a significant contribution to the health and well-being of future Australians (very possibly including your own family and loved ones), consider a bequest to Australian Rotary Health. Your legal advisor can assist you in the making of a bequest. To obtain a free Australian Rotary Health Bequest Kit, please phone Terry Davies on (02) 8837 1900 or email: terrydavies@australianrotaryhealth.org.au
Rotarian Legal Advisors Can you assist us in the making of a will? If so please phone Terry Davies on (02) 8837 1900
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Issue 536. February 2012
The Rotary Foundation and Mercy Ships Unite LEFT: Mercy Ships Director of Nursing, Alison Brieseman, and patient Alfred reunited in 2009. Below: Alfred with a photo of himself before his surgery onboard the Africa Mercy.
Rotarians will help improve the delivery of vital health care services to West Africa through a new strategic partnership between The Rotary Foundation and the global charity Mercy Ships. Through the partnership, the Foundation will offer packaged global grants for Rotary clubs and Districts to assemble vocational training teams of medical professionals. These teams will perform or assist in lifechanging surgeries. The Rotarian volunteers will also work to enhance the skills of local health care professionals. Rotar y Foundation Trustee Chair Bill Boyd emphasised, “This strategic partnership with Mercy Ships enables Rotary to work with a globally recognised leader in the delivery of vital medical and surgical care to the world’s most vulnerable populations.” The initial projects will take place in West Africa, the area of operations for the charity’s 16,500-ton state-of-the-art hospital ship, Africa Mercy. For Africa Mercy Director of Nursing Alison Brieseman ports of call in Benin, Sierra Leone and Liberia have been a way of life for seven years. The Wellingtonborn nurse is grateful to the Rotary clubs of Plimmerton, Lower Hutt, Silverstream and Heretaunga, NZ, whose joint sponsorship has been a key component of her volunteer work with Mercy Ships.
“Using my skills to bring such massive change to the poorest and most desperate, to help those who have no hope is an amazing privilege. I couldn’t do it without the partnership of people such as Rotarians.” O n e p at i e nt A l i s o n r e m e m b e r s particularly well is Alfred, who had suffered from a rare facial tumour for four years. The two-kilo benign tumour enveloping Alfred’s lower jaw and teeth and causing him to slowly starve was removed by the surgical team onboard. “Before the surgery, people used to run away from me,” said Alfred. “I didn’t go to school for four years. When I went back to school, all my friends were like ‘Wow!’ My family would say, ‘Yes, it’s a miracle’.” Alison had the rare privilege of seeing this young man again five years after his life-saving surgery. She sums up her work simply saying, “It is the most useful thing I’ve ever done.” Mercy Ships performed more than 2,884 surgical procedures in Sierra Leone in 2011. For more information on Merc y Ships: (07) 5437 2992 / www.mercyships. org.au (Australia) or 0800 637297 / www.mercyships.org.nz (New Zealand). ■
Cover Story
Sun shines bright for Emergency Services nominations are now open for the 2012 Pride of the Illawarra Awards, celebrating the achievements of local Emergency Services personnel.
Emergency Services unite for expo The Rotary Club of Minnamurra held its fifth annual Emergency Services Expo at Black Beach, Kiama, NSW, on Saturday November 5.
The Rotary clubs of the Illawarra, NSW, have just launched the nominations for their second Pride of the Illawarra Emergency Services Awards. The inaugural awards recognition, held on May 6, 2011 exceeded all expectation, with testimonials and glowing reports continuing to flow. The project was initiated in consultation with the Commissioner of NSW State Emergency Service, Rotarian Murray Kear, of the Rotary Club of Campbelltown, NSW, and the CEO’s of the seven emergency services recognised by the NSW Government. Representatives from each of the seven services and the Regional Emergency Services Coordinator support Rotary District 9750 Chair Vocational Service, Dot Hennessy, the District Governor Elect, Bill Salter, Rotarians Norm Miller (Rotary Club of Wollongong, NSW) and Ian Johnston (Rotary Club of Kiama, NSW) have established a Project Steering Committee to develop and manage the project. The Illawarra Rotary clubs have also formed a sub-committee that supports the Steering Committee in fund-raising, promotion, marketing and conducting the judging of the finalists in each of the seven categories. The overall winners – one paid and one unpaid volunteer – are judged from the winners of each of the categories by a panel chaired by the District Governor, District Governor Elect and District Governor Nominee. T h e p r o j e c t c ov e r s t h r e e l o c a l Government areas – Kiama, Shellharbour and Wollongong. This was recommended at the outset by the Commissioner Murray Kear as the best fit with the way the services are organised. The success of the program is largely attributed to the excellent relationships our
All major services were represented, including NSW Ambulance, Fire Brigade Helicopter, NSW Fire and Rescue, NSW Police, NSW Water Police, State Emergency Service, St John Ambulance, Bendigo Bank Aerial Patrol, NSW Marine Rescue, NSW Rural Fire Brigade and many more volunteers and paid professionals. For the children there was a smoking house (the Rural Fire Service conducted an activity for children showing them how to crawl to safety when a house is on fire) and other activities, while the Illawarra Pipe Band performed throughout the day. There were demonstrations by the emergency services, including water bombing exercises by the RFS helicopter, the simulated rescue of a person being cut out of a car by the State Emergency
