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The Rotary Club of Richmond Meeting 1966 16th April 2007 Page 1
ShelterBoxes: Rotary’s rapid response tool. A ShelterBox provides a large tent, sleeping bags, a cooker, warmth and shelter
for ten people … in a box! It is a transportable unit that provides quick
emergency accommodation for people made homeless in a disaster. DG Bernie
Walshe has called for District 9800 clubs to supply ShelterBoxes to the Solomon
Islands as our contribution to the international relief effort following the tsunami
last month. (See page 7). President Janice is raising this for discussion at
tonight’s board meeting.
To date, 19 clubs in D9800 have donated a total of 79 boxes.
The cost of a ShelterBox is UK£490 and all items are obtained at less than trade
prices. Every ShelterBox is individually numbered and the donor’s name appears
within the box and also on the
ShelterBox Trust website with its final destination.
There is a downloadable brochure and a large range of pictures of the
ShelterBox in use at:
http://www.shelterbox.org
Boxing Day
Tsunami relief
from Oxfam
Liberia
Hurricane Katrina
Uganda
The Rotary Club of Richmond Meeting 1966 16th April 2007 Page 2
The President’s MessageI hope everyone has benefited from the
Easter break. I certainly have, and
enjoyed catching up with
family and friends, and even reading a book.
The tsunami in the
Solomon Islands is most
upsetting, and I wonder if we should send a Shelter
Box to help them, or if we
can help in some other
way. We will discuss this
at the Board Meeting
before the Club Meeting
on Monday.
This week I have met with
Jean Marc Berthier to talk
of projects to be
considered to commence
soon and carry on next
Rotary Year.
I will be collecting final names and
money for the meeting on Monday
evening 30th April arranged by the
Rotary Club of Kew to hear Gemma
Sissia speak about St
Jude’s School in Tanzania at the South Yarra tennis
club. Those of us who
heard her speak at our
conference in Hobart are looking forward to hearing
this inspirational young
girl again. Please note
there will not be our usual
lunch time meeting on
that day. Rotarians who
are not able to attend this
evening are able to do a
“make up” at another club
during this week.
Please note also that the
Ainger Award Evening is
an extra evening meeting on 14th May.
Cheers, Janice
Last Meeting Attendance Attendance for Monday 2nd April: Apologies: Mark Dwyer, Neale Jackson, John Nairn, John Benger
Guests: Nellya Lode, Doreen Schofield, Jenny List, Maureen Pang, Annie Wysham,
Sue Roberts, Flora Lee.
Guest of the Club: Ian McIntyre
Make-ups: Tim Baker, Nia Holdenson, Jo Cowling, Mark Fowler, Warren Golding,
Neale Jackson, Janice Kesterton, John Liddell, Aivars Lode, Colin Looker, Robert Mactier, Simon Marriott, Gavin Martin, Judy Nettleton, Barry Roberts, Tony Webb,
Sue Bolton. (Mock Job Interviews)
Janice Kesterton, Brian List, Jean Marc Berthier (Donations in Kind loading)
Judy Nettleton, John Nairn (District Leadership Team)
Rob Mactier (GSE Bendigo)
“There's no trick to being a humourist when you have the whole government
working for you.” Will Rogers (1879 - 1935) US humourist & showman
The Rotary Club of Richmond Meeting 1966 16th April 2007 Page 3
Rwandan scholar blazes a new trail By Dan Nixon, Rotary International News , Photo courtesy of Alexandre Ngamije. 4 April 2007.
Alexandre Ngamije broke new ground
for himself and Rotarians alike when he
arrived in Rockford, Illinois, USA, as a
Rotary Foundation Ambassadorial
Scholar from Rwanda in August 2006.
"When I came to the U.S., I had my
own culture," says Ngamije, age 31,
who is in a two-year
master's program in
business
administration at
Rockford College.
"Then I gained a new
culture. In Africa, we
don't have development as it is
here. [In the U.S.] I
see many paved
roads, tall buildings, and how people
behave in a different
culture."
Ngamije's first time
outside Africa also marked a first for his
host District 6420.
"We are excited to receive our first
Ambassadorial Scholar in 15 years and
the first one from an underdeveloped
country," says Elise Cadigan, of the
Rotary Club of Rockford. "Alex arrived
with two small suitcases, little cash, and
incredible determination to work hard,
[and] better himself and his family."
