President's Report
We are already two months into the Rotary Year and I’m very pleased to report that we have three projects well underway.
Two projects were started last year, and had the groundwork laid ready to take action now.
The Gaskin Gardens Project where we are partnering with Co-health to rejuvenate and install raised garden beds for the elderly occupants. We’ve begun with an art class teaching the residents how to do mosaics. The aim was to help the group to connect with each other to help help in the beautification of the area. This project will continue throughout this year and most likely into next year as well. Congratulations to Nada for her efforts in getting this project underway.
The next project that goes into action is the tree planting at the Doug Mills Reserve. This will happen at 9:30am on Friday September 2nd from 9:30 until around 11:00am.. We are partnering with students from Footscray City Secondary College and Maribyrnong Council to revitalise this area of Footscray Park. If you would like to join the students and fellow Rotarians in planting trees, please contact Fred. You do not need to bring any tools.
School Project. We are going to help two small schools in Timor Leste in partnership with Kensington Primary, providing basic stationery items to Uaime Elementary School with 50 students and Bahanao Elementary School with 30 students. The Young Leaders at Kensington Primary School, pictured below with school principal, Bridget McLoughlin, are going to hold a fundraiser and then purchase supplies. They will make up individual packs for each of the students in the two school. DIK has a container going to Timor Leste in October and we are aiming to have the supplies on that shipment.
Our Thursday night meetings have showcased the great contributions of two of our members to Rotary and to international communities.
Carol Castano was our speaker on the 4th of August and she spoke about her craft group that has been going for many years. This group has raised thousands of dollars for polio eradication. The craft group was involved in the bush fire recovery in the Marysville area. They went to Marysville and provided the women in this area with the opportunity to come together and take part in craft activities that would take their minds off the devastation and their losses and give them a brief respite.
Paul Harris Recognition. Jama Farah was a awarded a Paul Harris Fellow Sapphire for his continued support of overseas communities. He was able to raise enough money through crowd funding, to send three containers of much needed supplies such as kidney dialysis machines and wheelchairs. This was an amazing effort as the cost of a container had jumped from $3000 to $7000. Congratulations Jama – well deserved. See citation later in Bulletin.
Josh Tamener was our guest speaker for our meeting on the 18thAugust. Josh is Assistant Principal at Parkville in the Youth Justice System (previously known as Turana).
Working With Children cards – it’s now time to take out your WWC cards and check that they are still current. Once you have an up to date card can you please send a photo of your card to Carol Castano who is our Protection Officer.
I look forward to seeing you at this week’s meeting when Kushal Khan will be our speaker.
Maria