emergency service organisations have with each other, how they work together and share skills and commitment. The inaugural awards were launched by Her Excellency, The Governor of NSW, Professor Marie Bashir, who is the Patron of the project. The second launch demonstrates the commitment and enthusiasm by each of the services in their organisation of a special display showcasing their units and staff to official representatives of the local Federal and State Members of Parliament; Councils, Commissioners and CEO’s, Senior representatives, Rotarians and Emergency Service personnel. The sun shone brightly on the event, which has the potential to grow and develop into other Rotary Districts in NSW, with a view of becoming a national project. For f ur t her infor mat ion cont ac t Dot Hennessy on 0412 120 314, email dot@prideoftheillawarra.com.au or visit www.prideoftheillawarra.com.au ■
Service and the Ambulance and various demonstrations by the NSW Fire and Rescue and Rural Fire Service. The Expo was well supported by the local radio station 96.5 Wave FM who attended on the day and broadcast live crossovers from the Expo. A sausage sizzle, cold drinks, coffee and ice creams were available from the Minnamurra Rotary BBQ trailer. ■
www.rotarydownunder.org
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AUSTRALIA Dear Rotarians, I want to begin by saying thank you for the support that you have given to ShelterBox Australia last year. At the Zone 8 Conference, ShelterBox Australia released our Annual Report and you can request one by emailing volunteer@shelterbox.org.au In 2011, over 15,000 ShelterBoxes were distributed to more than 25 different disasters in more than 20 different countries helping more than 15,000 families in need; approximately one major disaster every two weeks. ShelterBox responds to most major disasters worldwide, this year including a team to New Zealand after the earthquake in Christchurch and several teams to Japan where almost 2000 boxes were distributed after the earthquake and tsunami caused a nuclear evacuation. Rotary International has selected ShelterBox as a partner for Global Disaster Relief with both the Rotary International Board & The Rotary Foundation Trustees expressing their joint desire to see a Rotary International and ShelterBox Project Partnership completed in 2012. As we look forward together to 2012, we ask for your support to meet ShelterBox Australia’s commitments to support Global Disaster Relief. ShelterBox will continue to ensure preparedness for the next major disaster; anywhere and anytime so we can respond immediately on a large scale e.g. 5,000+boxes. We simply can’t do it without your help, and as we look back at the scale and devastation witnessed by our ShelterBox Response Team members, their stories tell us that whatever we can imagine, next year could be more difficult for families who have lost everything due to natural and man made disasters. In the coming months, you’ll receive a call from me, or one of our ShelterBox Australia Board members, to thank you personally for your support, and answer any questions you have about our plans to grow the organisation in the future. Our ShelterBox Ambassador program was launched in January 2012, giving every Rotarian the opportunity to become the point of contact between their Rotary Club and ShelterBox Australia, and we hope you’ll participate in this program. We hope that you and your Rotary Club will continue to support us as we build a strategic stockpile of 5,000 ShelterBoxes here in Australia in 2012, for immediate response into Asia and South Pacific region. Your donation of $1000, or any portion that you can provide, will make all the difference by providing shelter, warmth and dignity to families who have lost everything. Since 2001 ShelterBox have distributed over 110,000 ShelterBoxes on over 170 deployments to more than 75 different countries, helping over 110,00 families with shelter, warmth and dignity after some 22 earthquakes, in 35 conflict zones, 57 floods, 12 hurricanes, 10 typhoons, 4 tropical storms, drought, tornado, bush fire, 5 cyclones and 7 tsunamis. Thank you again for your continued support, Craig Tobler General Manager ShelterBox Australia
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14 Issue 535. February 2012 ShelterBox Australia | PO Box 217 WAHROONGA NSW 2076 | P 1300 996 038 | F 02 9487 1508 | ABN 21 143 129 220
Rotary Projects
A brighter future for cataract blindness
Australian Rotary Health with CEO Joy Gillett
Rotarians – a fine breed of Australians! I’m writing this a week before Christmas and I’ve been reflecting on several things that have happened in Australian Rotary Health over the last few weeks. Firstly, Australian Rotary Health held the Chairman’s Dinner in Brisbane, Qld, at the Rotary Institute. One hundred of our supporters and colleagues attended, and hopefully enjoyed, a relaxed night in the company of some wonderful Rotarians. Secondly, last week we held the 7th annual Christmas dinner at the Epping Club in Sydney, NSW. On this occasion, 250 local
In November 1990, the Trustees of The Rotary Foundation approved a Health, Hunger and Humanity Grant (3H Grant) of $US157,545 to cover the purchase of a mobile clinic for cataract surgery, a secondhand 24-seater Mazda bus, its conversion into an operating theatre, the construction of its trailer, and the cost of running a cataract operating project in Bali for two years. Further support funding was received from Rotary International sources and appeals went to clubs in WA, throughout Australia and worldwide. The initiative for the 3H grant came from the Rotary Club of West Perth, whose members worked tirelessly to support the project for many years, with particularly strong support from the Rotary Club of Scarborough. The local club was the Rotary Club of Denpasar, Bali. In the first four years, 4000 cataract blind Balinese had their sight restored and were able to return to a productive life. At the end of the life of the mobile clinic, 10,500 people had walked in the door blind and walked out able to see. However, there were still another 35,000 cataract blind in Bali alone. It was obvious this was an ongoing project and getting beyond the scope of Rotary as a sole supporter. So a special committee was set in the Rotary Club of West Perth to establish The John Fawcett Foundation Incorporated. This was achieved in 2000, and enabled