"Rockford Rotarians have come
together to provide him with everything
else he needs," says District 6420
public relations chair Brian Adams.
"Rotarians helped him obtain clothing, a
computer, and other personal items."
Ngamije was born in the Democratic
Republic of Congo and moved to
Rwanda, his parents' homeland, in
1994 after the genocide had ended.
While working there for a
nongovernmental organization, he
served as an interpreter for Bob
Cerwin, of the Rotary Club of Asheville,
North Carolina, USA. Cerwin told him
about the Ambassadorial Scholarship
program.
"My dream was to
continue my
education but I did not have the
means," says
Ngamije, whose wife
and 16-month-old
son live in Rwanda.
"I was extremely
happy when my scholarship was
approved. The
Rotary scholarship is
very good, because
wherever you go you
are a member of the
Rotary family.
Ngamije, who was raised speaking
French, has also been intensively
studying English. "When I came to the
U.S., English was my fourth language,"
he says. "Now it is the first one I
speak."
Once Ngamije felt comfortable enough
with English, he began making
presentations to Rotary clubs. In January and February alone, he spoke
to seven clubs.
Ngamije has discovered, however, that
people generally have a one-
dimensional view of his homeland.
(cont page 6)
The Rotary Club of Richmond Meeting 1966 16th April 2007 Page 4
Club News Friends of RC
of Richmond:
Open Invitation to all Rotarians
and Friends. A DATE FOR YOUR DIARIES. Come
along to a Luncheon at Parliament House on Thursday July 12 at 12.30pm. Two courses for $25, including a tour of
Parliament House at 11 am. Please reply to Maureen Pang: Bus. Hrs. 9388 0555 or 9388 2086 or by email to maureen.pang@hisa.org.au. Proceeds
to ROCAN Ova-rian Cancer Research.
RRC Trivia Night Saturday May 12th at Richmond Town Hall. Full details to
come. Everyone is encouraged to make up a table of 10. It will be a night of laughs and good fellowship. Welcome to new Rotarian Ian
McIntyre, inducted on 2nd April. Ian is a retired paediatric surgeon.
Big Band Night at the Austrian
Club. The Fellowship Committee is holding a Big Band Night at the Austrian Club on Saturday 21st April, starting at 8.00pm. Dinner is available
(if required) from 7.00pm. Drinks at bar prices. Entertainment once again
by the JW Swing Orchestra. Admission
$17.00.
This is a great night & we would love to
see as many as possible. There is only a limited number of seats
still available as the popularity of this night
continues.
Venue: The Austrian Club. 76-90 Sheehans
Road, Heidelberg West. Please advise Mike
O’Sullivan urgently by email if you are coming:
michael@mbsofficenational.com.au
Club Projects. There was a Board Meeting before tonight’s meeting. Watch the Bulletin next week for
highlights of current projects.
Honestly…
A young man, hired by a supermarket chain, reported for his first day of work. The manager greeted him with a warm handshake and a smile, gave him a broom and
said, "your first job will be to sweep out the store."
"But I'm a university graduate," the young man replied indignantly.
"Oh, I'm sorry. I didn't know that," said the manager. "Here, give me the broom, I'll show you how."
Last week’s speaker (cont from p5)
It is the kinder committee’s ambition to become a leader in
linking to the community in the city of Yarra. They want to work in up-
skilling the local community and Kirsty said that rather than asking for a fridge or more fantastic joinery from us, she would like to have RRC
support them with this idea of bridging into the local community. Can RRC help them skill up and pass these skills on? A good question: Can we?
The Rotary Club of Richmond Meeting 1966 16th April 2007 Page 5
Heard at Pets on Parade set-up Jo Cowling: “I need to go and set up the PA system.”
Mark Dwyer: “I’ll do that. I’m a man and I know about these things.”
Pause. Mark (looking a stack of assorted gadgetry): “Is that box the amplifier?” Jo: “No, that’s the popcorn machine.”
Last Week’s Meeting Speaker: Kirsty Slifirski Topic: The Boroondara Kindergarten
The Boroondara Kindergarten is in
Cook Court, Richmond, close to the low rise ‘walk-up’ housing, and was the
recent recipient of a new kitchen fit-out from our club. Kirsty has had a long
involvement with the Boroondara Kindergarten. She describes herself as
a ‘fired-up’ parent and member of the school community.
