Current Activity
We are reminded that cases of Polio have been identfied in Gaza due to the living condition of those in the region.
Rotary has been working to eradicate polio for more than 35 years. Our goal of ridding the world of this disease is closer than ever.
As a founding partner of the Global Polio Eradication Initiative, we've reduced polio cases by 99.9 percent since our first project to vaccinate children in the Philippines in 1979.
Rotary members have contributed more than $2.1 billion and countless volunteer hours to protect nearly 3 billion children in 122 countries from this paralyzing disease. Rotary’s advocacy efforts have played a role in decisions by governments to contribute more than $10 billion to the effort.
Today, polio remains endemic only in Afghanistan and Pakistan. But it’s crucial to continue working to keep other countries polio-free. If all eradication efforts stopped today, within 10 years, polio could paralyze as many as 200,000 children each year.
Highlights 2023-2024
Committee Chair: PP PHF Tina McInerney
Team: Andrew McAllister, PP PHF Lorna Shaw, PP PHF Russell Marnock, PP PHF Ian Wakefield, Neil Umesh, Sheeba Umesh
International is an interesting Rotary Portfolio, since we do see the results of our efforts, and there is always so much more that we could do in the world if we had the money to spend. However, we try hard to make our dollars count.
END POLIO
We annually contribute to the End Polio Campaign, and for the last few years, our clubs donation of (AUD1,500), had added to it, RI World Fund (USD500) and (USD $5000 from the Gates Foundation. So our initial sum of $1,500 when grossed up ended up contributing $US7,500 (=A$10,710) to this iconic Rotary International project.
AUSTRALIAN HIMALAYA FOUNDATION
Every year since 2010 when our esteemed Rotarian Alfred (Greg) Gregory) passed, the Rotary Club of Emerald have made a donation $1000 to the Australian Himalaya Foundation in his honour. Greg was a member of the 1953 British Mount Everest Expedition that made the first ascent of Mount Everest – he was in charge of the stills photography. This year the money sent went to train teachers to provide education for children in the Solu Khumbu Valley region. Greg’s wife Sue Gregory reports to the club each year and has kept us up o date with AHF activities.
TENDERFOOT SCHOOL
Tender Foot Self Help School Student Sponsorship Project, Kangemi Slum, Nairobi, Kenya
The Rotary Club of Emerald and District has been associated with the Tenderfoot Self Help school since it began with 8 street children being fed, clothed and taught in a corrugated iron shack.
Together with Rotary clubs around the world the school has grown and flourished into an outstanding local school with over 400 students.
Our club sponsors 3 students each year, but this year when we talked about what the school does, the members of the club contributed enough to sponsor one more child, making the total 4 children. This money provides sponsorship of Nursery and Primary Education to 8th grade, consisting of food, clothing home skills and love too needy children. We are very proud to be a part of this wonderful project.
SPENDIT WELL. – TIMOR LESTE
Over the past year or so, the Rotary Club of Emerald have supported an organization called Spendit well. This organization works to support children in Timor Leste by building school and toilets and organizing the donation of school furniture and play equipment. This year once again we will be donating $500 to supporting this worthwhile project.
RAMS – ROTARIANS AGAINST MALARIA
Malaria continues to be a massive problem in the poorer nations resulting in poverty and poor education. The World Health Organization estimates that 210 million cases cause 445,000 deaths annually, mainly affecting under five-year-olds. In East Timor, the scourge has almost been eliminated, but in neighbouring West Timor it is rife, and people have been fleeing to East Timor for treatment. The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation has prepared a plan to eradicate the disease by 2040. Gloria Hargreaves has worked tirelessly with RAM for many years. Our Club is proud to be able to support this this wonderful project.
HAMLIN FOUNDATION
Last month Honorary Rotarian Peter Hadwin, passed away after a long illness. Peter was a much-loved Rotarian -in the Rotary Tribute at his Funeral Ian Ash wrote:
Peter is most remembered for his amazing work in the international space. He was the International Chair in 2019-2020 and worked 2 days per week for Disaster Aid Australia raising funds and getting grants for them, so much so that they gave him his own office. As head of the International Committee, he championed financing of Sky Hydrant (an innovative water filtration device) for projects in South-East Asia and became a recognized authority for this at District level.
Peter was a highly intelligent man always willing to share his knowledge, expertise and even his own books with others and had a great ability to explain complex things in layman's terms. He was also one of those rare individuals who was not only wise, but he also possessed a keen sense of humour.
We were really saddened at his passing and when his family requested that in lieu of flowers we give a donation to the Hamlin Fistula Society, we agreed it would be a wonderful way to support a project that he was passionate about. Vale Peter Hadwen.
SPECIAL PROJECT – VANUATU
In June of last year District 9810 was looking for a club to be involved in a very special project providing a village in a low-lying area of Vanuatu with Sanitation. The brief was that we would be working with Engineers without Borders – EWB – who would oversee building the sanitation area, toilets and hand washing for one Village, and would promote public health in non-emergency times in the aftermath of disasters.
Two other Rotary clubs had offered to be involved, Maroondah and Oakleigh/Clayton/Huntingdale- but they needed a lead club, and Emerald and District agreed to be that club.
A grant was provided by the district and EWB had agreed to put in $7000. This project is in the process of being implemented. We look forward to its completion, sometime in the new Rotary Year.
I would like to thank the team for their support in International, especially Andrew McAllister, whose expert advice guided us through the Vanuatu Project.