funding to be sought from other sources. Since then, enormous expansion has taken place and while the original location was Bali, expansion has extended to Kalimantan and Lombok, with visits to West Timor, Sumba and Java. These visits to distant islands have been recently facilitated by a cooperative venture with the Indonesian Air Force that transports the vehicles and teams free of charge to these remote destinations. The need is massive. Cataract blindness is the fate of a high percentage of the poor. People are blind because they are poor and remain poor because they are blind. The foundation, with volunteer specialists from Australia, trains its own medical personnel in cataract surgery techniques, designs and builds its own project vehicles, and sources equipment from Australia. A very effective infrastructure has been built up, giving the foundation the potential to help a huge number of people. Ongoing funding for running costs is the only limitation. To run just one full-time mobile clinic program for a year costs around $A120,000. All donations are welcome and are tax deductible in Australia. Rotarians in Bali on holidays are welcome to visit the project firsthand – a truly inspiring experience. For further information please visit www.balieye.org ■
Sydney people attended – again to show their support to Australian Rotary Health and to Rotary generally. We had the opportunity of not only providing a guest speaker Dr Tim Sharp (aka Dr Happy) and a wonderful MC and compere in Murray Hartin, but to showcase our young researchers – seven of whom were interviewed – and the enthusiasm and dedication to their research projects. As for the interviewers, I expect our three Sydney District Governors to be offered a lucrative deal by 60 Minutes! We would like to thank each and every one involved with Australian Rotary Health – especially those young people researching t o p i c s l i k e M e n t a l H e a l t h , C a n c e r, Parkinson’s Disease, Motor Neurone Disease, and many others. These two events made me ponder on the generosity of so many Rotarians – not only in monetary terms but in the time and effort Rotarians put in for Australian Rotary Health. By selling Christmas cards, riding bicycles, donating wine, donating the use of boats, helicopters and aeroplanes, by spending numerous hours attending meetings arranging events and functions, Australian Rotary Health is fortunate to be associated with these very generous Rotarians. Yo u a r e i n d e e d a f i n e b r e e d o f Australians! ■
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05 - 15 May 2012
ESCAPE TO PHUKET
Indulge with a tropical getaway in Phuket post - convention ITINERARY
Inclusions
DAY ONE | 05 MAY 12 Arrive Bangkok. Transfer airport-hotel via private vehicle. DAY TWO - FIVE | 06 - 09 MAY 12 Convention: 2012 Rotary Convention at the Impact Exhibition & Convention Centre. Includes scheduled shuttle service between select hotels and the Convention Centre. (B) DAY SIX | 10 MAY 12 Transfer hotel-airport via private vehicle to fly to Phuket, where you will be met and greeted by a local English speaking guide at the airport. Transfer to your hotel in Karon Beach. This evening you will enjoy a 1 hour Welcome Cocktail Reception at the Katathani Phuket Beach Resort. DAY SEVEN | 11 MAY 12 Enjoy a morning private Phuket Island tour introducing you to the life and beauty of Phuket Island. Visit Phuket town, admire Phuket’s most famous temples. The afternoon sees you partaking in a 4-in-1 Safari where you will travel by four wheel drive from Siam Safari Centre, up into Chalong highlands to Siam Safari Elephant camp and see how young elephants are trained. Go on a short trek on the elephants in the forested mountains and look out over Chalong bay and out to Phi Phi island. Enjoy an cruise in Chalong Bay and enjoy the sunset with some drinks and refreshments. Return to your hotel early evening. (B) DAY EIGHT | 12 MAY 12 Take a full day Phang Nga Sea Canoe tour. Explore true, undisturbed nature; discover sea caves, hongs and tunnels of Koh Panak and Koh Hong. Sit back, relax and enjoy the tranquility of this “lost world”. Visit Lawa island where you can self paddle a canoe, swim or laze on the beach. (B, L) DAY NINE | 13 MAY 12 Explore Phi Phi Island by Speedboat on a full day tour. You will see two of Asia’s most beautiful islands, the larger is Phi Phi Don and the smaller is Phi Phi Ley, where the Hollywood film “The Beach” was filmed. Return to your hotel. (B)
• Return economy class flight on Bangkok Airways – Bangkok/Phuket/Bangkok • Airport taxes and Government fees (subject to change at time of ticketing) • Return private coach transfers as listed in itinerary • 5 nights accommodation at Century Park Hotel in a Superior room • 5 nights accommodation at Katathani Phuket Resort in a Junior Suite • Touring as listed in itinerary with an English speaking guide • Entrance fees to places as mentioned in the itinerary • Meals and beverages as listed in itinerary • 1 Hour Welcome cocktail function as listed in itinerary • Service charges and VAT • Scheduled Convention shuttle transfer services as listed in the itinerary • Services of a Venture Holidays tour leader • Venture Holidays comprehensive travel wallet
Exclusions • International Airfares to and from Bangkok (prices available on request including group airfares for groups of 10 or more) • International airport departure tax ex. Bangkok • Convention Registration, RI-ticketed events or Host-ticketed events • Early Check In and Late Check Out • Meals and beverages other than those specified in the itinerary • Insurance, Passport and Visa fees • Personal expenditure e.g. laundry, gratuities to drivers and guides etc
DAY TEN | 14 MAY 12 Enjoy a day on your own to explore Phuket. In the evening, enjoy a Phuket Fantasea “Las Vegas-style” show with dinner, showcasing the charm and beauty of Thailand. Indulge in a grand buffet of Thai and international cuisine and much more. (B, D) DAY ELEVEN | 15 MAY 12 Depart Phuket. Transfer from hotel to airport via private vehicle. (B)
Land only package# Century Park Hotel (4*) & Katathani Phuket Beach Resort (4.5*) TWIN: from $2300pp SINGLE supplement: from $804pp The above costings have been based on a minimum of 10 adult passengers travelling - if this number is not reached, it will be necessary to recost, which may result in increases to these prices.