The kinder was established in 1914 by
the women of Boroondara (meaning: “a shady place”). Originally on Church
Street, it moved in 1927 to its present site in Cook Court. Over the years the children and staff have watched the demolition of the old Richmond around
them, and the development of the present government housing. They expect to see this all redeveloped again in the next 15 years. The area is very
multicultural and today the kindergarten has children from 17
different language groups. The two largest groups are the Vietnamese and the East Timorese.
The kindergarten philosophy is that the relationship between the staff and the
community is one of a reciprocal learning process: they are in a learning community and the kinder works very hard to be inclusive and to involve the
parents. The local community is very underprivileged: 25% are unemployed, 81% are on health care cards and 82%
live locally on the Richmond Housing
Estate.
Boroondara Kindergarten is the only
kinder in the state to employ bilingual staff. This strategy works well, giving
the kinder an ‘in’ with the local community, and they try to have a representative from each language group on their management committee.
As a result there is a sense of
togetherness about the whole community of children and they simply
do not get racist taunts made within the school the way that other schools do. They commonly find that past pupils who have grown up and moved away,
are now bringing their children back to enrol because the parent valued the Boroondara experience so highly.
In recent times the lack of resources
had become an issue so getting funding for the future development of the kinder
is now a priority. And they are being successful. Recently the kinder
received a $30,000 grant to establish a Sudanese playgroup which they hope will become a bridge to the local
Sudanese community. They are aiming for a government grant of $250,000 to redevelop the building, have applied for a grant from Sustainability Victoria, and
are pursuing other sources of further funds.
(cont page 4)
The Rotary Club of Richmond Meeting 1966 16th April 2007 Page 6
Rotarian Rodney Thornton
would like visitors, please. Rodney Thornton, a Rotarian from Warren, west of Dubbo, is in Epworth
Rehab with multiple fractures of the
pelvis, damage to his right leg and left
arm. He doesn’t have any contacts in
Melbourne, and he will be in Epworth
for many weeks, forced to lie on his
back while he mends.
Rodney is an enthusiastic middle aged
motor cyclist who was unfortunate
enough to be struck recently by a car.
AG Kevin Field has circulated the news
of Rodney’s misfortune around the local
clubs seeking visitors and
President Janice has been in to
see him. She reports that he is a
very nice man who would welcome other visitors.
Rodney is in Epworth Rehab
Room 9A, 3NS, in Erin Street on the corner of Normanby Road.
Visiting hours are Monday to
Friday 4.00 – 8.00 pm, and at
weekends from Noon to 8.00 pm.
Do go and see him if you can.
Rwandan scholar blazes
a new trail (cont from p3) "Unfortunately, many people don't know Rwanda for good
things, only for genocide," he
says. "But they want to know the
real situation and I am happy to tell them. Rwanda erected a
genocide memorial, so it could
teach others to avoid that kind of
evil in Rwanda and throughout the
world. Also, Rwanda is a good country
to visit for tourism."
After he returns to his country, Ngamije
would like to start his own business,
perhaps in the transportation field. But
he also has other ambitions.
"I am studying as an Ambassadorial
Scholar and want to be connected with
Rotary International wherever I will be. To be an ambassador of goodwill, I
must be an ambassador everywhere that I am." (Article courtesy of Rotary
International)
The 50-50-90 rule: Anytime you have a 50-50 chance of getting something
right, there's a 90% probability you'll get it wrong.
Juries: When you go into court, you are putting yourself in the hands of
12 people who weren't smart enough to get out of jury duty.
The Rotary Club of Richmond Meeting 1966 16th April 2007 Page 7
District 9800 News: Operation Solomon Islands DG Bernie's Weekly Message.
Because of the disastrous earthquake just out of Gizo that caused tidal wave damage to the Solomon Islands, I have given this story preference this week.
