We welcomed Karen Black and Julia to our meeting from Ranges Aid.  We also welcomed Andy and Frances Kelly from the RC of Rothesay in the Isle of Bute as guests of PP PHF Russell Marnock.  It was nice to see Marjolein at the meeting with them too.  Kaye Livermore from the Emerald Kiwi Farm as a guest of Pres. Catherine.

 

PP PHF Tina McInerney and PP PHF Kris Ash provided a brief report on Bailey's Day - they attended the lunch that raised $227k on Tuesday helping Peter Downie and the team of researchers at the Monash Children's Cancer Centre in their fight against childhood cancer.  Each week in Victoria 5 children are diagnosed so the team are very busy and working hard to enable some of their patients to go home over the Christmas period.    Patrick Tessier who has been the MC at the KFRWT for many years established and still organises the fundraiser which has raised over $3m in the 16 years it has been running since the passing of his son, Bailey at the age of 2.

 

Susi mentioned our role at Carols by the Lake, selling lollies.  Let her know if you can help out on Friday 13th.

 

Susi also reported on Christmas at the Glades with Father Christmas, the Emerald Primary School Choir and Shalini with Onslow (who is always well patted and loved by the residents).

 

Karen Black of Ranges Aid spoke to us about Grandmothers to Grandmothers arm of the Stephen Lewis Foundation.  https://www.stephenlewisfoundation.org/

 

The local group was formed in 2014 but internationally started in Canada in 2006 when Norma Geddie decided to assist grandmothers looking after their grandchildren in Africa having lost a generation to Aids.

 

Funding provides grassroots support and also grows awareness, solidarity and raises funds.

 

There can be 10-15 children in one household with grandmothers working hard to maintain family cohesion and to ensure children are educated. 

 

The local group started with 6 members and it has now grown to 12 and is welcoming to all those wishing to become involved.

 

The book 28 Stories of Aids was recommended as a good way to understand the issues facing families in Africa.

 

 

 

Rotarians Against Malaria (RAM)has supported Timor Leste since 2006.  The Timor Leste Government’s National Malaria Program with RAM’s assistance has achieved remarkable results. There has been no indigenous Malaria cases for the last 3 years and it is striving to qualify for WHO malaria elimination certification by the end of 2020.

 

A possible stumbling block to this objective is the fact that in 2017 malaria was endemic  in most parts of the 3 Districts in West Timor (Indonesia) that share a border with Timor Leste.

At the Annual RAM Conference in 2018 we initiated never before undertaken dialogue on cross -border collaboration between delegates from West Timor and Timor Leste. A couple of months later a Proposal was submitted to RAM that highlighted the  many needs for malaria elimination  on the Indonesian side of the border.

 

Accelerating malaria elimination in the 3 border districts will have flow on effects that will benefit both West Timor and especially Timor Leste as it strives to reach its objective.

Early next year RAM will lead a small team of volunteers to conduct a Community Assessment in the border areas of West Timor. The objective is to identify where support is needed. Importantly the Community Assessment’s findings and data will be used to develop a Rotary Global Grant application which will help fund what needs to be initiated.

 

National Manager Jenny Kerrison and her club (the RC of Hobart North) has been successful in obtaining a Rotary District Grant of $2,000 that will fund the team’s trip to West Timor. It is a matching Grant and Jenny’s Club has contributed $1,000 but needs to raise the other $1,000. At the last board meeting our club agreed to contribute $500 to assist with this very worthwhile project.

 

As well as my grateful thanks,  I would like to pass on Jenny’s sincere appreciation to our Club for our contribution.

 

Gloria

Thank you to Aneesh and Sangeeta, Roy and Ali for kindly offering to organise the Burnt Chops after Christmas.  They are very well organised with very different invitation styles!!  Please respond as soon as you can so they can get planning as it a busy time of year for us all.

 

 

 

Please respond as soon as you can to the invitation!!

 

 

 

 

District Conference is looming and will be held in Echuca/Moama 21 - 22 March. Tickets can be purchased NOW at www.9810rotaryconference.org.au  Please contact PP Ian Ash if you need details about accommodation and planning in general.

 

PLEASE LET IAN KNOW IF YOU HAVE TOLD HIM YOU ARE ATTENDING!!