#
Flights ex Sydney:
(group fares available for groups of 10 or more)
Singapore Airlines
From $843*pp + taxes
From $4254*pp + taxes
Qantas
From $1092*pp + taxes
From $9939*pp + taxes
*Prices are from & subject to availability at the time of booking. Flights also available ex Adelaide, Melbourne, Brisbane & Perth & New Zealand.
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Issue 535. February 2012
FREE OFFER
The first 20 people to register and pay a deposit for a tour will receive a unique RDU Convention tour shirt & hat or shade Contact Adele for further information AdeleN@VentureHolidays.com.au 08 8238 4591 or 1300 303 343
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ROTARY AUSTRALIA WORLD COMMUNITY SERVICE LTD
How can I, and How can my Club.... Join an approved Overseas Project ? ORLD COMM U AW I L
SERVICE LTD
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Give Clean & Continuous Water supplies?
au w.ra wcs.org.
Protect islanders from, and minimise the death rates due to Malaria. Join a Literacy Program? Teach islanders my vocational skills? Help them to be self sufficient?
Build a Library, a Shack, Home, or a Warehouse? Send money to support a project ? Make a Tax Deductible Gift? Volunteer my services Give medical assistance or supplies? Join a working party and receive a tax deduction? The answers are here... www.rawcs.org.au www.rotarydownunder.org
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Rotary Australia World Community Service Ltd
Opportunities for youth volunteers
This computer laboratory was rebuilt on higher ground after a cyclone destroyed earlier equioment
Our volunteer project teams carry out humanitarian work around the globe. The teams conduct short term exercises, have predetermined and agreed goals, and ensure that projects be sustainable. We are combating poverty, neglect, hunger, water shortages and contamination, poor housing, inadequate medical attention and supplies, disease, discrimination, ignorance and poor reading and comprehension skills. The teams and the communities need ongoing support. We give that too. Here are some approaches which illustrate our philosophy and action. Our mantra can sound like educate, educate, and educate because education holds the key to much of developing countries problems. We send teams to build or restore libraries, and then stock the shelves and furnish computer laboratories. Then we send technicians to make sure they work. We send teams to train the educators. We send teams to help early learners. You can join them or form your own. We send medical teams to attend the impoverished and those at risk: Medical teams need equipment and medical supplies. They need transport, shelter, clean water, consulting rooms, theatres, and out patient care. Our medical teams are volunteers. So are the nursing staff. We also send teams to teach proper early childhood care and support. You don’t necessarily need to be a medical practitioner to find a berth in these teams. Project leaders will advise how you can provide support.
Give needy families a hand up
Homeless children are given education, home and hope
Many locations need water purification, or water catchment and diversion, water storage, wells, and ongoing pumps. Our volunteers often work under arduous humid and rugged conditions. Such is their dedication that many thousands of communities now exist knowing they have regular, reliable, and clean water. Improved quality of life is dependent of such basic needs. We ensure these facilities are sustainable. We encourage self sufficiency: Building piggeries and teaching farm management and animal husbandry techniques is important for subsistence communities. It also provides the opportunity to continue cultural practices and earn a living through growth and export opportunities. We help rebuild where natural disasters such as tsunamis, cyclones, floods have disrupted life. Sometimes this means moving important village infrastructure to higher or safer territory . If you can wield a hammer, a paint brush, a welding iron or bucket, we have a place for you on such a team.
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Rotary Australia World Community Service Ltd We are not small, but the needs are greater than we can satisfy. We need to improve our performance and this should provide you with an opportunity to help. Last year Rotary Australia World Community Service shipped over 200 containers to needy communities in 30 different countries. The value of those items is inestimable. They typically contained dentists chairs, desks, books, clothing, medical supplies, wheel chairs, birthing equipment, computers, which had been collected by clubs around Australia and warehoused at our five large Donations in Kind facilities where they are matched with needs determined and vetted by our system. The cost of shipping these containers was well over AUS$500,000. This means we need your funds too, to send more of these wanted items to their destinations.