The earthquake epicentre was near Gizo where Rotary District 9600 has a Rotary Club. DG Mike Gregory (D.9600) has written the following update:
"I am sure that you are all well aware of the earthquake and subsequent tidal wave that devastated the Western and Choisel Provinces of the Solomon Islands on 2nd April. Reports so far indicate that, fortunately, loss of life has been minimal but damage to villages and infra-structure is extensive and they will require a lot of help well into the future. D9600 has a Rotary Club in Gizo, capital of Western province, and we also have a Rotary Community Corps at Munda. As the airport at Gizo has been inundated, all relief work is being channelled through the airport at Munda. Many coastal villages have been swept away and some islands have had their sole supply of fresh water contaminated so urgent need is to provide shelter, water and food. ShelterBox has agreed to 200 boxes being repositioned ready to distribute when DGN Wayne Morris of the Rotary Club of Honiara has sorted out the logistics with the Government and RAMSI. So, support for ShelterBox is the best way we can help in the short term."
Rotary always operates best in times of crisis and when the need is felt by our neighbours. This one such case and I ask all Clubs and Rotarians to consider helping as much and as quickly as possible.
In agreement with the Trustees, $6,000 will be allocated from the District 9800 Disaster Relief Fund for Operation Solomon Islands. This will be sufficient for 5 ShelterBoxes.
Full details of how clubs can make donations are in Volume 3, Issue
37 (5 April) of Town and Country.
Dinner with Bill &
Lorna Boyd. A dinner will be held on 2nd June at 6.30 for 7.00pm, at Moonlight Recep-tions, 622 Nicholson Street, North Fitzroy. Pre- dinner drinks and canapés, followed by two course dinner (includes beer, wine, champagne and soft drinks). Car parking has been arranged. All this for only $60. All Clubs should be represented for this visit by our World President. This dinner will cater for the five Districts in Victoria plus Tasmania and a total of 600 can be accommodated so book early to ensure a place. Booking details will be advised soon.
ROTARY DISTRICT 9800, R.I. & OTHER ROTARY LINKS
District 9800 Home page: www.rotaryd9800.org
District E-Zine & DG’s weekly message: home.vicnet.net.au/%7Enews9800
Rotary International: www.rotary.org/
RI President’s Monthly Message www.rotary.org/aboutrotary/president/boyd/messages.html
ROMAC News: www.romac.org.au/news.shtml
The Rotary Club of Richmond Meeting 1966 16th April 2007 Page 8
TODAY’S MEETING
Topic: Australian Rotary Health Research Fund
Speaker: PDG Judy Nettleton
Chair: Ben Hosking
Duty Roster
This Month April
Alternate & May
E: Colin Looker E: John Liddell Greeter, Badges &
Welcome
to visitors: L: Simon Marriott L: Judy Nettleton
E: Phil Mylecharane E: Michael O’Sullivan Head Table &
Banners: L: Kieran Moore L: Trevor Pang
Cashier L: Brian Irving E: Mark Dwyer/Sue Bolton
Gentle reminder: If you are unable to carry out the rostered duty above, it is your responsibility please to
organise a substitute. Thanks
23 April Neale Jackson
30 April (At RC Toorak)
7 May Brian List
14 May Aivars Lode
Nominated Chairpersons
(Please notify Rob Mactier if you cannot do) 21 May Colin Looker
Celebrations
16th – 22nd April 2007
Birthdays
Mark Dwyer 19th
Andrew Michaelides 22nd
Partners’ Birthdays Andrea Michaelides 22nd Wedding Anniversaries
None Induction Anniversaries
Steve Pitney 22nd
Venue: Amora Hotel Riverwalk, 649 Bridge Road, Richmond. Parking: Please change your parking docket for a free exit docket at the reception desk.
For your diary: Note: (E) = evening meeting, (L) = lunchtime meeting
23 April (L) Speaker: TBA Vietnam Veterans (Provisional)
30 April (L) Joint meeting with the Rotary Club of Toorak (see Club News): Speaker: Gemma Sisia Topic: The School of St Jude, Tanzania
7 May (E) Speaker: TBA Topic: Royal Botanical Gardens
14 May (E) The Ern Ainger Public Speaking Award
21 May (E) Cluster Group Meeting
Finally: “Be careful about reading health books. You may die of a misprint.”
Mark Twain (1835 - 1910)
Bulletin Editor 2006/07: John Liddell: liddellz@bigpond.net.au
Richmond Rotary Website: http://www.rotaryrichmond.org.au
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