Arm broken two years ago
Countries where we gave humanitarian aid include Bangladesh, Cambodia, Cook Islands, Ethiopia, Fiji, Ghana, Kenya, India, Indonesia, Kenya, Madagascar, Malaysia, Mayanmar, Mongolia, Nepal, Papua New Guinea, Peru, Philippines, Samoa, Sierra Leone, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Solomon Islands, Tanzania, Thailand, Tibet, Timor Leste, Tonga, Uganda, Vanuatu, Vietnam, West Timor, Zambia, and Zimbabwe. We offer tax deductibility to those who work or donate to our registered projects • It is important that the work we do is managed, supported, supervised and recorded according to the guidelines set by our corporate directors and the Australian Tax office. Last year we recorded more than 750 volunteers whose work value was A$4.7 million. We welcome Corporate partners and Corporate donations. Many of the RAWCS programs have: • brought clean water to villages • protected thousands against malaria • provided shelter for those left homeless after tragedies • transported medical equipment to remote regions • provided micro-finance to poverty-struck communities • established care homes for the elderly • brought literacy programs to villages • provided AIDS education programs • established vocational education training programs • constructed staff accommodation to bring volunteers and professionals into remote regions needing assistance • helped provide critical post-natal care for mothers and babies • saved unwanted children who are ‘sold’ by parents • assist street children into orphanages where they can have care, shelter and an education • established medical, dental and general health facilities across second and third world countries
After our surgery
Bed nets are shipped by air and sea
Villagers help carry anti malaria nets
Nets are carried over rivers, mountains
“Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has.” - Margaret Mead (1901-1978) www.rotarydownunder.org
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Rotary Australia World Community Service Ltd Contact Details for Information Chairman PDG Lou Johnson chairman@rawcs.com.au secretary@rawcs.com.au Secretary PDG Michael Perkins treasurer@rawcs.com.au Treasurer PP Mike Whitehouse Chairman Northern Region PDG John McLaren Chairman Eastern Region PDG Harry Durey Chairman Southern Region PDG Mani Seneviratne Chairman Central Region PDG Roberta Waterman Chairman Western Region PDG Ron Geary
chair.northern@rawcs.com.au chair.eastern@rawcs.com.au chair.southern@rawcs.com.au chair.central@rawcs.com.au chair.western@rawcs.com.au
Australia Overseas Aid Fund (managed by RAWCS) has Deductible Gift Recipient (DGR) registration and has been listed as a Charitable Fund so we can accept tax deductible donations from individuals, business corporations, and not for profit organisations to support projects outside Australia.
Donate to our Overseas Aid Fund Club or Organisation ............................................................................................................... Postal Address.............................................................................................P/Code................. Email Address.......................................................................................................................... Donation Amount $..................00
Project No. (optional) ..................
Cheques made to Rotary Australia Overseas Aid Fund, Post to RAWCS P.O. Box 3168, Parramatta NSW 2124 Direct Payment to BSB 083 551 Account No 65417 3269 ( National Australia Bank ) Post Tax Deductible receipt to: (Name)..................................................................................
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Address ( if different from above) .....................................................................................................
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Issue 535. February 2012
Head Office: ROTARY AUSTRALIA WORLD COMMUNITY SERVICE LTD 2150 Level 3, 43 Hunter Street, Parramatta NSW 2124 Postal: PO Box 3168, Parramatta NSW 2124 Tel: +61 02 8833 8317 E: info@rawcs.com.au
RYDA
International Service
New boarders flock to Solomon Island College
with Terry Birss Managing Director RYDA Australia
New name – same commitment to saving young lives By any measure, the RYDA Program is a successful road safety education program. Across Australia and New Zealand, more than 50,000 students now attend the Program annually and soon we will celebrate the 250,000th student. What a great achievement! Research is showing that communities are seeking consistent sequential road safety education in schools, not just a one day program. As a consequence to meet this need our Company is currently
Team members (L-R) Tony Chant, Wayne Stanton, Ron Day and Don Bridgewater from the Rotary Club of Aspley, Qld, and College Principal Dexter Lilo outside the completed poultry farm at Goldie College on Mbanga Island, Solomon Islands.
developing a suite of programs consistent with Health Promoting Schools principles. As part of this suite of programs the RY DA Pr o g r a m b e c o m e s p a r t o f a
The Rotary Club of Aspley, Qld, has just completed a very ambitious project to support better nutrition at Goldie College on Mbanga Island in Western Solomon Islands. The college has approximately 500 boarding secondary school students whose staple diet is rice supplemented by fish (when available) and local vegetables and fruit. Three years ago, the Aspley Rotary Club erected a prefabricated classroom block at the college, which was supplied by UNICEF, following the earthquake and tsunami that hit the area in 2007/08 and badly damaged the college. At that time the local teachers asked if Rotary could help set up a poultry farm at the college. The club accepted the challenge of ensuring such a scheme would be viable, seeking finance and obtaining materials to undertake the project. To finance the project the club applied for and obtained a grant of $17,500 from The Rotary Foundation in America; $10,000 from their own Rotary District 9600; and $7500 from the committee in charge of funds from the collection boxes at the international airport, which was matched by $7500 from the club’s own funds. In February 2011, two club members went to the college to check on the site for the project, to evaluate whether to buy materials locally or from Australia, and how to coordinate activities so that
all materials would be on site when the building team arrived. Because of the remoteness of the island and the difficulties of communications, it was decided to purchase materials in Brisbane and ship them by container to Noro, a port some 24km from the college. The materials would then be taken by barge to the college. Preparations were finalised in October and all the materials were ordered and packed in a container and shipped to Noro. As well as purchasing materials, the club was generously supported by a number of local businesses in Brisbane that provided assistance in various ways with essential items. The club’s project team left for the Solomon Islands on November 6 and returned on November 17. Ranging in age from 56-77, the six men pushed their endurance to the limit during their stay on the island, with two of them ending up in hospital on their return with tropical infections. However, all drew quiet satisfaction from the project. The team fabricated a building 22 x 4 metres to house up to 300 laying hens. Initially the club will purchase 200 day old chicks from Honiara and provide all necessary food until the project is selfsustaining, at which time more chickens can be sold to bring the project into full production. ■
broader, sequential learning program for high school students; not just a one day program. This will result in better educational outcomes for students as we work together to build a road safe community. Consistent with these developments and with professional input, RYDA Australia Limited is being rebranded to Road Safety Education Limited. The original RYDA Program will be joined by a range of new program initiatives operating under our new company name. Whilst we are changing our name we are not changing the way we do business nor our commitment to help saving young lives.
Road Safety Education Limited will
continue to work closely with Rotarians to make RYDA available to senior high school students across Australia and New Zealand. ■
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Issue 536. February 2012
This Rotary World
Bart reaps the RDU survey rewards
The Chairman of Rotary Down Under, Past Governor Des Lawson, presents $2000 worth of shopping vouchers to the winner of the draw from our 2011 Readership Survey, Past Governor Bart Richardson, of the Rotary Club of Nelson Bay, NSW.
E-Club No 1 in Australia E-Clubs are set to play a big part in the future of Rotary around the world, but they’re not exactly new. Rotary E-Club One will celebrate its 10th anniversary this year in Colorado, USA – an issue we’ll explore more in our April edition. But E-Clubs are still relatively new in other parts of the Rotary world, including Australia. So new, in fact, that Australia’s
You’ve got to be in it to win it – just ask Past District Governor Bart Richardson, of the Rotary Club of Nelson Bay, NSW. PDG Bart, who governed District 9670 in 1986-87, was one of more than 1800 respondents to the recent Rotary Down Under Readership Survey who answered the question about the identity of the current Rotary International President Kalyan Banerjee. For his trouble he was rewarded with $2000 worth of shopping vouchers from a leading retail chain. Chairman of Rotary Down Under, PDG Des Lawson visited PDG Bart at his home in Nelson Bay. “I was thrilled to be told I’d won the prize, particularly as it came so close to Christmas,” he told Rotary Down Under. “It was a pleasant surprise and I know the family will appreciate the little bit of extra support at Christmas time.” As a 60-year devotee of Legacy (an organisation that cares for the widows and families of deceased Australian servicemen and women) PDG Bart was delighted to have the extra resources to also assist several needy families. ■
New cycling classic Cyclists on Sydney’s north shore have been invited to sign up for a new 100km ride taking place next month. The inaugural Bobbin Head Cycle Classic is planned for March 25. As well as the 100km ride aimed at serious cyclists, there will be a 50km ride and a 15km cycle for families. The charity event is the brainchild of the Rotary clubs of Ku-ring-gai and Turramurra, NSW. Rotarian Linda Lam-Rohlfs said the clubs hoped to replicate the success of the
annual Sydney to Wollongong ride. “It is not a competition, it is a familyorientated, community event,” she said. “We want people to raise money for Lifeline and a children’s hospital that Rotary is building in Sierra Leone.” ABC weather presenter Graham Creed is the special guest and will ride the 100km event. For more information go to www.bobbinheadcycle classic.com.au ■
first E-Club was chartered on October 14. The Rotary E-Club of Greater Sydney was chartered with 29 members – 19 of them new to Rotary and six former Rotarians returning to service – under the Presidency of Past District Governor Tony Castley, who transferred from the Rotary Club of Epping, NSW. “The new E-Club is already functioning like any other club, except that we meet online,” President Tony said. The E-Club is open to visitors looking to do a makeup, which can be done by visiting www.rotary-eclub-greatersydney. org. Your club secretary will automatically receive a make-up card by email. ■
Ray K for Breakfast! Rotary International Director Stuart Heal has advised that RI Immediate Past President Ray Klinginsmith will be guest speaker at the popular ‘Down Under’ Convention Breakfast in Bangkok. PDG Ian Holyoake (ianholyoake@ xtra.co.nz) of Napier, NZ, will coordinate the event and has booked the Jamjuree Ballroom at the Pathumwan Princess Hotel. The breakfast usually attracts 250 to 300 enthusiastic Kiwis and Aussies
and is a perfect way to begin official Convention activities. It is scheduled for 6.45am for 7am on May 6 – the day of the opening ceremony. At just $A30, it’s great value. Convention goers will be able to book on line from February 1. Click on rotarydownunder.com.au/events/ downunderbreakfastbangkok Further details will be available in the March issue of Rotary Down Under. ■
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This Rotary World
Dan and Bill touch base Bill Gates Jr has spent much of the latter part of his life urging those who could – like governments and those individuals and companies that can afford it – to dig deeper to help eradicate polio and other diseases. So it was fitting that during the Rotary International Convention in New Orleans in May Australian Rotarian Dan Holzapfel, of the Rotary Club of Cleveland, Qld, was invited with his sister, Una, to meet Mr Gates and other Rotary leaders. Rotarian Dan – whose family is Australia’s leading donor to The Rotary Foundation – was asked to share his reasons for supporting polio eradication financially and also his experiences in the field at National Immunisation Days. Dan’s commitment to polio eradication led to his family donating vaccine carriers for the whole of Pakistan and Afghanistan and helped produce the documentary, True Stories, for Pakistan TV, carrying messages from Polio sufferers to communicate the need to vaccinate children. Dan has also been instrumental in buying vital equipment for the Regional Reference Laboratory in Islamabad, Pakistan. ■
The dive instructors and Woolgoolga Rotarians with the District 9650 Youth Exchange Students. Now there’s a picture you don’t see every day in a Rotary magazine!
An underwater experience They’re big fans of Rotary Youth Exchange in District 9650 and for the past 14 years Woolgoolga Rotary Club in NSW has arranged for students it hosts to undertake a week-long scuba diving course in the Solitary Islands Marine Park. It is a great week for the students, a thoroughly Australian experience and at the end of it, if they pass their diving test and written exam, they qualify to dive to 18m anywhere in the world – a skill they can take with them for the rest of their lives. Woolgoolga Rotary Club has two ex-navy divers as members and a first class dive school nearby in Mullaway. The students are billeted in pairs with Rotarian families throughout the week, attend the weekly Rotary meeting and a club barbecue and get to see a little bit of Woolgoolga if time permits. With highly qualified diving instructors and Rotarian supervision the students have a safe and exciting experience that most describe simply as “the best”. All the exchange students qualified for their SS1 Open Water Diving Certificate level one at the end of the week and returned to their host clubs as qualified divers. ■
Hazel honoured
In Brief Teaching in Nepal: The Rotary Club of Woodend, Vic, has used a Rotary Foundation District Grant for teacher training in the village of Paudwar in Western Nepal, where a 2001 census showed that 20 per cent of school leavers were illiterate. For more information go to the club’s website at www.rotarywoodend.org.au or www.nepalaid.org.au ■
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Issue 536. February 2012
The Rotary Club of Noble Park, Vic, recognised honorar y member Hazel Wickenton with a Paul Harris Sapphire Pin at a recent Foundation Dinner. PDG John Glenn, of the Rotary Club of Dingley Village, Vic, made the rather emotional presentation before an audience that included the Wickenton family. Special messages
Computers for Samoan students: New Zealand’s Rotary Club of Katikati has followed its donation of 20 computers and two printers to the Rotary Club of Apia, Samoa for use at the Vaipouli College on Savaii Island, with another shipment of computers and printers for 12 schools, the largest of which had 1200 students. The shipment enabled 6000 students to participate in computer studies. ■
from Kofu and Osaka in Japan and from Deidre Anderson Deputy Vice Chancellor of Sydney’s Macquarie University were also received. Anne Dekretser, the club’s first youth exchange student to Kofu Japan, was responsible for these arrangements with help from Past President Keith Maxwell. ■
Sapphire Night: The Rotary Club of Geelong East, Vic, has given more than $152,000 to The Rotary Foundation over 42 years. Most members are Paul Harris Fellows, and 11 gained Sapphire status at a recent Sapphire Night. Three others added to their collection of Sapphires, while two new PHFs were recognised. ■
Notices
Called to Higher Service PDG Robert Young OAM District 9650
PDG Kenneth Nall OAM District 9780
Bob became a Rotarian in Griffith in 1969 and on transfer to Taree, NSW, joined the Rotary Club of Taree in 1973. He served on the Board of Directors and was club President in 1980/81. As an Officer of Rotary International, Bob served as Governor of District 9650 in 1984/85. It was during Bob’s term as Governor that he saw the now highly successful Bowelscan Program, which he subsequently introduced as a District 9650 project. Bob’s late wife Pat produced a cookbook that was an outstanding success, with sales throughout Australia, New Zealand and beyond providing much needed funds for the then fledgling Australian Rotary Health Research Fund. Several Past Presidents of Rotary International contributed to the cookbook. In 1982 Bob was named a Paul Harris Fellow of The Rotary Foundation and in 1997 was presented with a Sapphire Pin. In 1998 he was awarded the very prestigious Service Above Self Award. As well as his interest in local projects, Bob was heavily involved in the international service activities of Rotary. In 1977 Bob made his first trip overseas as a Rotary volunteer under the Rotary Australia World Community Service Fourth Avenue in Motion program. He went to help build a hospital in Onamuga, PNG, on what was to be the first of over 40 trips to PNG as a Rotary volunteer.
PDG Ken Nall, who died in March, 2011, was a distinguished Rotarian, businessman, and citizen of Geelong, Vic. Ken died after a long battle with kidney disease, which had necessitated years of regular dialysis. In spite of these problems, Ken remained interested in all club activities and regularly attended meetings until shortly before his death. A Rotarian since 1956, Ken was elected President in 1970-71, and served District 9780 as Governor in 1985-86. Throughout his membership he served Rotary with commitment and distinction. Ken was a member of the original Australian PolioPlus committee and was a generous supporter of The Rotary Foundation and left it a considerable legacy in his Will. He was recognised as a Paul Harris Fellow, and received the Avenues of Service citation. He was active in many G eelong organisations and a valued servant of numerous charities. The considerable support for local welfare projects by the Percy Baxter Trust was influenced by Ken’s membership of its Board. Ken was also a member of the Council of his school, Geelong College, and Melbourne University’s Queens College Council for many years. He was awarded the Order of Australia medal in 2005.
PDG Bob Reeder District 292 Past District Governor Bob Reeder recently died at the age of 95. The large attendance at his funeral was testimony to the respect in which he was held by the community. He had served with distinction in many organisations. Bob was Governor of District 292 in 1972-1973. The District split into Districts 9910 and 9920 in 1983. It took Bob and Eleanor a full year to visit all the clubs in New Zealand and the South Pacific Islands. He was an enthusiastic and popular Rotarian held in high regard throughout the District. A member of the Rotary Club of Milford, he was honoured with life membership of the club and is sadly missed.
Paul Harris Fellows Jack Cooper and John Dawe, (double Sapphire Pins), of the Rotary Club of Mordialloc, Vic. Joan Barritt (Sapphire Pin), of the Rotary Club of Armadale, Vic. Margie Campbell-Price, of the Rotary Club of Dunedin East, NZ. Roy Carter, of the Rotary Club of Timaru North, NZ. John Cornaga (Sapphire Pin) of the Rotary Club of St Johns, Auckland, presented by District 9920, NZ. Stuart Laing (Sapphire Pin) and John Foley, of the Rotary Club of Waimate, NZ. Daphne Cotton, of the Rotary Club of Albany East, WA. Tim Brooker, of the Rotary Club of Hamilton East, NZ. Walter Drummond (posthumous), of the Rotary Club of Hamilton, Vic.
Russell Eccleston, OAM, PHF, of the Rotary Club of Blackwood, SA. John Hannah, Honorary Secretary of the New Zealand branch of the International Fellowship of Cricketing Rotarians. Past President Graham Duesbury, PHF, a member of the Rotary Club of Goulburn Mulwaree, NSW, for 38 years. Russ Garcia, QSM, of the Rotary Club of Kerikeri, NZ. Past President Laurie Worsnop, PHF, of the Rotary Club of Dandenong Central, Vic. Past President Bob Swanson, PHF, of the Rotary Club of Brighton, SA. Past President John Hepworth, OBE, of the Rotary Club of Melbourne, Vic. Jack McRae, PHF, a member of the Rotary Club of Ballarat, Vic, for 46 years. ■
Greg Hale (fifth Sapphire plus three Ruby Pins), Keith Hallett (third Sapphire Pin), Murray Roach (second Sapphire Pin), Danny Marr (Sapphire Pin), Ron Jackson, Doug Chetwynd, Harry Fawns, Raewyn Roach, and Rod Tunstall, of the Rotary Club of Nambour, Qld. Mark Martin and Brenton Oates, of the Rotary Club of Magill Sunrise, SA. Terry Castlehow (Sapphire Pin), Lisa Scanlon, Alan Hardy and June Hardy, of the Rotary Club of Albany Port, WA. Franz Huber (Sapphire Pin), and Mario Fairlie, of the Rotary Club of Surfers Sunrise, Qld. Heather Barton, AM, of the Rotary Club of Melbourne, Vic. ■
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smiles
A positive spin on old age A group of seniors were sitting around talking about all their ailments. “My arms have gotten so weak I can hardly lift this cup of coffee,” said one. “I know,” said another. “My cataracts are so bad; I can’t even see my coffee.” “I couldn’t even mark an “X” at election time, my hands are so crippled,” volunteered a third. “What? Speak up! I can’t hear you!” “I can’t turn my head because of the arthritis in my neck,” said a fourth, to which several nodded weakly
in agreement. “My blood pressure pills make me so dizzy!” exclaimed another. “I forget where I am, and where I’m going,” said another. “I guess that’s the price we pay for getting old,” winced an old man as he slowly shook his head. The others nodded in agreement. “Well, count your blessings,” said a woman cheerfully. “Thank God we can all still drive.” Rotary Club of Wauchope, NSW ■
Size does matter Adam, an elderly man, was seated in the doctor’s waiting room. When he was called in to see the doctor, Adam slowly got up, and, grasping his cane and hunching over, slowly made his way into the examining room. After only a few minutes, Adam e me rge d f rom t h e ro om , w a l k i ng completely upright. Paul, another patient who had watched him hobble into the room all hunched over,
stared in amazement. “That must be a miracle doctor in there!” he exclaimed. “What treatment did he give you? What’s his secret?” Adam stared at Paul and said, “Well, the doctor looked me up and down, analysed the situation, and gave me a cane that was four inches longer than the one I had been using.” Rotary Club of Newcastle, NSW ■
The next morning, the man woke up, only to discover it was 9:00am and he had missed his flight. Furious, he was about to go and see why his wife hadn’t wakened him, when he noticed a piece of paper by the bed. The paper said, ‘It is 5:00am. Wake up.’ Men are not equipped for these kinds of contests. Rotary Club of Warkworth, NZ ■
The secret to good health When you drink vodka over ice, it can give you kidney failure. When you drink rum over ice, it can give you liver failure. When you drink whiskey over ice, it can
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Issue 536. February 2012
Rotary The Object of Rotary is to encourage and foster the ideal of service as a basis of worthy enterprise and, in particular, to encourage and foster:
1 2
3
Battle of the sexes A man and his wife were having some problems at home and were giving each other the silent treatment. Suddenly, the man realised that the next day, he would need his wife to wake him at 5:00am for an early morning business flight. Not wanting to be the first to break the silence (and LOSE), he wrote on a piece of paper, ‘Please wake me at 5:00am.’ He left it where he knew she would find it.
Object of
give you heart problems. When you drink gin over ice, it can give you brain problems. Apparently, ice is really bad for you. Rotary Club of Great Lakes, NSW ■
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The development of acquaintance as an opportunity for service; High ethical standards in business and professions; the recognition of the worthiness of all useful occupations; and the dignifying of each Rotarian’s occupation as an opportunity to serve society; The application of the ideal of service in each Rotarian’s personal, business and community life; The advancement of international understanding, goodwill and peace through a world fellowship of business and professional persons united in the ideal of service.
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Issue 536. February 2012